Mannschaft prolongs the crisis

In terms of results, it was already unacceptable: Germany lost 0-1, on the field of an opponent that in 90 years of confrontation they have only lost once (Poland). Even if we point out a detail that is somewhat sympathetic - Germany created quite a few chances but did not score - it is also a detail that speaks to the systemic weakness of the Mannschaft for many years: no world- class striker. How can you compete for the championship in a major tournament if you "handicap strikers"? Finally, coach Hansi Flick and his team are also at risk of being turned away by their own audience, at a time when the Mannschaft really needs the support of their fans.

The German team lost 0-1 to Poland in the recent friendly match.

In the current FIFA rankings, Germany is outside the top 10, below mediocre teams like Morocco, Switzerland, and the US. That is a relatively reasonable position for a team that was eliminated right after the group stage in the last two World Cups. The team has only won 3 of its last 10 matches, and those were all victories against insignificant opponents: Qatar, Costa Rica, and Peru. The team that just beat Germany in a friendly match, Poland, is not a very strong opponent. But it is an opponent with a lot of fate, always determined to fight every time it meets Germany. Experts always want to see how Germany handles every time it meets such an opponent, or meets the top teams in Europe. The result is not worth mentioning: a big minus for the host team of EURO 2024.

At the recent 2022 World Cup, Germany was so exhausted of strikers that they had to send to Qatar an aging striker who was almost unknown outside the Bundesliga. That was center-forward Niclas Fullkrug, who had just been promoted a few months earlier, playing for Werder Bremen. If Fullkrug was not used, the next solution for Mannschaft would be a series of center-forwards with good form in the second division. Up to now, Mannschaft is still struggling, hopeless in finding a scorer. Fullkrug must still be used, but it is never a strange bird that creates surprises, like Oliver Bierhoff or Horst Hrubesch before. Youssoufa Moukoko, Lukas Nmecha, Karim Adeyemi... have not yet asserted themselves. Old faces, like Timo Werner, are no longer discussed.

Why the Mannschaft is running out of strikers - that has been a big topic, a mystery that experts in the German football world have analyzed for many years, but have not had a convincing answer. It is even more ironic that the current director of the German national team, who is also in charge of finding and training strikers, is a famous former striker - Rudi Voeller! The Mannschaft's playing style, both before and under current coach Hansi Flick, is a relatively classic style, emphasizing the striker role. The striker's weakness has since spread, becoming a weakness that covers the entire team. "For the nth time", Mr. Flick had to consider an old solution, which had existed in previous periods: recalling veteran Thomas Mueller - a midfielder who can play in any role, including striker. In short, still struggling.

Looking back at the recent defeat to Poland in Warsaw, it is clear that in terms of morale, the Mannschaft lost from the start. Very few German fans followed the team, while Polish audiences cheered loudly for their home team. If the relationship with fans is not improved, Germany's biggest advantage at the upcoming EURO 2024 finals could be broken. But of course, it is not surprising that German audiences turned their backs on an increasingly obscure Mannschaft, with no strikers, almost no stars. It is a team without identity. Coach Flick reassured: "There is still a year for the German team to complete the necessary things before EURO." We have to wait, but it seems that Mr. Flick's job is too difficult.

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