National team
“Prestigious”: Flick’s explosive duel with Lewandowski
Hansi Flick and Robert Lewandowski won the treble together in 2020. photo
© M. Donato/FC Bayern/dpa
This trial of strength harbors risks – and opportunities? After conceding six goals in the last two international matches, the German defense is badly battered in the rendezvous with one of the world’s best strikers.
Goodbye is it fun? Perhaps. But maybe not. In any case, the rendezvous with Robert Lewandowski in the National Stadium in Warsaw entails considerable risks for Hansi Flick and the German national football team in addition to emotions and opportunities.
After the three goals conceded in the 1000th international match against Ukraine, which was not ready for the European Championship, the fragile DFB defense awaited the showdown with the well-known long-time Bundesliga torminator Lewandowski in the second test on Friday (8.45 p.m. / ARD) against Poland.
“I’m happy to see him,” said Flick on Thursday evening in Warsaw. Working with his former goalkeepers at FC Bayern was “fun”. Only Lewandowski should not meet when they meet again. “Defend uncompromisingly,” was Flick’s central demand after the 3-3 win over Ukraine. He wants to continue the three-chain experiment that failed in Bremen in Warsaw.
Flick and Lewandowski won the treble in 2020
In contrast to Flick and the German internationals, Lewandowski can look forward to the friendly game at the end of his first season after moving to FC Barcelona from Munich. Even if the two-time world footballer described the duel with the big neighbor Germany as “prestigious”.
“I played in the country for many years and I have several colleagues, acquaintances, friends in the team,” said Poland’s captain during training in Warsaw. “I also know the coach very well,” said the 34-year-old. In 2020, Flick and Lewandowski won the Champions League together and completed the treble in Lisbon.
Lewandowski expects “a lot of emotions, not only sporting ones but also private ones”. However, he also said that the most important international game for Poland’s side at the end of the season is next Tuesday’s second game in Moldova. Then it is important for Poland to qualify for the European Championship 2024 in Germany.
“Lewandowski is of course extremely dangerous”
However, the German guests should not derive consideration or a half-strength goal from this statement by Lewandowski. He always wants to score, certainly in his 141st international match. There are easier tasks for any opponent than stopping Poland’s star. “Robert Lewandowski is of course extremely dangerous,” said Dortmund’s Marius Wolf. Gladbach’s Jonas Hofmann made a similar statement. “Lewy is one of the world’s best strikers that we have in our time. It is clear that he is extremely dangerous in front of goal.”
Lewandowski has played against Germany four times so far. He scored twice, in 2011 in a 2-2 draw in Gdansk and in 2015 in a 3-1 defeat in the European Championship qualifier in Frankfurt. Lewandowski was also there in 2014, when Poland scored their only win against the DFB selection, also in Warsaw, with a 2-0 win. Back then, Antonio Rüdiger was also part of the German defense and should be particularly challenged again on Friday evening. The Real Madrid giant demands “devotion” for defending: “You have to win duels.”
Especially against Lewandowski. Hofmann not only sees the risks after conceding six goals against Belgium (2:3) and Ukraine. He preferred to emphasize the opportunities. “Especially in situations like this, where it seems like the team should be a bit unsure, it’s fun to show – even against one of the world’s best strikers – that you can keep a clean sheet,” he said. “That would be a big exclamation mark again and would be excellent defensive work if you can stop players like that.”