Hansi Flick seemed composed. After the next setback with his insecure German national soccer team, the national coach spoke out in a calm voice late on Friday evening in the Warsaw National Stadium, the clear but difficult task against mediocrity. “We have to fight and win,” said Flick after the 0-1 (0-1) loss against a conservative Polish selection and before the test on Tuesday in Gelsenkirchen against Colombia, which was extremely important for the mood at the European Championship.
“In the process we are in right now, a win is very, very important, because there is trust and then there is a bit of calm,” said the national coach. It is “elementary” to win.
Three games without a win in a row, only four wins from the last 15 games – the most recent record under Flick is far from being used to pull the football nation along a year before the 2024 home European Championship. The 58-year-old said that he could understand the criticism and the skepticism before returning to the phrases “phases” and “processes”. “I am absolutely convinced of the path we are taking,” repeated the national coach, who assured that his team’s commitment could not be denied.
In the first half, after the confusing 3: 3 against Ukraine, the DFB selection, which was newly formed except for Joshua Kimmich and Antonio Rüdiger, didn’t really fit together. Jakub Kiwior headed in after a corner and insufficient resistance from Thilo Kehrer. After the break, the Flick team improved. Poland had goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to thank for not equalizing. Poland played without world star Robert Lewandowski in the second 45 minutes and has an important European Championship qualifier on its schedule in Moldova on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old then encouraged the German team. “Germany still has time before the European Championship. You have to be patient. Germany will play better,” said Bayern’s long-time goalscorer, who also referred to the generational change in the German team. “There is a generational change not only in Germany. There are many new, many young players. That takes time. But with the players that Germany has, you can also look forward positively,” explained Lewandwoski, who recently won the Spanish championship with the FC Barcelona became
“At the end of the day results are important for us, for self-confidence,” said Rüdiger. “We lost, it’s bitter. The result doesn’t reflect how the game went. They have a chance and they score. Unfortunately, we just need a little more.”
Captain Joshua Kimmich said that “of course” the coach is responsible for the formation, tactics and approach. “But in the end we are players on the pitch and we have to fill that with life.”
Flick made it clear that Champions League winner Ilkay Gündogan will return against Colombia on Tuesday. In addition, the national coach wants to take stock first. “Now we have to let the game sink in, we’ll analyze it and see who’s strong on Tuesday,” said Flick.
