Marc-Andre ter Stegen
After 26 minutes and a few seconds, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper might have had a thought: “Not again …” that thought might have been, because the old story of the unfortunate liaison between the top goalkeeper Ter Stegen and the German The national team was just approaching a new chapter. Usually, the avowedly ambitious Ter Stegen is only allowed to represent the eternal Manuel Neuer in such games, if the opponent only shoots at goal once or twice and the ball lands promptly in the goal. This time too, Ter Stegen was granted no more action than standing around idle in the cold area, but when Armenia made itself seriously noticeable in their penalty area for the first time, another shot came that he couldn’t keep. But Eduard Spertsyan missed the corner by a few centimeters, and Ter Stegen was able to retreat back to the observer post. In the 52nd minute he was actually allowed to catch a ball, but a ball with a level of difficulty 1 to 2 (on a scale up to 10). But in the 59th minute the time had come: The ball was in the goal – penalty Mkhytarian – and Ter Stegen had not played to zero again.
David room
In his third international match, he initially recommended himself for a second career after his footballing career: he was always present, but mostly invisible like a secret agent. The left side, on which he was approaching, remained untouched like a taboo zone. In the second half, however, Raum came out of cover more often and identified himself as an active teammate. He is not yet a man with special qualities, but already a line player with all-round passable talents.
Jonathan Tah
Arrived as a latecomer, substitute for the potential substitute Nico Schlotterbock. Suddenly now first choice and surprisingly often in the center of the picture. Tah recently took on the attitude of a head of defense in Leverkusen because of the circumstances, where he grew into the role of a leading figure due to constant improvisations. He now also asserted this self-image as a substitute for the substitute. He liked to march into the opposing half with the ball at his feet and was active as a game designer. At the second trickiest moment recorded by the DFB defense during the first half, he formed the remaining German defense against three counter-attacking Armenians all by himself and did it very skillfully. An international match that fits his high ambitions.
Thilo Kehrer
The national coach’s favorite player or the “sweetheart of the centurion”, as it is called in “Asterix the legionnaire”? Thilo Kehrer has been part of the starting XI every time since Hansi Flick started the line-up. This time right outside in the back four instead of in the center or left as in the previous games. Its diversity is what makes Kehrer so productive. He reliably kept his back free for offensive line partner Jonas Hofmann, but was initially much less challenged than when he was faced with Racing Strasbourg or Stade Brest in Paris. With the very curly-headed Khoren Bayramyan, he got more work in the second half.
Matthias Ginter
Not the sweetheart of the former centurion Jogi Löw, but one of his always particularly valued employees. In the Flick era, the Mönchengladbach defender fell a little behind, which is certainly not because the new director did not appreciate his qualities. Ginter is more of a system loser, the new regular players Hofmann and Kehrer have ousted him as a universally deployable defensive force. On Sunday evening in Yerevan, Ginter was more of a builder than a defender. Later very effectively fended off a highly dangerous shot by the very curly-headed Bayramyan with his hip.
Ilkay Gündogan
Can tell his grandchildren how he once produced what is known as a double pack for Germany with extremely economical effort. He scored the 2-0 with a penalty, the second by chance – the goalkeeper missed. Otherwise a routine performance at a high level. Won opposing balls in midfield without having to tear himself apart and then distributed them to the other players with the confidence of the precision engineer.
Florian Neuhaus
What his Mönchengladbach teammate Ginter experiences in the national team, Neuhaus finds out in everyday life in Mönchengladbach. As a system loser, he has faded into the background. He also had to wait a long time for a substantial international match, and so he was now under a little pressure to fight his way back into the spotlight. That was not necessarily successful. In the first half he caused the second trickiest scene that the German defensive had to master by losing the ball, and in the second half he conceded the goal through an unnecessary foul in the penalty area.
Leroy Sané
The man everyone is talking about in awe right now. Managed to shine against opponents like Liechtenstein on Thursday, which is a lot harder than it sounds. Against Armenia very eagerly, but not so effectively. The legs were ready, but this time he seemed to lack mental freshness.
Thomas Müller
In Neuer’s absence he led the team as captain onto the field, which, as far as could be judged from the outside, he managed without diplomatic entanglements. Prepared several goals as usual, in the 1-0 as the author of the penultimate pass, in the 3-0 as a direct assist.
Jonas Hofmann
As an attacking right winger in the role that suits him best. Straightforwardly prepared the 1-0 and shot the 4-1 with precision, which took the last percent of tension out of the game. Very hardworking and very useful. System winner, made a career in the national team.
Kai Havertz
After his 1-0 win, he by no means stopped work and remained a valuable employee even without another goal: Kai Havertz.
(Foto: Christian Charisius/dpa)
Usually tends to change his facial expression as rarely as possible. After a quarter of an hour he couldn’t help but smile – Jonas Hofmann’s excellent assist demanded a friendly reply from the goalscorer Havertz. The man from Chelsea had done the minimum of his day’s work with it: A game without a goal of his own is an unsatisfactory game for him, so he doesn’t feel uncomfortable as a center forward. Didn’t stop working after the 1-0 win, and remained a valuable employee even without another goal. Clever pressing campaigns, that’s where Thomas Tuchel’s school showed itself.
Substitute players
Lukas Nmecha, Maximilian Arnold, Julian Brandt, Kevin Volland and Ridle Baku came into a game that was already decided when they came on. None of the above managed anything extraordinary.
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