What the UEFA Champions League sheet, which has been ritually waved over the kick-off circle for almost 30 years, has recently been to the DFB with its generously dimensioned eagle coat of arms. The sounds of fanfare accompanied the helpers and accomplices as they shook the cloth, and a spectacle atmosphere was celebrated in the Volkspark. 25,000 visitors had come, the house was sold out, the stadium announcer proudly reported, and there was also no talk of a cool North German atmosphere.
The always spirited spectators played their part in an eventful and exciting game between the German national team against Romania, in which the home side struggled in vain for a long time before they left the field as deserved winners. The goal for the decisive 2-1 in the 81st minute was the result of a successful triad: corner – Thomas Müller – goal. The man from Munich triumphed in an unusual role – he had only been substituted on a quarter of an hour earlier.
Romania wanted to annoy the Germans
Immediately after the kick-off, the Romanians made it clear with determination: They wanted to annoy the big opponent, who had recently excelled with three victories in one stroke – and if possible more than that. At first it seemed pretend But above all to be the Turkish referee Cüneyt Cakir, who had something against an uprising by the outsider: The referee rewarded Timo Werner with a penalty after the attacker went down in a duel with Andrei Burca.
No, no, no discussion, Cakir brushed off the protesting Romanians, ‘Joshua Kimmich was already getting ready to execute. Until the video colleague answered and showed the game master doubts. Rightly so: Cakir canceled his decision and graciously left the yellow card for Werner due.
Hansi Flick had seen no reason to change the successful formation of the September trilogy, only Kai Havertz had to give way to Marco Reus, so Thomas Müller had to make do with the unfamiliar place on the bench for the time being. Shortly after the stolen penalty kick, astonishment and unrest spread there. The Romanians set a surprising point on the program by single-mindedly going over to the opening goal.
Ianis Hagi, 22-year-old son of the great Gheorghe Hagi – called “Carpathian Maradona” at the time – skilfully left the defenders Thilo Kehrer and Antonio Rüdiger behind him and also the goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen no chance of defense during his solo march into the penalty area ( 8th minute).
Ter Stegen, briefly taken on for Manuel Neuer (adductor problems), knows such situations well enough from 26 often unfortunate international appearances: Before he can even hold a ball, he has to get it out of the goal. Ter Stegen and the national team – that has the character of a mesalliance.
For a few minutes the German team reacted quite shocked, there was another, not harmless, advance by the anything but cautious guests (through center forward George Puscas, 11th), and some viewers probably wondered: What is happening here right now? But then the Germans came, not huge and irresistible, but at least steady.
Up until the break, the game spun mainly around the Romanian penalty area, occasionally the ball found its way behind the defensive lines, but the home side rarely posed a serious goal threat. A sharp shot and a stray flank from Serge Gnabry temporarily caused murmurs, nothing more. Leroy Sané tried hard, but often got stuck; Kimmich’s attempts at deep pass were regularly returned to the sender; Timo Werner always ran around where the ball didn’t go.
The second half began as the first had ended, Germany ran united against the deficit – and soon had success with it. Serge Gnabry confirmed his shooting and scoring qualities with the 1-1. Nevertheless, Hansi Flick looked seriously across the lawn and, despite the unobjectionable efforts of his team, it would be a long time before he could relax a bit. The number and grade of chances increased, the number of hits did not. Reus and Sané shot the ball into the stands instead of into the net, and when Gnabry was about to correct the omissions of his colleagues, Sané’s hoe stood in the way. Only the joker named Müller brought success after all.