GELSENKIRCHEN: 2nd-half targets from Luis Diaz and Juan Cuadrado took Colombia to a 2-0 pleasant win over Germany on Tuesday, deepening domestic trainer Hansi Flick’s woes a 12 months out from Euro 2024. Liverpool ahead Diaz leapt prime to go in a looping Cuadrado move ahead of the Juventus wing-back scored a overdue penalty after Germany captain Joshua Kimmich handballed within the field a minute after coming off the bench. It was once Colombia’s first win over Germany and approach the four-time global champions have received simply certainly one of 5 video games since their disastrous group-stage go out on the Qatar Global Cup in December.
Germany, who qualify for subsequent 12 months’s Euro as hosts, lacked fluidity in Gelsenkirchen, ramping up the drive on under-fire boss Flick, with the facet now not taking part in once more till September. “I’m very upset for the enthusiasts,” mentioned Flick. “We needed to take a look at one thing nevertheless it went abdominal up.” Flick was once bullish on his facet’s long-term probabilities, pronouncing his facet would “display a special willingness, a distinction efficiency” within the subsequent spherical of friendlies. “From September, we’ll settle in after which the effects will come.”
With remoted boos and whistles ringing out throughout his home-town stadium in Gelsenkirchen, native boy grew to become captain Ilkay Gundogan mentioned he may “perceive” the gang’s reaction. “We are aware of it was once now not excellent and we all know what must get well.” Requested if he was once nervous through the staff’s newest show, midfielder Leon Goretzka mentioned: “I don’t know if that’s the fitting phrase.” “It’s dramatic, you need to say that obviously… We’re lacking issues throughout all ranges. All in all it was once a long way too little.” After making 9 adjustments for the 1-0 loss to Poland in Warsaw on Friday, Flick once more switched issues up with 5 alterations within the beginning XI.
The trainer passed the armband to Gundogan after the treble-winning Manchester Town captain’s fresh successes, with Kimmich ranging from the bench. However Germany once more seemed disjointed and had been fortunate to steer clear of conceding a penalty halfway in the course of the first 1/2 when the house facet had been stuck out through a lightning-fast Colombia counter. Centre-back Malick Thiaw, in simply his 2d fit for Germany, looked as if it would have introduced down Diaz within the field however the referee dominated the AC Milan defender were given a toe to the ball.
Diaz were given at the scoresheet on the other hand in the second one 1/2, heading in Cuadrado’s ball after Emre Can was once dispossessed in his personal 1/2. Flick introduced Kimmich on for Gundogan with 10 mins final and the Bayern Munich midfielder gave away a penalty moments afterwards. Cuadrado stepped as much as the spot to ship Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen the improper means. Whilst Flick has again and again defended his facet’s effects at the foundation of a want to experiment ahead of Euro 2024, his place would possibly now be referred to as into query. Germany play two domestic friendlies in opposition to Japan and Global Cup runners-up France in September.- AFP