Glorious wins instead of goal celebrations: The road to the World Cup remains an ordeal for Julian Nagelsmann and the national team fans. Without their injured captain and leader Joshua Kimmich, the DFB team was left feeling embarrassed Luxembourg After an unassailable first half, this was averted thanks to double packer Nick Woltemade.
The center forward (49th/69th minute) redeemed a DFB team, beset by many failures and disappointing in every way, at the Stade de Luxembourg, which was sold out by a crowd of 9,214, with his goal for a mandatory 2-0 (0-0) win against underdogs playing with passion.
Good news: a draw on Monday is enough
That’s from Nagelsmann The once loudly proclaimed title target turned out to be unrealistic seven months before the start of the World Cup after a dispiriting and uninspiring performance against the world number 97.
For the first time under Nagelsmann as national coach, there were four wins and three matches without conceding a goal in a row in the statistics. But the success achieved does not give any hope for a brilliant summer World Cup. At the premiere of the new World Cup jerseys, reminiscent of the 1990 victory, nothing came of it.
The only good news after a miserable night of football in the Grand Duchy: A draw against Slovakia in Leipzig on Monday was enough to retain first place in Group A and book a direct ticket to the finals in the US, Mexico and Canada.
If they suffer another defeat against Slovakia, as happened 0-2 in the first leg in Bratislava, the four-time world champions will have to win another thrilling playoff match after 24 years to avoid a first World Cup qualifying failure.
Things didn’t start well
Personnel concern or not, a performance like that doesn’t give you any hope for the World Cup. Jonathan Tah As stand-in captain, he had to make a save after just 180 seconds against a surprisingly confident Luxembourg side. In contrast, the German team was slack and too sluggish. There is no trace of other mood enhancers.
11th minute: Danel Sinani from FC St. Pauli failed to score Germany’s goal. And the attackers from table 16. Bundesliga continued to try: Tah blocked once (16), then Oliver Baumann parried (21), among which Aiman Dardari from FC Augsburg scored past the German goal.
Wirtz with two tries – too weak
Determination, penetrating power, will – Luxembourg showed the way and repeatedly put the DFB team in serious trouble. After two or three good scenes at the start, there was little to see from Sané, for whom Nagelsmann had clearly announced a trial period. Florian Wirtz looked unconvincing in two finishes (9th and 18th).
And the longer it went on, the more the audience rubbed their eyes in amazement. After half an hour, Luxembourg even called for a penalty. After a corner kick, Ridle Baku made a save. The ball flew from Leipzig to the head of Bayern’s Leon Goretzka and from there it seemed to barely touch his hand.
Questions about attitude?
Here is the world number 97, whose coach Jeff Strasser smiled with satisfaction and satisfaction when the half-time whistle blew. There was the four-time world champion, whose coach Nagelsmann complained on the sidelines and went straight into the dressing room after half-time.
It’s not just about winning, but also how they want to win Kimmich emphasized before the game. Also a matter of mentality. But someone who could inspire the team was missing from the field. Sané and Wirtz were unable to take part in attack, Tah had more to do with Luxembourg than expected in defence.
After the break everyone is on probation
Nagelsmann’s alternative on the bench is also quite manageable – at least in terms of experience. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Jonathan Burkardt has the most appearances with five internationals leading up to the game in Luxembourg. The players still talk to each other in the catacombs; Nagelsmann has been sitting in the coaching chair again for a long time in the rain in Luxembourg. He didn’t make any changes at first.
Now everyone is playing probation. So there was tremendous excitement when the ball entered the home team’s goal. Finally a quick and good move. The ball landed for Sané through Aleksandar Pavlović and he directed the ball to Woltemade from the right.
Double Woltemade
Disappointment struck less than two minutes later. Augsburg’s Dardari failed to equalize by several centimeters. And because Goretzka was also close to a yellow-red card, Nagelsmann sent off the Bayern professional and brought on Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha.
At least at times the German team looked a little more confident with the advantage behind them, but they were also lucky that Christopher Martins did not put the ball into the German goal from three meters. Not long after, Woltemade scored for the second time, again thanks to Sané’s hard work. Ridle Baku is also involved. And now even Kimmich is laughing again on the bench. Embarrassment can be prevented, but there is not much that can be done.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251114-930-295457/1
