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National coach Flick at the draw for the World Cup opponents in Doha
Photo:
FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Despite the upcoming revenge against Spain, national coach Hansi Flick reacted with humor to the draw for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“That's a hammer.
I have to talk to Lothar about it again," he said after the draw in Doha on Friday.
Germany's record national player Lothar Matthäus was one of the "Losfeen".
'I was happy with that.
Brazil are one of the strongest teams, France are a group ahead of us.
Everything is as it is.
We are satisfied and gladly accept it.
It's up to us to prepare well.
We're all looking forward to it," said Flick on Friday evening after the final draw in Doha.
In addition to Spain, Germany has also been drawn to Japan and the winner of the playoff duel Costa Rica against New Zealand.
The last game against Spain was lost 0:6 in 2020.
The DFB selection will play their first game on November 23 against Japan.
“You can't get an easy group drawn.
All have their own strengths.
You have to take it as it is," said the 57-year-old on TV station Magenta.
In the ARD interview, the head coach of the four-time world champion added that the group draw also had an impact on the previously planned preparation.
"We wanted to play a friendly game against Japan, of course that's flat now," said Flick.
Germany was seeded in pot two in the draw.
In a possible round of 16 there could be a duel with co-favorite Belgium.
DFB captain Manuel Neuer also reacted calmly to the opponents.
"It was clear that we would get a strong opponent from pot one," said the DFB goalkeeper on the MagentaTV streaming service.
»We have negative memories, but something like this doesn't happen to us twice.
We are in good spirits to play a successful tournament.«
In 2018, Germany failed as defending champions under Flick's predecessor Joachim Löw in a balanced group with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea.
Ex-captain and ARD expert Bastian Schweinsteiger agreed with his former teammate: "It's a good group for us, it could have been more difficult." The first game with Japan was a good first game, he assumed that Costa Rica will qualify.
Spain rated Schweinsteiger as a competitor for group victory: "There's a lot coming our way, but of course we can beat them.
Spain is a real chunk, we will fight for first place.«
Spain coach Luis Enrique also saw it that way: "Easy, right?
Light!
With Germany?
Haha,” he joked.
»Okay: It's going to be nice, this is a great group with a great rival.
We'll enjoy this.
It's a World Cup and you don't play it that often.«
As twelfth in the world rankings, the German team only ended up in pot two, making it likely to face tough opponents in the first phase of the tournament.
But the self-confidence after the successful restart is great.
"We've just seen two very good performances by the national team, which all make us very hopeful for the World Cup," said DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, who, like Flick, Director Oliver Bierhoff and Secretary General Heike Ullrich, was part of the DFB delegation in Doha.
DFB captain Manuel Neuer was also self-confident: “There is only one goal for me, that is the world championship title.
We didn't cover ourselves with glory in the recent tournaments and we want to make up for it," said Neuer.
ara/dpa/sid