World Cup qualification
Flick’s seventh trick: DFB selection also wins in Armenia
Cozy atmosphere in the DFB team: Hansi Flick (left) and Jonathan Tah
© Christian Charisius / DPA
Regardless of the many failures, the DFB selection continues their winning streak under Flick. In the 4: 1 in Armenia, Thomas Müller and Co. were only challenged to a limited extent. Now all eyes are on the World Cup in Qatar.
Wrapped in his thick winter jacket, Hansi Flick waited on the sidelines for his national players and hugged each of them individually. The national coach was satisfied, and the seventh prank was not a problem either. Starting record holder Flick and his DFB selection have said goodbye to the winter break before the big year of the World Cup with a mandatory victory that has never been in danger. In the 4: 1 (2: 0) in Yerevan, Armenia was no yardstick for the German team, which was also victorious in the seventh World Cup qualifying game with national coach Flick.
The German national soccer team, which had been decimated by Corona and injuries, was again happy to play three days after the 9-0 shooting match against Liechtenstein, but occasionally also vulnerable in the newly formed defense. England professionals Kai Havertz (15th minute) and Ilkay Gündogan (45th + 4 / penalty and 50th) as well as Jonas Hofmann (64th) met in front of around 13,000 spectators for the Flick team, which had long since qualified for the finals in Qatar . Former Dortmund’s Henrich Mchitarjan (59th) scored the acclaimed goal for the hosts with a penalty kick.
“The way we play football, also this togetherness, is great”
“We won 4-1. We achieved our goal with 27 points. Not everything went very well. But the way we play football, including this togetherness, is great. The team always wants to play forward, Creating opportunities and trying to dominate the opponent, “said Flick at the TV broadcaster RTL and added:” We know where we need to improve, but we still have time. “
For Flick, after graduating in cold Yerevan, the focus is now on the World Cup in hot Qatar. The national coach will travel to the Persian Gulf to look for a place to stay this year, and the World Cup casting with the national team will continue in March with probably two friendly matches against significantly higher-profile opponents.
Corona failures, injuries and a breather for the stars Manuel Neuer or Marco Reus – the DFB convoy had shrunk to 16 field players and three goalkeepers on the 6000-kilometer trip to Yerevan. “Nevertheless the quality is very good,” said the national coach and demanded nothing less than a victory at the end of the World Cup qualification.
At least offensively, the six changes in the DFB team were less noticeable compared to the 9-0 win against Liechtenstein. Havertz, who was last suspended, fitted in well as a replacement for Reus and was very present both as a goal scorer and as a template provider. Defensively, however, there were some wobbles and inadequacies that Flick didn’t like. Knowing that these mistakes will be punished against top nations.
DFB hit seven for Havertz
But Armenia is not on the top shelf in world football. That became clear right from the start. After fine preparatory work by Leroy Sané, Havertz missed the huge chance to take the lead after just five minutes. Ten minutes later, the Champions League winner did better. After a great combination over Thomas Müller and Hofmann, the man from Chelsea executed ice cold. It was Havertz’s seventh goal in the DFB jersey.
Another hit prevented Armenia’s goalkeeper Stanislaw Buchnew, who defused a shot by Sané (26). Hofmann was again the template provider. The Gladbacher is one of the winners in the Flick era, this time he was allowed to run more aggressively.
This also meant that the defensive alliance with Thilo Kehrer, Matthias Ginter, Jonathan Tah and David Raum was newly formed. Possibly a reason for the voting problems, because Armenia definitely had opportunities. Eduard Sperzjan put a shot just over the gate after Tah had acted a little too hesitantly (27th). Then Sargis Adamjan from Hoffenheim had a good 1: 1 opportunity after Neuhaus allowed himself a lapse (36th).
So it was only with the converted penalty from Gündogan shortly before the break that calm returned. Taron Woskanjan had brought Neuhaus off his feet, but the French referee Francois Letexier only decided on a penalty after the VAR intervened.
Marc-André ter Stegen had to reach behind him
With that the game was almost decided, and the opponent helped a lot after the break. Buchnew let a harmless shot by Gündogan slip through his hands. And Hofmann’s goal was preceded by a bad playback error.
In between, however, there was again carelessness of the DFB selection in the backward movement. If Khoren Bayramyan already had a good opportunity (56th), a penalty from Neuhaus finally helped the hosts to their first goal. The former Dortmund-based Mchitarjan converted safely and ensured that the new replacement Marc-André ter Stegen also had to reach behind him in his third outing in the current qualification. Meanwhile, Neuer had zeroed seven times.