Football: Germans travel to Vienna with setbacks

football

Turkey not only spoiled Julian Nagelsmann’s home debut as team boss, but also ensured that Germany travels to the prestigious duel against Austria next Tuesday (8.45 p.m. live on ORF1) in Vienna with a defeat in their luggage. The Turks beat the DFB team 3-2 (2-1) in Berlin on Saturday and put a damper on the Germans again after a short-term high.

18.11.2023 23.52

Online since yesterday, 11:52 p.m

In the Berlin Olympic Stadium, which was sold out with 72,592 spectators, the game not only felt acoustically like an away game for the DFB team, but coach Julian Nagelsmann’s offensive spirit was also punished. It was the first home defeat by a German team against Turkey since 1951 and a bitter dampener in the mood seven months before the start of the finals.

An early opening goal from Kai Havertz, who was surprisingly called up as left-back (5th), and the interim equalizer by Niclas Füllkrug (48th) were not enough for an offensively oriented German team. The Turks exposed the deficits in the backward movement not only with the goals from Ferdi Kadioglu (38th) and Kenan Yildiz (45th + 2). Yusuf Sari (71′), who converted a controversial penalty after Havertz’s handball, ultimately sealed the defeat.

IMAGO/Matthias Koch Sari ensured from the penalty spot that Turkey won in Germany for the first time in 72 years

At least there is a small statistical glimmer of hope in view of the first home defeat against Turkey in 72 years: When Germany lost against Turkey for the last time in 2005 – 1:2 away – then a few months later there was the summer fairytale at the home World Cup in 2006 .

Team boss misses “emotionality”

On his home debut as German national coach, Nagelsmann still complained about his team’s attitude. “We didn’t have the emotionality in all positions. A few did very well, but some didn’t reach the emotional level to push themselves to their limits,” said the 36-year-old. In particular, the weak phase from the 25th minute to the break was not at all to the coach’s liking. “We did better in the second half,” said Nagelsmann.

After Havertz’s early 1-0 lead, further chances were missed. “We have to close the game earlier,” said Nagelsmann. The national coach did not see his experiment with Havertz as a left-back as the cause of the defeat. “Kai Havertz played an outstanding game. The only personality that was surprising today was our best man.”

2023-11-18 22:52:29
#Football #Germans #travel #Vienna #setbacks