Germany face Spain with specter of early exit looming
Just one match into the Qatar World Cup, Germany face what amounts to a must-win clash against Spain on Sunday, a team they have not beaten in a competitive fixture since 1988.
Germany were stunned 2-1 by Japan in their opening match. On Friday, Chelsea striker Kai Havertz said the players knew their challenge ahead, especially against a Spain team that steamrollered Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening game.
Havertz recognized that the challenges were not just on the field. Havertz revealed the squad and Flick held a wide-ranging team meeting on Thursday. Sitting alongside Havertz, midfielder Julian Brandt said “we had a very good exchange. All of us left the conversation feeling like we had the determination to win the game.” The importance of the Spain match at the Al-Bayt Stadium cannot be underestimated — national squad manager and 1996 Euros winner Oliver
Bierhoff has asked what another early exit would mean for the future of football in Germany. Speaking with Germany TV network ARD on Friday, Bierhoff said losing “our first final” in Qatar would have widespread ramifications for the sport.
“What does it mean for German football? For the further development?” Bierhoff asked.
“And if you go a little deeper: (What
does it mean) for the investment we have to make to stay competitive (and) to have new players in eight or ten years?“
Far from being haunted by the ghosts of their early exit in Russia however, Havertz said the match could represent “a turnaround” for the under-fire side, saying “we all dreamed of playing these games.” “Now we are in a bad moment, but I think that can switch around quite fast — if we win the game on Sunday.”
Captain Manuel Neuer on Friday said Sunday’s match was “a huge chance,” emphasizing the side could learn from Russia “we blew it once and now we know how not to do it.”
Brandt said: “Spain come to the stadium on Sunday on the back of a 7-0 victory but it is a chance, on Sunday, a chance to change the atmosphere.”