For the groundbreaking games against Japan and France, the national coach said goodbye to players he was loyal to until the very end. In the center he makes a fundamental decision and does without Leon Goretzka.
It was the 67th minute at the Khalifa International Stadium in western Doha, and as it ticked along, the minute could not yet know that it would keep German football busy for a long time to come. Actually, everything seemed normal, the air conditioning was blowing, Germany led 1-0 against Japan and national coach Hansi Flick was preparing for his first World Cup change. Leon Goretzka was ready, Ilkay Gündogan left the field, which was surprising, because Gündogan was still one of the safest in a German game that was becoming increasingly uncertain. Goretzka came, Japan scored two goals, Germany were eliminated in the preliminary round and the crisis has been there ever since.
