JAKARTA - Germany lost for the second time in a row in the first match of a World Cup. Coach Hansi Flick tried hard to forge the mentality of his players after losing 1-2 to Japan in the opening match of Group E of the 2022 World Cup Qatar.
This step must be taken considering that Germany's opponents this time were Spain who straddled Costa Rica with seven goals and had quality levels above Japan which ironically beat them. To be sure, this is a meeting that should have taken place in the World Cup final.
The four-time world champion is threatened with the same fate four years ago, which was eliminated faster than this tournament. But Flick believes the quality he has the German squad will be able to beat Spain.
Having taken a 1-0 lead in the first half which they were so dominant, Germany conceded two goals in the second half for his own mistakes, including the error of center-back Niklas Suele.
For a long time, criticism of the Panser team this time was addressed to its defense. And the match against Japan three days ago proved that criticism was not wrong.
After being beaten by Japan, Germany has now conceded six goals in their last four matches, even though his opponent this time was a very aggressive team attacking and hungry for goals until Costa Rica was destroyed 0-7 in the group's first match.
On the other hand, Spain does not carry the burden and pressure of Germany. After years of being burdened with a mission to repeat the success of the 2010 World Cup which they could no longer repeat.
Now Spain is entering a tournament with a lighter burden. Even under these conditions, Luis Enrique's team set a record when Gavi also scored a goal while using Costa Rica 7-0.
At the age of 18, Gavi became the youngest Spanish player to score in the World Cup. Gavi is also the second youngest World Cup scorer after Pele at the 1958 Duni Cup.
Spain was not included in the ranks of the favorite teams to win like Brazil, Argentina, and France, but their big win over Costa Rica led people to believe La Furia Roja deserves to now be in the line-up of powerful world champions.
If Germany is forced to overhaul the composition of players to cover the mistakes in the previous match, then Luis Enrique promises to change the squad because of the depth of his squad as if all of the 26 players he brought were core players.
"I don't know who will play, but for sure we won't keep the lineup," Enrique said. "We won't play seven games with 11 players (that's all)."
Luis Enrique may have decided to field back the first eleven players filled with young players after they proved themselves to be more than just capable when shaving Costa Rica 7-0.
Ferran Torres striker trio Marco Asensio and Dani Olmo will return to search for prey. They are now ready to terrorize the German defense.
Even so in midfield. Gavi, who is still eighteen, will return to partner with Pedri and Sergio Busquets, all of whom play at Bacelona.
The same thing happened to the defense. Aymeric Laporte is partnering again with his partner in Manchester City, Rodri. Meanwhile, Cesar Azpilicueta and Jordi Alba will be on the left and right of the defense area.
With a fixed formation of 4-3-3, Spain is ready to make Germany the second victim. They are definitely not a team that likes to increase the opponent because all opponents are treated the same.
But against Germany will be different from facing Costa Rica. Even if the Panser team was defeated by Japan, it did not mean that their quality was below Spain.
On the other hand, Germany can keep pace with Spain, including the capabilities of their two midfielders, Joshua Kimmich and Ilkay Gundogan, plus Seger Gnabry, in matching the hegemony of Sergio Busquets cs in Spain's midfield.
Therefore Germany's meeting with Spain promised fierce fighting in midfield.
In a state like this Hansi Flick may misswingerkreatif Leroy Sane, but the player is still recovering from a knee injury. Therefore, he still relies on Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz who are placed in positions that are not linear with each other in 4-2-3-1 formations.
In this scheme, Antonio Rudiger and Nico Schlotterbeck remain the pillars of defense behind veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Meanwhile, Niklas Sule and David Raum occupy both wings of defense.
The two teams met 25 times before this. Germany won nine times, while Spain won eight times.
Spain is the winner of the 2010 World Cup, while Germany has won four world times with the last occurring in 2014 in Brazil.
Spain beat Germany 6-0 at the last meeting of the two teams that took place in November 2020 in the European Nations League.
Spain qualified if they won this match. Instead, Germany was eliminated if they lost, and Japan at least drew against Costa Rica.
Germany failed to enter the knockout round at the 2018 World Cup in Russia after being defeated by Mexico and South Korea.
Spain (4-3-3): Unai Simon (GK); Cesar Azpilicueta, Rodri, Aymeric Laporte, Jordi Alba; Pedri, Sergio Busquets, Gavi; Ferran Torres, Marco Asensio, Dani OlmoGerman (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer (GK); Niklas Sule, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, David Raum; Joshua Kimmich, Ilkay Gundogan; Seger Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala; Kai Havertz
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