World Cup qualification within reachA very weak DFB team celebrates in Luxembourg
The German national football team took a big step towards qualifying for the World Cup. In Luxembourg, the DFB team won the penultimate group match with great difficulty 2-0 (0-0). Performance against foreign teams has long worried national coaches.
First scary, then icy: Thanks to Nick Woltemade, the German national football team has avoided one of the biggest embarrassments in its history and is just one step away from taking part in the 21st World Cup. Without their slightly injured captain Joshua Kimmich and half a dozen regular players, national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s B team won 2-0 (0-0) after great difficulty against outspoken outsiders Luxembourg.
For the first time in a new World Cup shirt, the DFB selection – despite all the personnel problems with the starting eleven with a market value of 400 million euros – was disappointing overall in the first half. Only after the break did Woltemade (49) bail out Nagelsmann’s team from world number 97 after a powerful pass from the returning Leroy Sané. 20 minutes later, the English legionnaire added his third international goal. Whether the American dream will come true will be determined on Monday (20.45/ZDF and on live ticker on ntv.de) in Leipzig against Slovakia. So a draw was enough for the German team in the “final” to achieve group victory and direct tickets to the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Problem child, Sané, gets his next chance
Nagelsmann has sent Jonathan Tah onto the field as captain, Dortmund’s Waldemar Anton has replaced the ill Nico Schlotterbeck in central defense, and Leipzig’s Ridle Baku has taken over at wing-back Kimmich. “One man’s sorrow is another man’s joy,” said the national coach before kick-off on RTL, “that’s why they were able to step on the gas today.”
He gives Sané, his “eternal” problem child, another chance to prove himself. The Turkish legionnaire started at the Stade de Luxembourg, which was sold out by a crowd of 9,214 – for the first time since the Nations League semi-final against Portugal in June. “He knows how much I think about him, he gets a lot of love from me,” Nagelsmann said, “but he is now challenged. In the end I evaluate whether he took advantage of the opportunity or not.”
Kimmich, who expects to play against Slovakia (“I think so”), prepared his team for the next step towards the World Cup: “With a win, we can put ourselves in a very good position, but it’s not just about winning, it’s also about the method.” Schlotterbeck will also be fit again on Monday, and Karim Adeyemi’s yellow card suspension will end.
Luxembourg surprised the DFB team
Former Bundesliga player Jeff Strasser’s Luxembourg side started offensively and boldly, with high pressing. The DFB defense was having problems, Anton was especially noticeable in the early stages with poor passing. Florian Wirtz managed to take the first shot, but his shot failed to be blocked by goalkeeper Anthony Moris (9). But then, on the other side, professional players St. Pauli Danel Sinani went close (11th) – as did Augsburg’s Aiman Dardari (18th).
On the sidelines, Strasser clapped for his team, while Nagelsmann, flustered, spread his arms and shouted instructions at the pitch. No idea for a game. Serge Gnabry and Wirtz approached the goal, but the Liverpool player’s shot over the crossbar (28′) was greeted by the home fans with derisive chants: “Practice, practice!” And at the back, goalkeeper Oliver Baumann has more to do than expected. After a very weak first half, Nagelsmann quickly made his way into the dressing room.
After the break, Sané made it 1-0 to Woltemade with a sprint and a pinpoint pass after just one contact. But in return, Dardari managed to equalize (52). Moments later, Leon Goretzka was lucky not to receive a second yellow card after a foul, and Nagelsmann quickly replaced him (55′). Sané also came into play at 2-0: Baku played his pass to Woltemade.
