Five goals, fast-paced football and happy fans – the National football team has transferred the momentum from the European Championships into the Nations League. The 5-0 (1-0) win against Hungary was a brilliant start and whets the appetite for the top match in Group 3 against arch-rivals Holland on Tuesday (8.45 p.m./RTL) in Amsterdam.
Even without the four retired DFB greats Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gündogan and Thomas Müller, the German team thrilled with its biggest victory under national coach Julian Nagelsmann in the Düsseldorf Arena, which was sold out with 49,235 spectators. Niclas Füllkrug (27th minute) and the brilliantly harmonious young stars Jamal Musiala (58th) and Florian Wirtz (68th) took the lead.
Bayern youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic (77th) scored his first international goal and penalty taker Kai Havertz (81st) completed the goal. There was even more in it: Havertz hit the crossbar twice more (33rd/72nd). “Oh, how beautiful it is,” sang the crowd a good two months after the European Championships at home. The goal anthem was sung five times “completely uninhibited.”
The German team was repeatedly driven by the new midfield strategist Pascal Groß in Kroos’ position. The rejuvenated team around the new captain Joshua Kimmich and the new number one Marc-André ter Stegen also works without Kroos and Co.
“Of course we have lost key players with a lot of experience. (…) It is also a great opportunity for everyone involved, for the coaching team, but also for the team, to usher in a certain new era,” Nagelsmann said on ZDF.
New era with six changes in the starting eleven
And the new era began with six changes in the starting eleven compared to the bitter quarter-final knockout at the home European Championship against eventual European champions Spain. The focus was on Pascal Gross, who replaced the retired world champion Kroos in the control center and made a strong impression.
The new Dortmund player was very present in midfield until he was substituted after an hour, set up Füllkrug’s opening goal and also provided the assist for Havertz’s header that hit the crossbar (33′). The 33-year-old was also the man for the set pieces.
New successor ter Stegen As usual, he radiated a lot of calm, but had very little to do. Füllkrug came into the team for Gündogan, which meant that Havertz was moved back a little.
The changed DFB team needed a good 20 minutes to get going after a disjointed start and to get the crowd excited. Then Nagelsmann’s eleven impressed with their quick transition play and deep runs, something the national coach had criticized at the European Championships. The two magicians Wirtz and Musiala in particular once again dominated the offensive game with an intoxicating performance.
The only shortcoming was the utilization of opportunities – at least in the first half. In addition to his header that hit the crossbar, Havertz missed another huge chance shortly before half-time (45th minute). Füllkrug also had two promising shots on goal, but Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi and his colleague Willi Orban defused the shots of the striker, who has moved to West Ham United (20th and 32nd minute).
For his 14th goal in 22 international matches, Füllkrug only had to push the ball over the line. Groß, Wirtz and David Raum had already done the rest in a fine combination.
First Andrich saves, then Musiala scores
The abundance of chances in the first half almost took its toll when substitute Bendeguz Bolla had a huge chance to equalize (56th minute). But Robert Andrich prevented anything worse with a great save. It was to be a key scene of the game. The two subsequent corners from the Hungarians brought nothing, instead a counterattack developed, which Musiala completed after a long pass from Wirtz, after which the Düsseldorf crowd was “completely detached” and also waved the Mexican flag around the arena.
After Wirtz crowned his strong performance with a long-range goal, German football fever was finally awakened again 64 days after the end of the European Championship dreams. The DFB selection really got into a good mood. Havertz was unlucky again with another shot hitting the crossbar (72nd minute), but substitute Aleksandar Pavlovic scored after another pass from Wirtz. The Munich player had missed the European Championship due to tonsillitis.
But there was also a happy ending for Havertz. After the former Leverkusen player was fouled himself, he coolly converted the penalty. Shortly afterwards, Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller also made his debut for the DFB team. (dpa)
