DThe fact that a soccer game lasts 90 minutes is inextricably linked in the treasure trove of quotations to a former national coach. The current one, Hansi Flick, is passionately working with his team on a modern interpretation of Herberger’s wisdom: Just don’t let up until the match is over – this maxim is always valid for Flick, even on a cold November evening in Armenia, which is basically nothing more is at stake.
This not only makes the audience happy, it also increases self-assurance and self-confidence – and as far as that goes, the national team and football country can look forward to the next year with the winter World Cup in Qatar. Admittedly, the Germans let the last minutes of the qualification end a little leisurely on Sunday evening in Yerevan. But they had done the work before in the 4: 1 against Armenia – and enjoyed it again.
Kai Havertz (15th minute), twice Ilkay Gündogan, first with a converted penalty (45th + 4), then with a shot combined with proper Armenian hospitality (50th), and Jonas Hofmann (64th) ensured clear conditions and the seventh win in the seventh game under Flick. In between, an old acquaintance from the Bundesliga, Henrich Mchitarjan (59th), also scored the next goal with a penalty kick – and for the small meanness that all four goals conceded in the ten qualifying games were at the expense of Marc-André ter Stegen.
“She always wants to play forward”
These numbers say nothing about the goalkeeper of FC Barcelona, but the record of 31 own goals in seven games does say something about the German team and its revival by Flick, even if the opponents did not yet have the format to seriously target the Germans To put to the test. That should happen in March, when the next tests are on the program.
On Sunday, Flick was completely satisfied with the approach and attitude of the team: “The team always wants to play forward,” he said on the RTL microphone, “they have a lot of fun together on the pitch, that’s a good prerequisite for us coaches. “Nonetheless, he did not fail to point out the scope that still exists. Position play, precision, residual defense were the key words.
The German team had qualified for Qatar since the 4-0 win in North Macedonia in October, and for Armenia it was no longer about anything, the last chance for the playoff spot was perdu. Under these circumstances, Flick’s team looked unfamiliar. Twelve men from the original squad for the last two international matches of the year were no longer there, partly for compelling reasons – above all the Corona case in Süle and its consequences – and partly voluntarily: In view of the stresses, the national coach, captain Neuer and Reus, saved the trip Corona high risk area. Compared to the 9-0 win against Liechtenstein there were four more changes, including Rüdiger (suspended), Günter, Baku (bank) and Goretzka (injured) were missing from the starting line-up. Ter Stegen, Neuhaus, Ginter, Tah, Raum and Havertz were new.
The man from Chelsea FC, who played in the front line, had his first big chance after almost five minutes, but after Gündogan’s opening pass and Sané’s cross from the left, he only hit the outside post. Ten minutes later Havertz made it better, and the initiation was a bit nicer, a well-timed one-two between Hofmann and Müller on the right side, and after Hofmann’s cross Havertz showed sensitivity at the completion.
Seventh win in the seventh international match under national coach Hansi Flick
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Image: dpa
With elegance and determination through the densely staggered Armenian ranks – that got off to a good start for Flick’s team, which immediately went to work on the 2-0 project, especially in the person of Sané. But Thursday’s double goal scorer did not reach his goal in three ways. The last few percent might be missing, so that the Armenians also got two promising final positions, but all in all Flick could be satisfied.
The deserved 2-0 break brought a penalty, which was only imposed with some delay after the intervention of the video assistant and extensive examination by the boss. But it was the right decision after the foul on Neuhaus, and Gündogan made it a sure thing, as he did against Liechtenstein.
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The fact that the handlebars hit again shortly after the break in the German game was more due to the mishap of the Armenian goalkeeper Buchnev, who let the ball hobble past his foot. The conquest by Havertz deserved a plus point – just as early disturbance and effective counter-pressing under flick has become a trademark. After the 1: 3 from the penalty that Neuhaus was responsible for, the Germans immediately switched back to the conquest program, and Hofmann, perhaps the most conspicuous in Flick’s team, quickly profited.
In the meantime Flick had made significant changes, Nmecha, Arnold and Brandt played for the earned strengths Müller, Gündogan and Sané, later Volland came for Neuhaus and Baku for Hofmann. He liked what Müller then saw from outside: “The awareness of sticking to it”, he called it. You could also say: the flick principle.
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