DThe seventh trick was not a problem: starting record holder Hansi Flick and his national players said goodbye to the winter break before the big World Cup with a never-endangered mandatory win and set another record straight away.
At 4: 1 (2: 0) in Yerevan, Armenia was not a yardstick for the DFB selection, which was also victorious in the seventh World Cup qualifying match with national coach Flick. The German national soccer team, which was severely decimated by corona and injuries, was again happy to play three days after the 9-0 shooting festival against Liechtenstein, but occasionally also vulnerable in the newly formed defense.
“We won 4-1. We achieved our goal with 27 points. Not everything went well. But the way we play football, including this togetherness, is great. The team always wants to play forward, create chances and try to dominate the opponent, “said Flick and added:” We know where we need to improve, but we still have time. “
England professionals Kai Havertz (15th minute) and Ilkay Gündogan (45th + 4 / penalty and 50th) as well as Jonas Hofmann (64th) met in front of around 13,000 spectators for the Flick team that had long since qualified for the finals in Qatar. Former Dortmund’s Henrich Mchitarjan (59th) scored the acclaimed goal for the hosts with a penalty kick.
Closing point: Jonas Hofmann (center) celebrates his goal to make it 4-1 with Kai Havertz (left) and Lukas Nmecha
Source: dpa/Christian Charisius
This meant that the DFB remained unbeaten in their 50th away game in World Cup qualification. A series that means a world record.
For Flick, who followed the game in the cold Yerevan in his coaching zone in a thick winter coat, the focus is now on Qatar: The national coach will travel to the Persian Gulf to find accommodation this year, the World Cup casting with the national team will be in March continued with probably two test games against then clearly higher-profile opponents.
This time acting as captain Thomas Müller spoke of a “successful conclusion”. It was not a shooting festival, but the team was focused and committed. The man from Munich drew a satisfactory conclusion: “You can see that we have done a good job over the past three months.” A new era began in September with the change of coach. “We haven’t had that in Germany since 2006. That’s something drastic. “
Corona failures, injuries and a breather for the stars Manuel Neuer or Marco Reus – the DFB convoy had shrunk to 16 field players and three goalkeepers on the 6000-kilometer trip to Yerevan. “Nevertheless, the quality is very good,” said the national coach and demanded nothing less than a victory at the end of the World Cup qualification.
Ter Stegen is blinded
At least offensively, the six changes in the DFB team were less noticeable compared to the 9-0 win against Liechtenstein. Havertz, who was last suspended, fitted in well as a replacement for Reus and was very present both as a goal scorer and as a template provider. Defensively, however, there were some wobbles and inadequacies that Flick didn’t like. Knowing that these mistakes will be punished against top nations.
But Armenia is not on the top shelf in world football. That became clear right from the start. After fine preparatory work by Leroy Sané, Havertz missed the huge chance to take the lead after just five minutes. Ten minutes later, the Champions League winner did better. After a great combination over Thomas Müller and Hofmann, the man from Chelsea executed ice cold. It was Havertz’s seventh goal in the DFB jersey.
Another hit prevented Armenia’s goalkeeper Stanislaw Buchnew, who defused a shot by Sané (26). Hofmann was again the template provider. The Gladbacher is one of the winners in the Flick era, this time he was allowed to run more aggressively.
This also meant that the defensive alliance with Thilo Kehrer, Matthias Ginter, Jonathan Tah and David Raum was newly formed. Possibly a reason for the voting problems, because Armenia definitely had opportunities. Eduard Sperzjan put a shot just over the gate after Tah had acted a little too hesitantly (27th). Then Sargis Adamjan from Hoffenheim had a good 1: 1 opportunity after Neuhaus allowed himself a lapse (36th).
So it was only with the converted penalty from Gündogan shortly before the break that calm returned. Taron Woskanjan had brought Neuhaus off his feet, but the French referee Francois Letexier only decided on a penalty after the VAR intervened.
So the game was almost decided, and the opponent helped a lot after the break. Buchnew let a harmless shot by Gündogan slip through his hands. And Hofmann’s goal was preceded by a bad playback error.
In between, however, there was again carelessness of the DFB selection in the backward movement. If Khoren Bayramyan already had a good opportunity (56th), a penalty from Neuhaus finally helped the hosts to their first goal.
Festive mood after the connecting goal: the fans celebrate the goal for Armenia to make it 1: 3 in the meantime
Source: dpa/Christian Charisius
The former Dortmund-based Mchitarjan converted safely and ensured that the new replacement Marc-André ter Stegen also had to reach behind him in his third outing in the current qualification. Neuer had zeroed seven times.
However, the goalkeeper was disturbed by a laser pointer while executing from the audience. A bad habit that has seen a renaissance especially in southern and eastern Europe.
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