Monchengladbach. DFB players are upset with their performance in the first half of the 2-1 victory over Greece. Julian Nagelsmann warns about the start of the European Championship.
After the final whistle at Borussia Park, the German national team players once again enjoyed the applause of their fans, but the expression on the national coach’s face Julian Nagelsmann revealed: From this 2:1 (0:1) win against Greece At their European Championship dress rehearsal at home on Friday night, the hosts took with them more doubt than confidence heading into their opening game against Scotland in exactly a week’s time. “We knew we might not be as good as we looked,” said the midfielder Tony Kroos. “We were very flawed.”
The substitute Pascal Gross He only scored in the 89th minute to make it 2-1 in Mönchengladbach. After a slow and failed performance by the German team in the first half Kai Havertz The draw was only achieved after the break (56′). The only positive thing was the willpower of the German team. “We left the locker room much better,” said Kroos.
Neuer makes a mistake against Greece
The Greeks showed a lot of effort from the start at Borussia Park and deservedly led through Giorgos Masouras (34th), made possible by a mistake Manuel Neuer, who failed to hold the ball properly after a fairly harmless shot. “I should have got the ball better,” admitted Neuer later.
DFB goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after the error that made it 0-1.
© Ralf Ibing / firo Sportphoto | Ralf Ibing
Some spectators whistled for half-time – and the national coach reacted to the poor performance with the substitutions of Leroy Sané and David Raum. “You can’t allow yourself to have a first half like that. That was not our reference”, said the DFB captain angrily Ilkay Gundogan. Neuer also said: “This shouldn’t happen to us.” Gündogan added: “We wanted to come out of the dressing room with a reaction in the second half. And we showed them too.”
Gündogan said his team still starts the European Championship with a good feeling. “We can take our lessons from the Test matches. The senses are now heightened.” Nagelsmann was already looking forward to the opening game of the European Championship: “Scotland are playing with extreme strength. This opponent tries to advance with great force. Let’s prepare well for this.”