The German players unite in this Wednesday’s session.
group and
Reinforced by their good game against Spain, the ‘Mannschaft’ has to beat Costa Rica this Thursday and hope that La Roja will lend a hand with Japan to get into the round of 16
After disappointing in its World Cup debut against Japan, not so much because of the game as because of the defeat, Germany offered its best profile against Spain and saved a tie that this Thursday will help them seek the round of 16 against Costa Rica. The margin of error is non-existent: the ‘Mannschaft’ is obliged to win and hope that La Roja lends a hand in their duel against the Japanese to get into the qualifiers. A victory for the Asians would leave the Teutonic team without options, which trusts in the response of Luis Enrique’s players and also in their own.
Reinforced by their performance against the Spanish, with which they showed that they have a lot of football, the Germans do not contemplate any other scenario than passing in Qatar. Even Thomas Müller went so far as to say that “8-0 could be possible, but it is not a very realistic result in a World Cup.” This is how he visualizes the match against the ‘ticos’, who would even be worth a tie if Spain meets the record against the Japanese.
Criticism rained down on Germany after losing to the Japanese on the opening day. The 1-2 was somewhat misleading and even unfair, because Flick’s men were able to thrash in a first half in which they forgave everything. They completed 25 shots, gave 820 passes to their rival’s 261, had 78% possession and fell with a bang.
The country’s media charged hard against the team and the coach and predicted a fatal outcome against La Roja: “The situation threatens to be ridiculous in history,” ‘Die Welt’ published. But the Teutons raised their level of play and played a good game against Spain, a breath of fresh air that kept them alive in the World Cup. Now they want to give it continuity against a Costa Rica that, after being overwhelmed by Luis Enrique’s troops, dreams of reaching the qualifiers.
A shot, a goal
In theory, Germany should snack on the ‘ticos’. The Central Americans were crushed by Spain with that 7-0 score, but they knew how to get up to beat Japan (1-0). Those coached by Luis Fernando Suárez have only shot four times in this World Cup – the Germans have totaled 35 shots in two games – and once between the three sticks. It is what Fuller did to knock down the Japanese and give the three points to his team.
Flick’s men are clear favourites, superior in every line and facet of the game, and they will compete with all five senses put into their commitment and that of La Roja against the Japanese. There, at the Khalifa International Stadium, part of their classification and that of the Costa Ricans will also be decided.
“We will have to be aware of what happens in the other game and, based on that, the strategy can be adapted,” Müller pointed out in the preview of the clash. Against Costa Rica we will have to simplify things. You have to make good position changes, send balls into the hole that may not always reach their destination, but can take your opponent out of his position. Maybe the ball doesn’t come to you ten times, but you have to keep running,” added the Bayern Munich attacker, who was proclaimed world champion in Russia.
“I hope to give another surprise,” said Suárez, the coach of the ‘ticos’. “We could eliminate Germany. Imagine what that would mean.” The Colombian seeks a miracle, the Germans, impose logic.
