Germany and Spain have not disappointed in the first poster which could have been a final. The youngsters impressed, from the Spanish lightweights to German dribbler Musiala, but the two strikers who came off the bench were decisive. And Belgium may soon have to deal with that? Unstarted work.
Key moment: The input of Sané and Füllkrug turned the game around. In addition to Musiala, Germany also needs Sané.
Man of the match: Jamal Musiala (19) had the magic wand to keep the Germans in the game
We will also remember him: Niclas Füllkrug, a 29-year-old striker from Werder Bremen, only international but the man who gave Germany a point
A week on and the World Cup has had its first clash between two potential world champions. The conclusion? Spain must be taken into account, you are never done with the Germans. Roberto Martinez must have seen it too. If the Red Devils push through later, the opponent will come from this group. If the Devils finish second in the group, that will be Spain. No one believes that Belgium stands a chance against that. Not against our eastern neighbours, by the way.
Germany had a chance. When Alvaro Morata was brought in, the only deep striker in the Spanish selection and now a luxury substitute, it seemed the end of the story. He barely needed eight minutes when he shot Neuer in the short corner: 1-0. But then another substitute, Werder Bremen player Niclas Füllkrug, proved why strikers still have a right to exist in this era of ‘false nines’. He came in for Thomas Müller – not a deep striker – and gave the Germans a golden point.
Not that Germany was eliminated in defeat. But now the team is standing by Mr Hansi Flick a little bit better for it. With a win in the final match against Costa Rica, it is enough that Japan does not beat the Spaniards. If they do stunts, they must The team just like four years ago, they can go home after the group stage.
Olmo against the bar
The cracker did not disappoint. Certainly the match start was for Spain. The German defense was put under pressure with high pressure. At the back of Germany, the footballing ability is more limited than with the spry Spaniards. It was finger licking good as Pedri, Gavi, Ferran Torres and Olmo passed the ball around. That Spanish predominance did not lead to many clear chances. The best chance of the first half came at the very beginning: Olmo scorched, but Neuer pushed the ball against the crossbar. The Germans gasped, but managed to play football from under the pressing.
Germany even managed to show the delicate spots of Spain. Luis Enrique’s team turned out to be vulnerable in the switch. Gnabry slipped through and ran into goalkeeper Simon, although it turned out he was edge offside. Fortunately for Ferran Torres, the flag also went up on the other side when Olmo offered him his third tournament goal on a saucer and he shot incomprehensibly over. There is also something to pick up on game resumes The Red, it turned out. Rüdiger headed Kimmich’s free kick from the side against the nets, but he too was (rightly) flagged.
Uitblinker Musial
In the second half, the pace died down, until goalkeeper Simon choked on playing football. Kimmich interfered well, got the ball back but shot at the hands of the Bilbao goalkeeper. Sour for the Germans because not much later substitute Morata did score. Asensio should have made it 2-0 right away on the instructions of star Olmo, but he shot over.
However, the equalizer was in the air. In the back, the Spanish defense turned out to be gripping and when Jamal Musiala started dribbling, something always happened. First he gave to substitute Füllkrug, who threw himself at the ball and went wide. When Musiala himself slipped through the offside trap after a fine action by Sané, he should have scored. He incomprehensibly stepped on Unai Simon. A little later he went through again, together with Niclas Füllkrug. The 29-year-old striker, who made his international debut less than two weeks ago against Oman, turned out to be a finisher: 1-1. In extra time, Leroy Sané even came close to 1-2. It remains since 1988 (!) that Germany once again won a match against Spain. And yet the Germans will take heart from this draw. Justly.
**
Spanish: Simon; Carvajal, Rodri, Laporte, Jordi Alba (82′ Bucket) ; Busquets, Gavi (66′ Koke), Pedri ; Ferran Torres (54′ Morata), Asensio (66′ Nico Williams), Olmo
Germany: Neuer; Kehrer (70′ Klostermann), Süle, Rüdiger, Raum (87′ Schlotterbeck); Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry (85′ Hofmann), Gündogan (70′ Sané), Musiala; Müller (70′ Füllkrug)
Goals: 62′ Morata 1-0, 83′ Fullkrug 1-1.
Gel cards: 37′ Kehrer, 44′ Busquets, 58′ Goretzka, 60′ Kimmich
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Ned)
Spectators: 68,895
