After seven months and five consecutive games without a win, Germany finally rounded off their World Cup preparation with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia – but it was anything but spectacular.
“The manager said that the players were really up for this game,” commented former Aston Villa and Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsberger at half-time in Leverkusen, “but it doesn’t look like it so far.”
It says a lot about the expectation levels in Germany that “The Hammer” could deliver such a verdict with the world champions leading 2-0 and having hit the woodwork twice. But, against a team ranked 67th in the world, more was expected.
“You could see that not everything was working,” admitted Toni Kroos post-match.
Reus and Werner: World Cup debutants make the difference
Making only his 31st international appearance at the age of 29, Marco Reus’ international career has been plagued by injury, cruelling ruling him out of Brazil 2014 and Euro 2016.
Seven years his junior, Timo Werner was already making his 15th appearance and, after two impressive Bundesliga seasons, is just starting his international career.
Both are looking forward to their first major tournament and Joachim Löw won’t have failed to notice that both of Germany’s goals involved the Borussia Dortmund playmaker or the Red Bull Leipzig striker.
Werner, the small, pacey striker who has scored 21 goals in each of the last two seasons for his club, demonstrated his predatory instincts in the box when firing home Reus’ cushioned volley from close range.
Just before the break, he turned provider, crossing for Thomas Müller to give Germany a flattering 2-0 half-time lead.
“We lacked a bit of coolness and cleverness,” added Manuel Neuer, who spent most of the first half observing from the centre circle before giving way to Marc-André ter Stegen at half-time. “I didn’t get the feeling that we really wanted to score goals.”
Honest appraisals from two world champions – but perhaps a little harsh on two players who did stand out for Germany. Two players who, unlike Neuer, Kroos and several of their colleagues, have never been to a World Cup, albeit for different reasons.
Defensive lapses
“We really should have scored more though,” said Kroos, who had previously been critical of some of his Germany teammates following the 1-0 defeat to Brazil in Berlin in March.
“And, against such a weak opponent [as Saudi Arabia], we conceded too many chances.”
Indeed, with Germany’s attacking threat wavering after the withdrawal of Reus and Werner early in the second half, the Saudis did manage to create chances, eventually halving the deficit with a late penalty. And it could have been a humiliating finish for Germany had Mohammad Al-Sahlawi got a touch on an injury-time cross.
A tournament team
Julian Draxler aside, who started ahead of the injured Mesut Özil, this was Joachim Löw’s first choice XI. The same players are likely to begin Germany’s title defence against Mexico in Moscow on the 17th June, and a significant improvement will be expected.
The history books suggest this shouldn’t be a problem: after all, Germany have not gone into a major tournament on the back of two warm-up wins once since 2010. And they’ve usually done alright.
