In the not so distant past, Germany, at the start of a World Cup, was assured of a finalist place or, at worst, of a presence in the last four. The Nationalmannschaft sometimes fell, but never from very high. It was reliable like its sedans, magnificently arrogant and always there. But the clichés have lived and we must accept a present in which the quadruple world champion stumbles upon entry for the second consecutive time after 2018.
In their misfortune, the Germans have made one happy: Spain. In Group E, the fate of the two European powers was linked before this last day. Hansi Flick’s players have done well beat Costa Rica (4-2), thursday 1er December, in Al-Bayt, during a match refereed by the French Stéphanie Frappart – a first at the Women’s World Cup. Problem, a few kilometers further south in Doha, the Roja stumbled against Japan (1-2). With six points, the Japanese finish first, Spain are second ahead of the Nationalmaanschaft due to better goal difference (+6, against + 1).
The Spanish “savior” is called Kai Havertz, a young man from Aix-La-Chapelle. At the 70e minute, lightning fell on the Old Continent. Despite an almost indecent domination and facing a team attacking with two, Germany achieved the feat of conceding a second goal on a failed outing by their goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, hit by decline. At 2-1, Costa Rica is then in the round of 16. The Ticos had three minutes to pinch themselves, no more, before the equalizer from Havertz just came into play. The Chelsea striker indirectly secures Spanish qualification with a third goal, something to be thanked for by the daily brand of one “Gracias” hardly ironic.
“Dance”, “thank you”, but above all goodbye. Another German entrant, Niclas Füllkrug scores well for honor in stoppage time and gives grist to the mill for nostalgics of a return to a real number 9 in the national team. World champion in 2014 thanks to a cultural revolution based on a game less direct, more sophisticated and very inspired by that of… Spain, Germany produces beautiful ball handlers – Sané, Gnabry, Kimmich, Gundogan, without forgetting 19-year-old nugget Jamal Musiala – but no longer knows how to be cold, realistic and ruthless. As were in their time Beckenbauer, Breitner, Matthäus or, in the more recent past, Hummels.
Eighteen months from organizing “his” Euro, downgrading awaits for a team also eliminated in the round of 16 of the last European championship by England. “I don’t think that Germany has become a second division formation, that we are no longer a team for major tournaments”, however assures the most popular man of the evening in Madrid: Kai Havertz. Less detached, the veteran Thomas Müller accused the blow at the microphone of the AR channel, mentioned “an absolute disaster” and entrusted his “feeling of helplessness” after this 121e selection which may well be the last for him.
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