Flick credits team’s mentality after draw
Germany coach Hansi Flick credited his side’s mentality ater they came back to grab a crucial 1-1 draw in their World Cup group game against Spain on Sunday.
The result means Germany will progress to the last 16 if they beat Costa Rica on Thursday and Spain do not lose to Japan.
“I liked our mentality,” Flick said. “We maintained a great level over 90 minutes - and we showed Spain what we wanted to do.”
Flick credited striker Niclas Fuellkrug, who scored in the 83rd minute ater coming off the bench.
“The things that Niclas did, for example - we need that determination.”
Flick said the fact his side kept up with an “outstanding” Spain side showed Germany was “heading in the right direction.”
“Spain are a great team with many young players. They play good football - I like the way they play football.
“We need to improve in defence but what is important is that the mentality is there.”
Flick refused to be drawn on whether Fuellkrug, who was playing just his second competitive match for Germany at the age of 29, had done enough to earn a start in Germany’s must-win game against Costa Rica.
“It is too early ater the game to make a statement.”
ENRIQUE’STHOUGHTSWITHLATEDAUGHTER: Spain coach Luis Enrique said his thoughts were with his late daughter Xana on what would have been her 13th birthday, ater his side ‘s 1-1 World Cup draw with Germany on Sunday.
Xana died from bone cancer in 2019, aged nine, during a period in which Luis Enrique stood down from the Spain job before later returning.
The coach paid tribute to her on the morning of the game with a video on social media and said he was coping with what happened naturally.
“It was a special day for my family, for a while we have thought about living through this as a natural part of life,” said Luis Enrique.
“We don’t physically have our daughter, but we think about her a lot.
“That is how life works. It is not just happiness, but also knowing how to manage these moments.”
Luis Enrique let his post in June 2019, with Xana passing away in August, before the coach returned to the helm of the Spain team in November 2019.
He took Spain to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and ater two games his team are top of Group E at the World Cup, needing a point from their last game against Japan to progress.
Despite conceding a late goal against Germany that stopped them virtually sealing qualification for the last 16, the coach was content.
“In the end we have to think about the position that we have in this moment,” said Luis Enrique.
“We are top of the classification in the ‘group of death’ and we have to be happy.”