Lettland and France, Joachim Löw said, “there is a difference”. That is indisputable in every respect, but precisely because of this the question arises, which will be discussed vigorously in the next few days: How much of the German team against Latvia could be in the one against France?
On Monday evening, during their last test before the European Championship, the national soccer team played in a formation that included a few exciting details. On the one hand, because Löw put Thomas Müller and Kai Havertz together in it, and on the other hand, because Joshua Kimmich moved from midfield to the attacking right wing position in the back three or five. The result was a palatable 7: 1 in front of 1000 spectators in Düsseldorf, but against an opponent who came as if served on the tray.
Robin Gosens (19th minute), Ilkay Gündogan (21st), Thomas Müller (27th), Kai Havertz (39th), whose attempt was directed into his own goal by Robert Ozols, and Serge Gnabry (45th) shot forward the break gave the German team a 5-0 lead. Substitute Timo Werner (50th) then followed suit, Aleksejs Saveljevs shortened with the Latvians’ first shot on goal (75th), before Leroy Sané immediately ensured the final score (76th). “It felt good today on the pitch,” said Müller on TV station RTL. “But of course we know that France is a different house number than Latvia.”
No knowledge at Kimmich
With all the caveat that it went against the hundred and eighty-three in the world rankings and not the world champion: Havertz, the winning goal scorer for Chelsea in the Champions League final, also advertised himself in the national jersey, the agile Müller scored his first goal since March 2018.
Kimmich, on the other hand, seemed a little lost on the outside, even if his colleagues kept giving him passes – at least against the Latvians he could not fill the formative role that he claims for himself, he was not challenged defensively, so it was gave no knowledge. In any case, for good reasons, Kimmich does not see himself as a marginal figure, and so a difficult and at the same time very important decision is imminent for Löw.
An undisputed leading actor on Monday was Manuel Neuer, even if not quite in the desired form. It was the 100th international match for the captain, who entered the field before the kick-off through a line of colleagues to applause from all sides. Neuer had nothing to do for a long time – until Saveljevs’ shot whizzed past him and his new special gloves into the goal, making it 6: 1 in the meantime. “It’s unbelievable for me that I’m now in three digits,” said Neuer.
On this Tuesday, the team will travel to the EM quarters in Herzogenaurach, where they will train for the first time on Thursday, with a focus on the offensive. Because even if it looked easy and relaxed against Latvia after a little run-up: At the EM it will need even more speed, sharpness and automatisms. After all, Löw’s team could not be accused this time of exploiting opportunities. Not every shot was a hit, but the odds were right. “We did a lot of good things,” said the national coach.
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