Never leave Germany for dead. What seems to be a football cliché is what is testing the Mannschaft again in what, probably, are the lowest hours in its history. The four-time world champion came to digest the dismissal of his coach Hansi Flick after accumulating three consecutive defeats against Colombia, Poland and Japan. Not to mention two consecutive World Cup eliminations in the group stage. Sports director Rudi Völler is in charge of the team on an interim basis. In the middle of the search for Flick’s successor. And, elsewhere, Germany defeated the mighty France 2-1 in which Kylian Mbappé did not play because coach Didier Deschamps wanted to measure the load of matches.
The Germans started the train wreck brilliantly and took just five minutes to take the lead on the scoreboard at Signal Iduna Park. Bayern legend Thomas Müller controlled a Henrichs cross with his stomach and did not spare Maignan, unleashing madness in the stands of the German kingdom. Due to the lack of intensity of the Tricolore, the Mannschaft continued to impose itself in the center of the field and managed to maintain control of the match until the end of the first half, where Deschamps’ men finally reacted, making one step forward and scared a local defense that was able to maintain the advantage until passing the locker room.
The French team continued what was done after the start, but ran into a strong Germany at the back and flexible in attack looking for the result. Between Müller, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané and Florian Wirtz, Völler’s men never stopped appearing around the French frame. Germany was lucky with a shot by Tchouameni, Kolo Muani, after meeting Ter Stegen’s clearance, could not be fulfilled. Deschamps chose Dembélé for the final attack. But France was unable to reveal a Mannschaft that was able to seal the friendly thanks to a Havertz leak that the imperial Sané was killed mercilessly, leaving the penalty that he later did to Eduardo Camavinga (and Antoine Griezmann changed) to a mere anecdote.
Changes
Pascal Gross (24′, Ilkay Gündogan), Julian Brandt (63′, Serge Gnabry), Kai Havertz (63′, Thomas Müller), Marcus Thuram (63′, Randal) Jules Koundé (64′, Benjamin Pavard), Ousmane Dembélé (64′, Kingsley Coman), Youssouf Fofana (77′, Adrien Rabiot), Jonas Hofmann (77′, Florian Wirtz), Robin Gosens (77′, Benjamin Henrichs)
Goals
1-0, 3′: Muller2-0, 86′: Sure2-1, 88′: Griezmann
Cards
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Referee VAR: Michael Salisbury, Thomas Bramall
place (40′, Yellow) Rüdiger (54′, Yellow)
