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Bundesliga: Flick is happy about the “start” and the discovery of “a nine”

Bundesliga
Flick is happy about the “start” and the discovery of “a nine”

National coach Hansi Flick (M) thanks the goal scorer Niclas Füllkrug. photo

© Arne Dedert/dpa

The start of the international season was successful. National coach Flick is happy about a win against Peru, two nice goals and a clean sheet at the back. The center forward vacancy is also filled.

Hansi Flick was able to start the short bus ride from Mainz back to the team hotel in Frankfurt with his national football team, which has been completely renewed. In the 2-0 (2-0) win against Peru, the national coach got what he and the fans in the stadium wanted to see from his team around the celebrated match winner Niclas Füllkrug. “We’re off to a good start with a win. We scored two nice goals up front and didn’t concede a goal at the back, that was our goal and a priority,” said Flick on Saturday evening.

Similar was the summary of top scorer Füllkrug, who scored his first brace in the national jersey on his starting eleven debut and increased his goal quota to five goals in five international matches. “It was about a good start to the international season and getting the fans on board,” said the 30-year-old from Bremen, who is increasingly developing his status as a regular offensive player. “Niclas did it in the style of a goalscorer, a nine,” praised Flick “Gap”, who fills the previous gap as a center forward in the DFB team. Full pitcher didn’t want to make himself stand out too much. He emphasized the we. “No, we. We score the goals.”

In front of 25,358 spectators, it shouldn’t have stayed with the two filling jug hits. Bayern attacker Serge Gnabry, who came on at the break and was very committed, hit the bar spectacularly. And the agile Kai Havertz shot a penalty kick against the post. Flick and the players rated the switch to a system with two strikers positively. “It was good for us that we kept manning the pits,” said captain Joshua Kimmich after his 75th international match.

The World Cup flop in Qatar is of course not forgotten or worked up with a win. And a more successful home European Championship with the personnel and tactical changes that have been introduced is not guaranteed. However, a newcomer like the dynamic Marius Wolf from Dortmund was invigorating. “Marius creates a lot of momentum on the side,” said Flick, who is looking for a solution on the right-back position.

Already in the short night before Sunday with the changeover to daylight saving time, Flick looked ahead. As positive as the success against Peru was, the second test on Tuesday (8.45 p.m. / RTL) in Cologne against Belgium should be more of a signpost for the future. “It’s a different caliber. I’m glad we have such an opponent in the second game,” said the national coach.

In their first game under new coach Domenico Tedesco, the Belgians got off to a successful start in qualifying for the European Championship with a 3-0 win in Sweden on Friday evening. Flick is not planning any major rotation for the endurance test. “I do believe that the team that played today plays mostly.”

dpa

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