Status: 11/24/2022 11:52 a.m
Leroy Sané has returned to training after suffering a knee injury and could be available for the game against Spain. The day after losing the opening game at the World Cup against Japan, national coach Hansi Flick complained that “intensity and activity” were missing.
The day after a game was always considered “media-free” in past tournaments. For the World Cup in Qatar, the German Football Association (DFB) had announced that there would be a digital press conference with national team manager Oliver Bierhoff and one of Flick’s assistants the day after the games.
However, the plan was scrapped after the start. The national coach spoke on Thursday (November 23, 2022). The “miss” had already been made, he introduced. That was quite a good picture, as several missed shots in the form of wasted chances prevented the German team from extending their lead against Japan. That’s how it went in the last 20 minutes as the opposition turned the game around and are in fine form after beating Costa Rica 2-1 and with a game to come.
Flick demands intensity and activity
The DFB selection has zero points and the game against Spain on Sunday (November 27th, 2022) ahead of them. “We have to do some things differently, also tactically,” said the national coach without giving any more detailed insights. Switching to a three-way chain isn’t one of them: “We haven’t gotten that far yet to change our system.”
For the game against Spain, the national coach demanded: “We have to keep the intensity high and we have to keep the activity high.” The next sentence was then part of the analysis of the defeat against Japan: “We missed that in the last 20 minutes.”
Sané could be an option again
Flick acquitted his captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer of a fault in the goals that could hardly be dismissed, at least for the second: “We can prevent the goals in a different way, we have to prevent them in a different way.”
Leroy Sané, who missed the opener against Japan, could be back against Spain. “He’s currently training individually on the pitch,” said Flick. This is no guarantee that the FC Bayern professional will be ready for action on Sunday, but it is “a good sign”.
Source: sportschau.de