Hansi Flick’s winning streak has broken, but this draw was good for a long time as an encouragement. The German national soccer team passed its first real test under Flick in a 1-1 (0-1) win in the classic against the Netherlands – but not with flying colours: in the end the draw shook violently. It was not enough for the ninth win in the ninth game under the new national coach because the DFB team lost the thread after a strong hour.
Thomas Müller (45+1) gave Flick hope for the perfect start to the World Cup year after beating Israel 2-0: Bayern professional Müller drew level with legend Uwe Seeler with his 43rd international goal. But Steven Bergwijn (68th) equalized and denied Flick a triumph over Louis van Gaal, whom he had repeatedly acknowledged as a role model. In the final phase, the match threatened to tip over, after a few changes it became apparent that Flick was missing a total of ten players, some of whom were well-known.
The Netherlands had lifted the corona measures a few days ago, and 50,000 fans got in a party mood with electro pop and hits. The DFB team should take them away from them, as Flick emphasized, “have fun and show everything we have”. And that was quite a lot. First, the active style of play demanded by the national coach.
The Elftal was attacked deep in their own half and “stressed out”, as Flick likes to say. In the build-up, the German back four became a back three because left-back David Raum mostly pushed up. Defense chief Antonio Rüdiger, alongside whom Nico Schlotterbeck got another chance to prove himself, took over the design in his 50th international match.
Before that, Jamal Musiala again proved to be a real alternative on the six as a replacement for Joshua Kimmich: the youngster claimed balls in the smallest of spaces and demonstrated his strong technique. The first chance belonged to Oranje when Teun Koopmeiners failed to head past captain Manuel Neuer (6′). But then Leroy Sane (12th) and Kai Havertz (19th) had good opportunities. Flick wanted to see Timo Werner “how he proves himself against strong defenders”.
The Chelsea striker hit the bottom of the bar after a cross from space (21′), but was ruled offside. A little later he claimed a penalty when he fell too easily after a brief contact from Dortmund’s Donyell Malen (29′). Malen missed the possible 1-0 (35th), but then Müller struck. Werner’s fine pass brought Musiala sharply inside, where Tyrell Malacia, who was under pressure from Havertz, cleared the penalty spot directly to Müller. His hard shot gave Freiburg’s Mark Flekken no chance in the Oranje goal.
Almost immediately after the change of sides, Raum had the huge opportunity to make it 0: 2 after a sugar pass from Sané, who had been weak until then, but the Hoffenheimer missed the goal (47th). The hosts now increasingly opened their game, which gave the DFB-Elf space. But these were rarely used. Musiala missed with a header (62nd). That took revenge when the Netherlands struck out of nowhere: Raum lost a header duel with Denzel Dumfries and Joker Bergwijn stabbed. Shortly after, Germany were lucky when referee Craig Pawson (England) checked and took back a penalty call after a foul by Flick’s favorite student, Thilo Kehrer.