Biggest defeat since 1931 – that’s what Löw and company say after the DFB debacle

A draw against Spain would have been enough for Germany to secure group victory. But the DFB-Elf was infinitely far from that in their 189th international match under the leadership of Jogi Löw. After the biggest bankruptcy since 1931, there is disappointment.

National coach Jogi Löw sat stunned on the bench, DFB director Oliver Bierhoff applauded in front of his face in the stands: Fearful opponents Spain missed a leaderless German team at the end of the difficult year Corona 2020, the biggest defeat in the term of the national coach in the long term.

The 0: 6 (0: 3) in the 189 international match under Löw’s leadership was also absolutely deserved. As well as missing out on qualifying for the Nations League finals in the head-to-head duel for first place, the football lesson was also a bit of a cheer for next year’s Euro Cup. “They clearly pushed us back today,” Loew said on ARD. He struggled to find words and composure. “It was a completely dark day. Nothing worked. It was bad in every way. “The 60-year-old missed” body language, body tension, fighting behavior. “Now we have to” draw the right conclusions. “The national coach awaits excited discussions.

“It was not the bitterest defeat, but it was one of the clearest,” said Toni Kroos after his 101st international match. She “hurts”: “We had no access at all. Spain showed us everything, with and without the ball, of course we have to analyze the game in the direction of the tournament. There is a lot to do.”

Álvaro Morata (minute 17), the three winners Ferran Torres (30/55/72), Rodri (38) and Mikel Oyarzabal (89) scored almost at will in the phantom game, which is disturbing from the German point of view.

Neuer: “This is very disappointing for everyone”

It was the biggest defeat since 1931. Captain Manuel Neuer had a very bitter evening in his 96th international match, with which he promoted the only German goalkeeper record. Before that, he had never received more than four hits in the DFB goal. “That is very disappointing for all of us,” Neuer said. He criticized body language and communication on the field: “Even a low blow can help.”

The 34-year-old avoided an even worse humiliation against a greedy and clearly superior Spanish team. The hosts topped Germany (9) in the group 4 table with eleven points. Spain, along with world champions France, now participate in the Final 4 tournament in October 2021.

“The big challenge is against Spain, how do you defend it?” Loew said before the start of the ARD. In hindsight, that was an almost prophetic statement. The defensive work was desolate for more than 90 minutes. It seemed like good news that Niklas Süle could show up after knee problems. But the chief of defense was overwhelmed like everyone else. Inexperienced defenders Robin Koch and Philipp Max also had a lesson.

Schweinsteiger “speechless” after 4-0

It was sobering that executives like Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gündogan in midfield had no stamina or ideas at all. The acclaimed German turbo attack with Timo Werner, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané never made it into the first loss of the year. Only in the 77th minute was there a chance to score when Gnabry shot from far and hit the crossbar.

“We can be happy that it is 4-0. I am speechless, “said ARD expert Bastian Schweinsteiger as a stunned observer of the one-sided game, which revealed a class difference. Nothing worked for Löw’s team that without a mindset like Joshua Kimmich, who injured his knee, he was defenseless from the start. In the 5th minute, the guests were lucky there was no video evidence in the Nations League. Gündogan hit Leipzig’s Dani Olmo on the foot, the referee gave a free kick, but the foul was within the area.

The Spanish lost Sergio Canales early to injury. But his substitute Fabián set up Morata’s first goal as a corner kicker. The tall Juventus striker jumped to Gnabry at the far post, who should never have been his opponent there. The Spanish could attack undisturbed and play in a frenzy. After a Koke cross, Olmo headed the crossbar and Ferran Torres completed. Another Fabian corner could head Rodri unhindered at half-time 0: 3.

“The game was terrible, a blow to the neck”

Even after the break, there was no lifting. And not even damage control was achieved. Manchester City’s outstanding Ferran Tores was able to easily complete a counterattack on José Gaya on his second goal. He then made his perfect hat-trick against a dissolving German team. The “dark cloud” described by DFB director Oliver Bierhoff, who seemed displaced after victories against the Czech Republic (1-0) and Ukraine (3-1), hovers over the national team and again over Löw in the late of year. The national coach will drag them into the four-month winter break.

After the final whistle, Schweinsteiger found clear words: “The game was terrible, a blow to the neck. You can lose to Spain, but not like this. What was missing most is that you did not defend yourself. It didn’t feel like a team. They were superior to us in every way. Good thing it happened now. Perhaps it will make one or the other think a little about one or the other alternative. You don’t have to upset everything overnight, but you do have to ask yourself certain questions. “