Hansi Flick and his players know what Germany were missing in Italy

Hansi Flick has little time and alternative left to tinker and was properly conscious that this, greater than some other, was a check his quick tenure could be judged on.

Before the match, the Germany head coach had promised to “go out and win with the best eleven possible” and the staff he fielded, with some minor tweaks, appears set to be his beginning line up come November’s World Cup.

On a scorching and humid evening, Bologna’s Stadio Renato Dall’Ara matched the nostalgia of the tie. With its purple brick facade and wood fencing, it boasts the country aptitude so typically missing in newer sporting arenas. But Germany couldn’t ship a classic efficiency in a 1-1 draw.

“I don’t think we can be satisfied,” Flick advised broadcaster RTL. “The first 25 mins were fine, but then we started making mistakes and lost our rhythm, and Italy did well to get back into the game.

“We did not have sufficient tempo and made too many errors. They’re the issues we wish to enhance on towards England.”

Flick’s tenth match in charge provided him with his toughest test yet on paper, even though his Italian counterpart Roberto Mancini, tasked with a rebuilding job after missing out on World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022, fielded a team featuring not a single outfield player who started the Euro 2020 final.

Starting his tenure with eight straight wins against modest opposition, Flick’s Germany had most recently played out a 1-1 draw away to the Netherlands in March, the only blot on his resume so far. The performance in Bologna upholds the narrative that Flick still has plenty to prove before the World Cup.

“It was too little,” admitted goalscorer Kimmich. “We wished to win. We know that Italy are in transition in the meanwhile and did not essentially have their greatest staff on the pitch, so we wished to win. We did not all the time handle to play our recreation, we weren’t as intense as we wished to be, maybe that was right down to the humidity and warmth.”

Flick abandons ‘greatest eleven’

Following a reasonably toothless first half efficiency, Flick deserted his “greatest eleven” through a total of five substitutions, and the tie risked gaining the character of being just another friendly.

Few of those substitutes on will have a realistic shot at starting in Qatar. In the heart of defence, Antonio Rüdiger and Niklas Süle are nailed on unless things drastically change at their respective new clubs.

Flick holds Thilo Kehrer in high regard so only the left-back position is still up for grabs in the backline. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Henrichs, who was given the nod after his DFB Cup final heroics, put in a composed if unspectacular performance. However, his closest Germany competitor David Raum lacks experience at the highest level.

With the midfield pairing of Goretzka and Kimmich essentially assured their spots, the main headache for Flick is presented by his wealth of attacking options. Kai Havertz could make a claim to start for most national teams, but who to drop? The Bayern trio of Sane, Müller, and Gnabry will take some beating, especially as they bring the added bonus of club chemistry to the table.

Timo Werner, for all his faults and lack of goalscoring prowess at Chelsea, still has the confidence of his national team coach. But after another toothless performance, he may just be the man to shift to make room for Havertz.

‘More ambition, more intensity’

Apart from these lineup adjustments Flick’s biggest job remains how to inject zip and creativity into the attack, especially against sides as shrewd and organised as Italy – and his players know it.

“We wish to be extra formidable, extra penetrative going ahead, with fewer errors,” said Thomas Müller.

“We want extra depth,” added Kimmich. “We want to manage the sport extra with higher possession.”

Still, Flick remains aware of the bigger picture – namely that his players have just finished a long season and that Italy was just the first of four Nations League games in ten days.

“Maybe we would have liked that at present,” said Flick. “Now we know what now we have to work on.”

While this bogey staff will not be on the World Cup, Flick has treasured little time and few exams remaining to point out Germany can boss large video games.

Their squad and observe file means they are going to be among the many favourites in Qatar. But Flick has but to show that Germany will be counted on.

Edited by Matt Ford.

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