Great performance by the German national team in the Nations League. The DFB team recorded a good 5:2 victory against Italy and thus has their sights set on winning the group. Joshua Kimmich takes the lead. Timo Werner scores a brace. In the end, however, Italy also came up again.
1: 0 Kimmich (10th), 2: 0 Gündogan (45th 4/foulelfmeter), 3: 0 Müller (51st), 4: 0 Werner (68th), 5: 0 Werner (69th), 5: 1 Gnonto (79′), 5-2 Bastoni (90’4)
Germany: Neuer – Klostermann, Rüdiger, Süle (86th Tah), Raum – Kimmich, Gündogan (90th Stach) – Hofmann, Müller (75th Musiala), Sané – Werner (75th Nmecha)
Italien: Donnarumma – Calabria, Mancini (82. Scamacca), Bastoni, Spinazzola (66. Dimarco) – Frattesi (46. Caprari), Cristante, Barella – Politano (44. Ramos), Raspadori, Gnonto
Timo Werner: “Goals are always good for a striker. In my case double and triple when you are counted and criticized after every game. After the last few weeks and months at the club, it is perhaps also clear that I am not who I was some time ago. Today, for the first time in the four games, we did what we can and what we wanted. Nobody would complain if the top form comes back in October, November.”
Ilkay Gündogan: “I think we played really good football at times and deservedly won. The two goals conceded were unnecessary, but the performance was very good. The room layout was good. Everyone wanted the ball. We played with little contact and made the game fast. If we continue like this, the other teams will have a hard time against us. At the end of the day we have the European champions in the group and after today’s game Hungary shouldn’t be underestimated either. We played at a high level and we want to build on that next time to be successful.”
Thomas Müller: “We actually played more risky and packed more courage. We took the risk of losing the ball in order to maybe use the second ball we won to counterattack. We earned the goals through strong pressing. Even more would have been possible offensively today. The so-called conclusion: As I said before, we have good players, a good attitude, a good project going on, but still all sorts of deficits. We can’t speak of the “we can beat anyone” mentality yet, but we have to play smarter. I do that especially on offense, but also defensively. I really enjoy the vibe here. I know I won’t do 50 caps anymore. Let’s see what happens in two to three years. Now we’ve earned our vacation and it tastes even better with the win.”
Manuel Neuer: “We believed in ourselves and went onto the pitch with confidence. We played with confidence and were there from the start. Goals are always annoying, but let’s not talk about that today. The game has a good meaning. These were all nations to be taken seriously. We’ve now clearly prevailed against Italy. Holidays are now important for all of us in order to be able to start the second half of the season and the World Cup with power.”
Hansi Flick speaks…
… about Müller’s future in the DFB dress: “First of all, that’s up to him. He has to perform.”
… about the performance against Italy: “To get this performance again in a fourth game like that was strong. Winning is just good for self-confidence. Sure, we didn’t do everything perfectly, but we don’t want to talk about that today. We analyze our games and see that we are leaving potential.”
… about Werner’s performance: “Ultimately, it’s important that Timo scored two goals. That’s extremely important for a goalscorer like him.
… about the team: “The team implemented it, we were very secure with the ball in midfield. Now we are looking forward to the World Cup. In September we still have two games where we are challenged and until then we still have to make a few adjustments.”
… about Sané’s committed performance: “We let him play the whole time because we wanted him to score a goal too. It’s about the team and he did that sensationally well today.”
Leader of the table or relegation zone: Everything is still possible for the German national soccer team in the last of four Nations League games within ten days. With a win on Tuesday (8.45 p.m.) against European champions Italy, the selection of national coach Hansi Flick could still take the top spot in their group at the end of the season, but there is even a risk of falling to the bottom of the table if they lose in Mönchengladbach.
After four 1-1 draws, Flick is primarily concerned with feeling good about the World Cup in late autumn in Qatar. “With a win, the conviction that you have good quality is much better,” said the national coach.
After the second showdown with the Squadra Azzurra within ten days, the national players go on summer vacation. The next international matches are scheduled for the conclusion of the group stage in the Nations League on September 23 in Leipzig against Hungary and four days later in England.
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