Germany coach Hansi Flick spoke about Die Mannschaft’s shock defeat at home to Hungary in the European Nations League, acknowledging that he had made some mistakes, while England coach Southgate accepted criticism after the loss to Italy.
The German national team fell at home and among its fans against Hungary with a clean goal, while Italy beat England by the same result in the fifth round of Group C matches in the first level of the European Nations League.
Commenting on the loss to Hungary, Flick said: “It is better to be angry now than to have the World Cup.”
“I am completely disappointed, because anyone interested in football hates losing,” Flick said after the sudden 0-1 fall in Leipzig, the first since taking over at the helm of “De Manschaft”.
Flick saw that his team’s performance in the first half was the worst in his 14 matches with the national team, but he assumed part of the responsibility, saying: “I resorted to a squad that did not give the desired result. We couldn’t do better the way we approached the match.”
Experiment time is over
Flick confirmed that the time for testing is over, explaining that he put offensive midfielder Jonas Hoffmann in the right-back position, and modified it between the two halves after being late with the beautiful goal of Adam Salai.
“We wanted to do something with Jonas at right-back,” Flick said. “We wanted to see two attacking full-backs on the right.”
“As a result, we were unable to stream,” he continued. I bear some of the blame for that.”
Premature loss of battle
While Germany, the four-time world champion, prepares for the next edition in Qatar at the end of the year, it has one Nations League match left in England next week.
Defender Antonio Rudiger, who will miss the next match due to suspension, said Germany must raise its level to achieve success in the World Cup.
The Real Madrid defender said: “We wanted more today. In the first half we lost the battle against them.”
“We must learn lessons from this match,” he continued.
As for his colleague Joshua Kimmich, who got the most dangerous chances to score with a great long shot, he said that the victory over England constitutes the first steps on the road to achieving a good World Cup. “Listen… We wanted to win the group at any cost, even if you didn’t notice it in the first half.”
Germany occupies third place in the third group of the first level, with six points, and has lost its hopes of qualifying to the last square, as it is four points away from the surprise leader Hungary, before a round of the end. As for England, the group is bottomed with two disappointing points, and its relegation to the second level has been confirmed.
“We can’t do that anymore, but we still want to win the last game against England and have more confidence,” Kimmich added about the missed qualification.
Germany plays in the World Cup against Japan, Spain and Costa Rica in the group stage.
Southgate accepts criticism
On the other hand, England coach Gareth Southgate accepted criticism after losing to European champions Italy, but not qualified for the World Cup, 0-1 in Milan.
England presented a disastrous version in the Nations League, losing three times and drawing twice so far, with an orphan goal in its record that came from a late penalty kick by Harry Kane against Germany.
The “Three Lions” were booed by their visiting fans in Milan, on the impact of relegation to the second level.
“It’s hard to say why we didn’t score, because I think we’re operating in the right areas,” Southgate said.
He continued, “I accept the reaction in the end because of the results.”
England did not succeed in making the difference in attack, despite having players from Tina Caen, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling.
England, the 1966 title holders, play Iran, the United States and Wales in the group stage of the World Cup.