Joachim Löw’s era as coach of the German national team came to an end after a painful defeat at Wembley. Aggressive Englishmen have abruptly destroyed the dream of the fourth German European championship title – the once glamorous era of the world championship coach comes to an end in the European Championship round of 16 before the longed-for final game.
55 years after the legendary World Cup final in 1966, the Three Lions did not need a historically dubious picket goal on Tuesday evening to defeat the German national soccer team for the first time in a decisive tournament game. Once again, when things went wrong, Löw had no plan B ready. Raheem Sterling (75th minute) and Harry Kane with his first European Championship goal (86th) scored the goals for the 2-0 (0-0) victory for the English against a far too harmless one in the tense atmosphere in front of 45,000 enthusiastic fans DFB-Elf. For record coach Löw, the DFB time ends with a disappointment after almost 15 years and 198 international matches as national coach.
Thomas Müller missed the chance to equalize in the 81st minute in one of the few German goalscoring opportunities. While the DFB-Elf only returns to the EM quarters in Herzogenaurach to pack suitcases after a tournament with more shade than light, and then start their summer vacation in frustration, the EM trip of the English continues. On Saturday, the ticket for the next Wembley game in the semi-finals is to be bought in the quarter-finals against Sweden or the Ukraine in Rome. July 11th is the day of the final in the English football calendar.
Germany begins committed
Löw and his hapless DFB players then unintentionally have time off. In September, Hansi Flick starts a new chapter as the new national coach with the continuation of the World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022 – a lot of work awaits the former Löw assistant and Bayern success coach after the EM disappointment.
The Germans appeared committed at the beginning, after both teams had sent a strong signal before kick-off. Löw joined the common kneeling of the players. A few seconds before kick-off, the 61-year-old, like his English colleague Gareth Southgate, fell on one knee as a sign against racism. Again there were isolated boos during the gesture, but the vast majority of the up to 45,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium applauded loudly.
This atmosphere in the English football temple in general. Hours before the game, fans celebrated a wet and happy party around the stadium. Black, red and gold flags were laid out on the seats, almost exclusively local fans sang and made noise and celebrated a boisterous European Championship break. Since November 2019, a German national team had not played in front of such a backdrop because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Löw waves his hand in frustration
In the initial phase, this inspired the DFB-Elf. Leon Goretzka, who, as expected, replaced Ilkay Gündogan (bruised skull) in his first start at this tournament, could only be stopped by a foul after a fine pass from Thomas Müller shortly before the edge of the penalty area (8th). Kai Havertz shot the free kick from a central position into the English wall. In addition to Goretzka, Havertz’s Chelsea colleague Timo Werner was also a new member of the starting line-up. The attacker had the best chance to take the lead after half an hour, but failed because of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (32nd). Werner had to go out twenty minutes before the end, Serge Gnabry came for him.
But the English dominated between the two chances and in the quarter of an hour before half-time. The Germans lost too many duels in midfield, the Three Lions played more aggressively and at times gained a clear excess. Loew crossed his arms. Loew waved his hand in frustration. What he saw there on the sacred lawn, he couldn’t at all like. At that time, Bayern professional Müller was symbolic, running (too) much in the empty space and trying to push his teammates on.
But Joshua Kimmich, for example, was constantly on the defensive and could hardly set any offensive accents. The English succeeded better in this. Sterling failed with a shot at goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who, like his counterpart Harry Kane, wore a captain’s armband in rainbow colors as a symbol of tolerance and sexual and gender diversity (16.). The Tottenham Hotspur attacker, who had been quite hapless in the tournament so far, almost punished the Germans shortly before the move.
Pickford sensationally saves against Havertz
After a bad pass from Müller, Sterling penetrated the penalty area. Matthias Ginter’s rescue attempt landed at Kane, who seemed to have outwitted Neuer – before Mats Hummels prevented the almost certain 0: 1 deficit with an impressive tackle (45th + 2). Hummels tried to maintain defensive stability – but could not prevent the two goals.
Even in the prestige duel with the English, Löw held on to his basic formation in the 3-4-3 system. His colleague Gareth Southgate changed his system and switched to a back three in defense, which was almost defeated a few minutes after the restart.
But Pickford quickly steered Havertz’s dropkick over the bar (48th). Again, the initial phase in front of Prince William (39), his wife Kate (39) and son George (7) as well as pop star Ed Sheeran (30, “Shape Of You”) and ex-soccer star David Beckham (46) belonged to the DFB -Team – but again the urge phase lasted too short. Instead, the strong Sterling and Kane provided the German knockout with his tournament premiere