The DFB team before the important match against Slovakia

A game of fate for Germany

The national coach’s hopes are on him

The German national team appeared confident ahead of the final World Cup qualifying match in Leipzig. But the opponents have everything – and recently broke the DFB team.

William Laing reports from Leipzig

One final step and the German national team will achieve their big goal this year: direct qualification for the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico next summer. In the final match of Group A against Slovakia on Monday (starting at 20:45 on the live ticker on t-online), the DFB team must get at least a draw. If they lose, their next opponent will again overtake Germany in the standings. Then Julian Nagelsmann’s team must compete for World Cup tickets in the playoffs this spring.

However, this scenario should be avoided at all costs. The German selection is quite optimistic. The fact that the team could fail “is not an issue” among the players, Nagelsmann said at his final press conference on Sunday. “There are very few teams or coaches who deal with the negative things that can happen.” The team looked “very determined,” the national coach emphasized and was quick to explain: “We all assume that we will play a good match tomorrow and we can get the three points.”

Therefore, belief in one’s own strength is very great. But the optimism now radiated in the media is also deceptive. The reason is, the DFB team’s latest performance is not very encouraging. Just like the last duel with Slovakia.

Germany only plays its final qualifying match in Luxembourg on Friday. In the end the scoreboard read 2-0. However, ranking 97th in the world has caused problems in DFB selection for a long time. The back line around stand-in captain Jonathan Tah was shaky at times. Germany only produced a decisive offensive force in the second half, which ultimately led to two goals from Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade.

“We won the game, that’s what’s important,” Nagelsmann again analyzed the game calmly. But his performance was undeniably poor and will have an impact on other opponents – for example against Slovakia. The fact is: Francesco Calzona’s team already punished the German team’s negligence two months ago.

In Bratislava in September, the DFB team lost 2-0 against Slovakia early in World Cup qualifying. In attack, Germany did not take advantage of the few opportunities it had consistently enough. Defensively, the team played wildly. The DFB’s defense was stacked with one player in particular that night: Leo Sauer.