Qualified Germany shows revival signs
Germany remains a work in progress under new coach Hansi Flick, amid signs he can turn it into a title contender at next year鈥檚 World Cup.
Flick鈥檚 team became the first to qualify for the tournament in Qatar after a 4-0 win in North Macedonia on Monday. It was Germany鈥檚 seventh win from eight qualifying games and it went some way to atoning for the surprise loss at home to the same opponent in March.
But the quality of rivals in European qualification Group J is keeping celebrations and expectations in check. None of Romania, North Macedonia, Armenia, Iceland or Liechtenstein are ranked among FIFA鈥檚 top 40 nations.
鈥淲e got what we wanted, to qualify as quickly as possible,鈥 Flick said.
The former Bayern Munich coach has overseen five wins in five games since taking over from Joachim Loew after the summer鈥檚 European Championship.
鈥淥f course, the first half was a bit wild,鈥 Flick added. 鈥淭he precision was missing, as was often the case in the (previous) game against Romania. But you have to say once the first goal went in, we followed it up and were consistent. So from that point of view we can be satisfied.鈥
The remaining qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Armenia in November he can use to experiment.
Germany won鈥檛 find out until April which opponents it will face in Qatar. They will be much tougher. The top-ranked teams Belgium, Brazil, England, France, Italy, Argentina and Portugal are likely with host Qatar to be seeded first in the group-stage draw, while Germany is ranked 14th behind Spain, Mexico, Denmark, the Netherlands, Uruguay and the United States.
Flick鈥檚 team was again prone to mistakes in Skopje on Monday, when passes did not always reach their intended targets and the visitors failed to score in the first half despite 14 attempts at goal.
鈥(North Macedonia) is not a bad team,鈥 midfielder Leon Goretzka said. 鈥淭hey defended most of the time, were physically strong, and quick to counter. They did well while they still had strength. You have to tire them out.鈥
Flick has not made major changes since he took over from Loew. Loew had already recalled Thomas Mueller for the European Championship and the experienced Bayern forward has stayed to become de facto team leader under Flick, especially since midfielder Toni Kroos retired in the summer.
The 32-year-old Mueller set up both opening goals against North Macedonia.
Flick also has some outstanding young talent coming through in Jamal Musiala (18), Karim Adeyemi (19) and Florian Wirtz (18). Adeyemi set up Musiala for Germany鈥檚 fourth goal on Monday, when the Bayern forward became the country鈥檚 second youngest ever goal-scorer.
Germany won the World Cup in 2014 鈥 the high point under Loew 鈥 but its title defense ended meekly in a group-stage exit in 2018. Asked if Germany was back on its way to becoming a top team, Goretzka sought to keep expectations down and said there was much room for improvement.
鈥淲e should stick to baking small rolls,鈥 Goretzka said.
鈥淭here were many things that we can do better, that we have to do better. There鈥檚 no question that there鈥檚 quality in the team. But we have to keep growing together as a team. I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 anyone better qualified than Hansi to manage it. We鈥檙e on the right path.鈥
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