Hansi has to flick a switch

Spanish clash is ‘first final’ for Germany

HANSI FLICK spoke about having a good night’s sleep and even offered his inquisitor a smile when asked if he’d decided on the identity of his team.

If ever there was a gap between perception and reality, however, it was here. Germany’s under-pressure coach did his best to stress that everything was normal ahead of a must-win date with Spain but you only had to look and listen to see that wasn’t the case.

Flick arrived at the main media centre in Doha alone, save for some accompanying officials from the German Federation, and that is expected to land them with a fine for failing to provide a player to speak, as is required, at the pre-match press conference.

Relations between the Germans and FIFA are strained following the gesture they made before their 2-1 defeat by Japan — hands covering their mouths — in response to being prevented from wearing the One Love armband.

This, Flick insisted, had not caused his squad to lose focus and he stressed the mood within was good, positive even.

His explanation for travelling solo from their base camp in Qatar’s north was the fact he didn’t want a key player being subjected to an unnecessary three-hour round trip.

‘It’s so important that they devote their energy to training,’ Flick said.

What he wouldn’t accept, though, was the possibility that he might be tense. ‘I’m fine,’ he insisted. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’

Really? Flick, with his heavy stubble and puffy eyes, gave the impression of a man who had been pacing the floors at all hours since they crumbled against Japan on Wednesday, wondering how to stop a nation whose 7-0 thrashing of Costa Roca the same night left a deep impression.

Flick arrived in Qatar knowing Germany need a switch in fortunes. They, like England, were poor in the Nations League and a 2-1 defeat to Hungary in Leipzig in September shone on a light on their limitations and inconsistencies.

But to be facing elimination after two games? What a fall from grace this would be for the ultimate tournament team, of whom Gareth Southgate had spoken so enthusiastically last week.

He may want England to be like Germany but he certainly wouldn’t swap positions with them now.

‘The main focus is the football,’ said Flick, who will look to Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich to provide drive from his engine room. ‘I am convinced about what we want to do and how we want to play football. It could have been avoided (Japan) but we stick to our guns.

‘We will implement what we believe in. We will see a team perform who knows what is at stake and will do what they can to get into the final eight.’

Far easier said than done. Spain are the worst possible side Germany could face, the matadors who could drive them demented by playing keep ball — but it would be extraordinary if the four-time champions failed to get out of the group stages for the second World Cup in a row.

‘If you look at the last two tournaments, we have not done very well,’ said Flick, referencing the last-16 defeat to England at Euro 2020. ‘We are completely focused. It is the first final for us (against Spain) and this is what football is all about. It was important to tell the players what they did not do well. There were situations where we made a lot of mistakes. We articulated this and made them understand. They can implement this. We are convinced about our philosophy and we will to implement this.

‘We had 26 attempts on goal against Japan, the highest number ever in a group game. But we only hit back of the net once. That life is in the past. Let’s focus on the things we can decide ourselves. We need to be convinced that we can do that.’

Clearly, Flick was trying to galvanise his players. The more you thought about it, though, the more it seemed he was trying to convince himself.