The match: 1-1
Germany faltered but preserved first place in its group against Switzerland. Dominant and terribly sterile, she had to wait until the 90th + 2 minute and a header from Niclas Füllkrug to equalize against the strong Swiss.
From the start of the match, the tone was set with several technical errors from Toni Kroos. So clean until now, the Madrid environment has been the allegory of the overall German lack of accuracy. This did not prevent his partners from monopolizing the ball, without however creating any chances against the Swiss who were very compact in front of their goal.
It took a strike from Robert Andrich, a midfielder more accustomed to defensive tasks, to create a spark. But the VAR saved Yann Sommer, guilty of a big hand fault (18th, see below). And by dominating without worrying, Germany was punished by Dan Ndoye. The former Nice man cut a precise cross to reward one of his team’s rare outings (1-0, 29th). He could even have worsened the score in the process but his shot narrowly escaped Manuel Neuer’s post (31st).
66
Germany had possession 66% of the time. An enormous ratio which nevertheless says little about the low danger brought to the opposing cage. Julian Nagelsmann will absolutely have to resolve this lack of creativity for the next round.
Lacking rhythm and above all creativity, Germany relied on snatches of opportunities. Antonio Rüdiger did not put his head on target (39th) and Jamal Musiala, as disappointing as Florian Wirtz, found Sommer’s gloves (50th). And when, at the hour mark, she finally broke free, she was slowed down by her lack of precision (18 shots, 3 on target). We had to wait for a fringe of supporters to leave the stadium for Füllkrug to come off the bench to save an evening that had been a real failure up to that point.
The executives will not have been able to rest, Jonathan Tah will be suspended for the eighth, but Germany has at least retained its first place. She can still face England in the next round, if the Three Lions finish in second place in Group C (Denmark, Slovenia, Serbia). Switzerland, which definitely acts as a trap opponent, will find itself facing Italy, Croatia or Albania.
The fact: VAR saves Sommer
He hadn’t accustomed us to this but Yann Sommer was torn at the start of the match. The Inter goalkeeper allowed a shot well within his reach from Robert Andrich (18th) to pass between his gloves. An error quickly caught by video assistance. The VAR referees – logically – canceled the goal due to a foul a few seconds earlier by Jamal Musiala. And saved the day for a goalkeeper already threatened by the emergence of Gregor Köbel (35 years old).
