Joshua Kimmich said before the game that Germany needed to avoid a bad one-goal defeat in the World Cup. They have started their last two major tournaments the same way. And then he walked out humiliated.
But the tactical stalemate that characterized Germany’s decline under the late reign of Joachim Löw remains under Hansi Flick. In a classic two-half game, when Japan upped the tactical stakes in the second half, Germany didn’t have a plan B.
Japan strikes at the heart of Germany’s problems
What might be called the “Robin Gosens problem” of Germany’s last major tournament — building a strategy around the least established player on the team — seemed reincarnated by David Raum in a conservative first half. Neither team risked much, Germany softly canvassed and were rewarded with a penalty through Raum’s advances; and Japan held promise on the counter until Germany’s ball retention and game control improved over time.
But Germany was too comfortable. When Japan brought in an additional defender at half time to counter Germany’s attacks on the left flank, the problem was solved. Japan pressed aggressively, kept a higher line, and added dynamism in midfield turnovers played to their advantage.
Late in the game, a clueless Germany was humiliated to see Manuel Neuer running for corners and free kicks. Meanwhile, Japan’s incisive options on the wings came to life. Both goals were scored by substitutes in attack. By comparison, Hansi Flick’s response to Japan’s equalizing goal was unimaginative: two equal substitutions and no racy tactics.
entertainment and anxiety
After endless politics and three scoreless draws in the first nine games of the tournament, a bit of pure entertainment should have been nice. The heavy first half even threatened to make the German team photo, a protest of FIFA’s handling of the One Love armband, the highlight of the day.
But the surprise of the second half meant anxiety, not delight. Japan was tactically superior and physically more willing. Flick had little to show for adding his main additions to the team, as Gotze, Hofmann, Fullkrug and Moukoko accomplished little.
The appointment of Hansi Flick was supposed to restore Germany to a club of tactically advanced international nations after their stalemate under Low. But there was no reinvention of Flick’s Champions League-winning Bayern Munich here. Although Jamal Musiala showed flashes of skill, he and Kai Havertz were pretty much muted when Germany’s six forwards failed to mesh. The build game relied too much on the mechanical insistence of years past: seeing repeat possession recycled to a forward left-back.
Off the pitch, Germany’s football association is said to be considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, furious over FIFA’s rejection of the One Love bracelet.
The current risk in German football is the prospect of bigger headlines off the pitch than on it.
Photo credit: IMAGO/Xinhua
World Cup 2022 Guide
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