Less than seven months before the European Championship which they are preparing to host, Germany has concluded a black year in Austria, beaten 2-0 by Austria in Vienna. It is the sixth defeat in 11 games for a Mannschaft that is increasingly worrying its fans. With only three victories against Peru (2-0), France (2-1) and the United States (3-1), the Germans experienced their worst calendar year since 1964 in 2023, with only 1.00 points per game, worse than the 1.15 points in 2018. The last two defeats, on Saturday in Berlin against Turkey (3-2) and this evening in Vienna, came against teams that Germany could face in the next European Championship. Coach Julian Nagelsmann had to do without Bayern midfielder Jamal Musiala for this international window, but these two matches showed the difference between a German selection full of uncertainties and opponents who faced a qualifying phase made up of real matches.
The first Austrian goal was scored by Marcel Sabitzer in the 29th minute. Of the eleven matches played in 2023, Germany finished only one without conceding a goal, against Peru in March. The ten consecutive games in which they have conceded at least one goal illustrate the Mannschaft’s recurring defensive problems for several months, if not years. German frustration erupted upon returning from the changing rooms with a bad reaction from Leroy Sané on Austrian left-back Philipp Mwene.
The Bayern striker received a straight red card, the first of his career in more than 400 games, at the age of 27.
Already in difficulty eleven against eleven, the second half played with numerical inferiority was an ordeal for Nagelsmann’s men, until Christoph Baumgartner doubled the lead in the 73rd minute. The change of coach (Hansi Flick was sacked on 10 September and replaced by Nagelsmann on 22 September) bore little fruit during the October window (victory against the United States and 2-2 draw against Mexico) and doubts immediately arose resurfaced.
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2023-11-21 22:29:24
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