Germany struggle past Liechtenstein

St Gallen – Germany laboured to a 2-0 win over minnows Liechtenstein in World Cup qualifying on Thursday as Hansi Flick made a low-key debut at the helm.

Chelsea striker Timo Werner broke the deadlock just before half-time before Leroy Sane (right) doubled the lead late in a frustrating second half for Flick’s side.

“We knew they defend really well, but we didn’t make the most of our chances and, of course, we should have done better,” Flick told RTL.

“It’s a start, but we still have a long way to go and we have an important game on Sunday (tomorrow).”

Germany now sit just a point behind Group J leaders Armenia after they were held to a goalless draw by North Macedonia.

The Germans host Armenia in Stuttgart tomorrow, then play Iceland away on Wednesday, with Flick demanding nine points from this month’s three qualifiers.

There were plenty of glum German faces after the final whistle, while hosts Liechtenstein celebrated the narrow defeat with their fans.

“We’ll take the win, but we wanted more goals,” said Germany captain Joshua Kimmich, deputising for the injured Manuel Neuer.

“They stood very, very deep in defence and nothing really worked for us.”

This was Flick’s first match after replacing Joachim Loew, who stood down following Germany’s last-16 exit from Euro 2020. Germany went from the highs of winning the 2014 World Cup under Loew, with Flick as his assistant, to the lows of crashing out in the group stage four years later in Russia and suffering a 6-0 drubbing by Spain last November.

“It’s a new beginning, we’re starting from zero,” insisted Germany team director Oliver Bierhoff in the build-up, but, just as they often did recently under Loew, they struggled in front of goal as Flick became frustrated on the sidelines at the Kybun Park, Liechtenstein’s adopted home in Switzerland while their own is renovated. –