EM 2021: Despite trembling against Hungary, EM expert Olaf Thon believes in a victory over England

Updated June 24, 2021, 8:40 a.m.

• Germany is shaking its way into the second round of the EM.
• The saving compensation against Hungary only falls in the 84th minute. “It would have been horrific to leave. It would have been shameful,” says our columnist Olaf Thon.
• He does not understand that Leroy Sané does not even master the necessary cross pass to give Kevin Volland the possible winning goal. It’s not like that against Switzerland now, but against England.

I am today, given the great Game against Portugal, been surprised how we played. We were too defensive and cautious from the start. We cashed the gate immediately, like against the French. But I always believed that we could still make it. At some point the Hungarians were tired.

It’s great that Goretzka scored this special goal. An EM without Germany in the round of 16, that would have been very bad. That would have been bad for Jogi Löw. As a national coach, nobody has yet managed to retire from a World Cup and an EM. That passed him by. Thank God!

Also read: Olaf Thon: “Joachim Löw has gotten his stubborn head”

Leaving would have been horrific. Shameful. For the national coach, for the team, for all Germans. We can make all three crosses and pray a “Our Father” before going to bed.

Germany versus Hungary The live ticker for reading

Olaf Thon: “With Leroy Sané, the simple things don’t come”

I see the weaknesses in some German players. Whether it is Leroy Sané in the end or on his flank. The simple things, the basics, of playing the ball across, don’t come. This is the ABC of football. His right foot is not that pronounced, I know that. But it has to be feasible to play a cross pass with the weaker foot.

He didn’t take his chance today again. Löw will tell him: “If you played properly across the board, we would have played against Switzerland.” Sané needs to improve his right foot, as well as his header game and his tackling strength. These are the things that make him a perfect player. He still has a lot of work to do.

Olaf Thon: “We are currently miles away from winning the title”

We have to fight our way into the tournament like in 1996. Back then, we also won the title through a fierce performance. But we are miles away from that at the moment.

If you want to become European champions, you have to be less vulnerable at the back and sometimes score goals from set pieces at the front.

We also don’t have a central striker with scoring qualities and a good header game. That’s missing when we have to get the crowbar out. And behind we are vulnerable. You saw that when Hungary equalized by return of post. Still, we never gave up.

Also read: Olaf Thon: “The line-up with Kimmich cannot stay like this”

Olaf Thon: “Kroos and Gündogan never alluded to Gosens”

It was recognized in the second half that the national coach pointed out one hundred percent: “Why don’t you play the Gosens? Why do you always play on the right side?” Kimmich had a difficult time on his side. I can’t explain to myself why Toni Kroos never alluded to the Gosens, why the Gündogan never alluded to the Gosens.

Thank God that was the case in the second half. So they looked: What is Gosens doing? And then there was pressure. Although Gosens was at most satisfactory today. But he can’t play world class every time. The opponent had also adjusted to him, put a quick man against him, who was then active on the offensive to tie Gosens on the defensive. That was tactically well done by the Hungarians.

A compliment to Müller for agreeing to play even though he was not healthy. At the front we always have the opportunity to score goals. That gives me hope for the round of 16 against England.

Germany slipped by a hair’s breadth at the premature end of the EM. Against Hungary, a late goal is enough to make it 2-2 – and thus qualify for the round of 16. You can find out who did how well in the individual review.

Olaf Thon: “The best players in the Premier League are not from England”

Progress now predominates. The how is irrelevant. Now comes England and England is to be beaten. We would have had a much harder time against the Dutch or the Belgians. The English have a team that lives from team spirit. But the best players in the Premier League are not from England.

We can’t start as cautiously as we do today against the English. We have to put pressure on right from the start and not leave the options to the opponent.

You keep thinking of our duels against England. Back then, until 1990, when it came to penalties, there was no doubt who would get through. And England wouldn’t have a chance against us on penalties today either. But I do not hope that it comes to that. The worst thing for a soccer player is to have to take penalties. I don’t like to watch this because I know the pressure you are under.

Protocol with Olaf Thon from Jörg Hausmann

You can find out more about EM 2021 here