This wasn’t just like the shame of 2004 however requires rebuilding have begun via none instead of Hansi Flick. “For the future of German football, we need to do different things in training,” the top trainer mentioned after Germany exited the World Cup within the staff level for the second one time in a row.
Flick, who mentioned this used to be now not the time to talk about his long run, agreed that the four-time international champions were a ways from “world class”. Look at Spain, he mentioned, they have got constructed a crew of younger avid gamers. “We need to focus on the next generation, one that will serve the nation for the next 10 years.”
When Germany have been eradicated via two uninteresting attracts and a defeat to an understrength Czech Republic within the European championships in Portugal, it had resulted in a ground-up rebuilding of the soccer set-up. Bundesliga golf equipment have been incentivized to arrange academies and there used to be an emphasis on taking a look past hard-running avid gamers and battering rams of strikers to a extra refined method of taking part in.
It created a cycle that helped Germany make the semi-final of the World Cup they hosted and each and every different festival thereafter culminating in them being international champions in 2014. Germany had moved clear of taking part in strikers of the Juergen Klinsmann and OIiver Bierhoff technology, to mould to the False Nine of Mesut Özil. But in addition they had a powerful protection; in 2014 they performed 4 centre-backs in a single sport and were given Philipp Lahm to play in his unique place in protection after beginning the contest via the usage of his versatility in midfield.
The backline has been a fear for a while now. Germany have now not stored a blank sheet in any sport within the Euros or the World Cup since 2016. “Opponents don’t have to do much to score against us,” mentioned Joshua Kimmich in Al Bayt Stadium’s blended zone.
“We need new goalkeepers, new wingbacks. We’ve always had them but now we need to start looking,” said Flick after the 4-2 win against Costa Rica.
For a team that has a wealth of talent in the midfield, Germany’s resources at the back are spare. Thomas Mueller made that point, saying Germany lacked “specialists” in all positions. David Raum, who was good going forward against Costa Rica, is a wide player used as wing back here. Kimmich plays in midfield at Bayern Munich – he is used as right-back usually when Benjamin Pavard or Noussair Mazraoui are injured – but was the wing back on Thursday. “Defense,” said Flick with a pause, “is one of the things that didn’t go to plan here.”
The offense too. “You have got to take your chances. I am convinced we would have been in a different position had we won against Spain,” said Flick. Germany could have but the story of being unable to take their chances has been a running theme through this campaign. One that began with Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda making eight saves.
His career revived by Flick at Bayern Munich, Mueller is no longer the “interpreter of space” who broke out in the 2010 finals and starred in the World Cup four years later. Thursday was likely to be Mueller’s last international. “We missed too many chances,” said Kimmich.
Problems in front and problems at the back – it was the defence’s inability to take care of a long ball that led to Costa Rica’s first goal from Yeltsin Tejeda – couldn’t be masked by the quality of their midfield. One where Jamal Musiala emerged as a positive.
“But he was trained in England not Germany,” said Flick pointing to graver problems having already made the point about Spain. “It is unfortunate that a player of Musiala’s abilities won’t be at the World Cup. His dribbles, winning one-versus-one situations was outstanding. In the next few years, a team can be built around him.”
Musiala completed 12 dribbles, the most by a teenager in World Cup history since 1966 when detailed statistics began being kept, according to numbers provider OptaJoe. Till Thursday, he had attempted 34 dribbles in three games, the most in this edition, OptaJoe said on Twitter.
The end was early because of what happened in the beginning. “Germany were not in control after 65-70 minutes against Japan,” said Flick. “In my opinion, if you change Ilkay Guendogan for Leon Goretzka, two players from top clubs, there should not be any difference in quality,” mentioned Flick early on Friday right here. The substitution took place within the 67th minute; Japan’s objectives got here within the seventy fifth and 83rd mins.
A ancient all-woman crew working the sport oversaw Germany’s final sport in Doha. The inquest will start now.