Test match in Amsterdam
Milling once is not enough. Flick’s winning streak breaks against the Netherlands
It mulled again: The 1-0 win against the Netherlands fell with the break whistle.
© John Thys / AFP
An hour hui, but in the second round the German team comes under pressure in the first endurance test against the Netherlands. The test match in Amsterdam showed that the team is on the right track, but still has a lot of room for improvement.
Hansi Flick’s winning streak has ended, but the belief in a successful World Cup remains. After a long, dominant appearance in the prestige duel with arch-rival Holland, the 1-1 (1-0) in Amsterdam was a fair result in the end. After Thomas Müller’s 43rd international goal (45+1), David Raum could have increased the lead to 2-0 immediately after the break if he had a big chance.
Referee takes penalty back against Germany
When the Dutch turned up the heat, the German team also needed luck. Shortly after Steven Bergwijn equalized (68′), the English referee Craig Pawson happily took back a penalty kick after video evidence. Thilo Kehrer hit Holland attacker Memphis Depay on the foot in the penalty area while trying to clear. The draw was happy in the end.
Even if Flick was not able to celebrate a win for the first time in his ninth game as national coach, he can look forward to the draw for the World Cup groups this Friday in Qatar’s capital Doha with ease. Four years after the preliminary round in Russia, the DFB team does not have to fear a difficult group.
At the first big World Cup test in front of around 50,000 spectators, the German team put up with top-class failures for a long time. Four potential regulars were missing from the Bayern block in Kimmich, Goretzka, Süle and Gnabry. Flick created new options like the U21 European champions Nico Schlotterbeck and David Raum in defense or Jamal Musiala. The Bayern talent played cheekily in the Kimmich position in defensive midfield and also prepared Müller’s goal. The 32-year-old drew level with honorary captain Uwe Seeler in the all-time DFB list of goalscorers.
