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Photo: Federico Gambarini / dpa
Trust is good:
A difficult season lies behind Timo Werner: only four goals in the Premier League, a lot of effort, little return even in the national team.
Nevertheless, national coach Hansi Flick gave the Chelsea striker the next chance against Italy.
After just a few seconds, he thwarted the first promising German attack with a wrong decision.
But in the 68th minute the blockade was released: First, substitute Serge Gnabry put in a cross after Thomas Müller’s outside instep pass, Werner pushed in from a short distance.
Just a minute later, Werner scored again after putting pressure on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma – again from Gnabry's assist.
From problem child to double goal scorer in a few seconds: The example of Werner shows how good this evening could do for the self-image of the German team.
The result:
The 1-1 series of the German national team finally broke in the fourth game of the Nations League – and how: 5: 2 (2: 0) it was 5: 2 (2: 0) after 90 minutes in Gladbach's Borussia Park for the DFB team against Italy .
Here is the match report.
Hansi, I shrunk the strikers:
Italy's national coach Roberto Mancini is currently tasked with revamping and rejuvenating his European champion team.
In addition, the Italian team does not have to warm up for a World Cup after missing qualification.
Experiments are allowed, even desired, compared to the 0-0 draw against England, Mancini changed nine positions.
The defense of national coach Hansi Flick was expecting a completely different task than in the first leg in Bologna ten days ago: instead of Gianluca Scamacca, a 1.95 meter assault tank, the German back four were given the lively Wilfried Gnonto, Giacomo Raspadori and Matteo Politano do.
Average height: 1.71 meters.
The first half:
In fact, the Italians also had the first big chance when, after a sharp cross from the right wing, Raspadori was denied by Neuer from close range and the DFB captain also defused Gnonto's follow-up shot (8').
The German team did better in a breathless early phase, the promoted Joshua Kimmich scored the lead after David Raum's cross (10th).
Then the German team was the better.
Alessandro Bastoni pushed Jonas Hofmann to the ground just before the break, and then the second midfield zampano İlkay Gündoğan also put himself on the top scorers list with a penalty (45+4).
Control is better:
Anyway, Gündoğan should emerge as the winner from the last four games: The professional from Manchester City only started alongside Leitwolf Kimmich against England and in the second leg against Italy.
In these two games, the German team fired 15 shots at the opposing goal, in the other two games five.
The greater control of the game from the center, which the powerful Gündoğan stands for, seems to be the key to success.
"I think if we do it like we did today, a lot of teams will have a hard time against us - and a lot will be behind us," said Gündoğan after the game.
The second half:
Thomas Müller can also be counted among the core of the German team: the Bayern professional converted (51') after a deflected cross from Raum.
A little later, Manuel Neuer scratched a huge chance off the line (55') against an Italian team coming stormy out of the break and Inter Milan's Nicolò Barella, whose goal threat would have ended with the offside whistle.
The Timo Werner show followed – and late consolation goals by Gnonto (78') and Bastoni (90'+3').
But there had never been five goals against Italy in any German international match before.
Snapping photos, throwing hooks:
Shortly before the end of the game, Borussia-Park experienced the smallest pitch storm in the world:
After 87 minutes, a young intruder on the pitch started, who, with his mobile phone out, twice dropped a folder on the seat of his trousers, who tried to chase.
Two other streakers took advantage of the opportunity from another corner of the stadium to bask in the splendor of the ZDF cameras for a few seconds.
High time for an extended summer break, so: The Nations League will continue in September.
The best team in the group:
...is still not called Germany despite the thumping victory.
National coach Flick can celebrate a more than conciliatory end to the international four-pack.
The number one in the German Nations League group with the European Championship finalists England and Italy is Hungary after a 4-0 win over the Three Lions.
That says a lot about the quality of the Magyars - but not much less about the sporting value of the tournament.
