All of the previous issues had been there to see Germany’s uninspired displaying in a 3-3 draw with Ukraine was simply the most recent instance of the workforce’s struggles, leaving it in a state of alarm one 12 months earlier than the nation hosts the European Championship.
Solely Kai Havertz prevented worse for the workforce on Tuesday, when he got here on instead and pulled a purpose again, then compelled the penalty from which Joshua Kimmich nabbed the equalizer in harm time.
It prevented Germany’s second straight defeat after the 3-2 loss at residence in opposition to Belgium in March, but it surely did little to deal with recurrent issues and doubts about coach Hansi Flick’s capacity to deal with them.
Flick sat stone-faced after Havertz and Kimmich’s objectives, unable to have the benefit of both after what he had seen earlier than.
The German soccer federation caught with Flick as coach after Germany’s World Cup flop in Qatar, bringing in former nationwide workforce striker and coach Rudi Völler as sporting director to assist him as Oliver Bierhoff’s successor.
However to this point there was no signal that any of the workforce’s issues in Qatar have been addressed.
As a substitute, it was a well-recognized story of Germany dominating possession and creating possibilities whereas nonetheless vulnerable to pricey errors. Errors led to all three Ukrainian objectives.
A wayward go from Julian Brandt led to Viktor Tsyhankov’s equalizer, one other mistake from Nico Schlotterbeck preceded Ukraine’s second purpose, and Brandt’s tough ball for Matthias Ginter led to the third — once more scored by Tsyhankov.
“That’s what we want reduce out — the errors on the again and on the entrance,” Kimmich mentioned after stopping what would have been Ukraine’s first ever win over Germany.
The outcome didn’t disguise the workforce’s shortcomings. Germany made begin however lacked precision after which did not make headway in opposition to the guests’ hardworking protection as soon as they’d settled into the sport.
“We’ve got to maintain engaged on it,” mentioned Flick, who nonetheless hasn’t discovered a settled protection. “We began with three on the again after which switched to a again 4, so 4-3-3, however these are issues, processes that we now have to undergo.” There have been whistles from some Germany supporters as the house workforce labored to make a breakthrough.
“It’s very annoying as a result of the objectives come from errors,” Germany goalkeeper Kevin Trapp mentioned after his first look in 15 months.
“Particular person errors can occur, it’s a part of the game. In fact, we now have to have a greater grip on the scenario. It’s been a difficulty for a very long time, it’s reality. However we nonetheless have a 12 months to the European Championship, and we now have till then to kind them out — in any other case it will likely be tougher.” Germany subsequent performs Poland in Warsaw on Friday earlier than internet hosting Colombia in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday. The workforce has already certified for Euro 2024 as host.