Match winner Niclas Füllkrug high-fived his teammates in a thick winter coat in the style of a trainer, and the national players were happy to celebrate their new start on a small lap of honour.
With his first brace in the national jersey, Füllkrug made a significant contribution to the fact that the DFB selection was able to give their fans a nice evening of football 114 days after the bitter World Cup defeat in Qatar in a 2-0 (2-0) win over construction opponents Peru.
“It was about getting the international season off to a good start, getting the fans involved a bit, and I think the first half was really good,” said Füllkrug on ZDF. It was a “sovereign” victory. “Great atmosphere, I think the people were happy to see the national team again,” said goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. “We played well, especially in the first half. He was “happy that we got on well.” Captain Joshua Kimmich said the second half was “a bit torn up”.
In front of 25,358 spectators in the Mainz Arena, Hansi Flick’s completely renewed team with three debutants around the dynamic Dortmund player Marius Wolf fulfilled the central requirements of the national coach: Led by Kimmich, they showed commitment, will, defensive stability and at least in the person of center forward Füllkrug (12 ./33rd minute) also the lack of efficiency at the World Cup tournament. Substitute and very dynamic Serge Gnabry hit the bar spectacularly after the break (60′), the playful Kai Havertz shot a penalty kick against the post (68′).
Now against Belgium
After all, the victory against the limited Peruvians was never in danger. Already on Tuesday there will be a showdown with a stronger opponent in Cologne on the way to the home European Championship 2024 against Belgium.
After two days of huge Bayern fuss about coaches Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel, Kimmich was the only Munich professional to start – a rarity in the DFB selection. Flick’s personnel and tactical changes with Füllkrug and Timo Werner as the new dual leader paid off in the early stages.
The Bremen striker, who had just failed after a corner from the strong and often challenged Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, scored after a strong assist from Havertz, who passed a long ball on with his chest in an exemplary manner. More presence in the penalty area and higher speed in attacking play were two of Flick’s requirements after the embarrassing end of the World Cup. “We want to see passion, want to see exciting football and conviction,” said the national coach shortly before kick-off on ZDF.
Lack of precision in gameplay
It was clear time and again that almost four months after the last World Cup group game against Costa Rica “not everything could work”. Here and there there was a lack of precision in the build-up and, as with the missed double chance of Florian Wirtz and Werner, who were injured during the World Cup, the last determination in front of the goal in the 20th minute. After the lead, the DFB selection seemed much more self-confident and determined. Ter Stegen in the German goal hardly had to intervene. The fans and the DFB leadership liked that.
The new sports director Rudi Völler, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and DFL Supervisory Board Chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke followed the game side by side in the stands and were apparently in a good mood, and Flick’s predecessor Joachim Löw was also in the stadium. A “spark” should jump over to the fans, Neuendorf had said. However, the fans of the world number 21 were particularly loud in the sold-out Mainz Arena. to hear Peru. The filling jug goals in particular were celebrated by the German entourage.
Used by Havertz, the increasingly strong wolf, who had initially fitted in with a bad bad pass (3rd), crossed into the penalty area – Füllkrug ran where a goalscorer has to be and scored for the fifth time in the fifth international match. Völler, once a striker himself admired by the fans, smiled at the goal celebrations of the national team. Füllkrug almost scored a hat-trick just before the break, but Luis Advíncula got in the way of Bremen’s goal (44′). Again Havertz was the initiator.
Second half with less momentum
Flick made three changes in the second half, Leon Goretzka, Gnabry and Mario Götze came on for Emre Can, Werner and Wirtz. The other five newcomers to the DFB squad alongside Wolf initially had to be patient – Mergim Berisha and Kevin Schade were only used in the closing stages. Gnabry had to be treated for a longer time after a collision with Gallese shortly after the restart, the 27-year-old left the lawn with a nosebleed, but came back.
The DFB selection had lost some of the momentum of the first half at this point, the game suffered from many interruptions and discussions between both teams, including referee Maria Caputi. Gnabry’s sideways pull after Kimmich’s submission to the crossbar after an hour of play then raised hopes for more goals – which Havertz did not fulfill from the penalty spot. Nico Schlotterbeck took the penalty. The DFB selection continued to play for the third goal, but did not reward themselves again.
