Japan shocked the tournament in their opening match after taking down the German giants two goals to one. This meant the 2014 World Cup champions had to perform in their second fixture against a remarkable Spanish side. It was a clash between two previous world champions and the action did not disappoint. The duel produced moments of drama and magic we expect from favorites. Despite the scoreline ending 1-1, both teams deservedly gained a point and have all to play for before the end of the week.

2022 FIFA World Cup Germany vs. Spain Highlights

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Hansi Flick masterclass

There’s still plenty of work to be done with Hansi Flick’s system, but Germany is now in a better position to advance to the next round following a 1-1 draw with Spain. +5,500 top goalscorer Niclas Füllkrug stepped up his game considerably from his stint in the German second division last year. He was the super sub of the game with a well-taken hit in the 83rd minute. The goal tied the game and provided some much-needed breathing room.

Although possession went in the way of the Spaniards for the most part, Germany did create opportunities and more shots on goal than Luis Enrique’s men. Leroy Sané even found a late opening that could have won the game. At the moment, Germany remains in last place in Group E even though they started the campaign as favorites to win the group of death. But if they beat Costa Rica as -909 heavy favorites, they book a Round-of-16 spot as long as Japan doesn’t beat Spain.

Changing up the starting XI

On a night when Germany wasn’t meeting expectations thanks to an unexpected defeat at the hands of Japan, head coach Hansi Flick turned things around on their second match. He opted to play Thilo Kehrer at right back, who provided more stability. All three of his best midfielders also played simultaneously. The changes worked for the most part. While trying to level the game, the former Bayern Munich coach also made game-changing substitutions, which both Kehrer and Antonio Rudiger recognized.

Unlike previous head coach Joachim Low, Flick adjusted according to the team’s capacity. He adapted to their earlier mistakes and applied the necessary changes to the team following the clash against Japan. He was determined to iron out the creases and it paid off well against a formidable Spanish side. Ultimately, the reassuring thing about the 57-year-old is his composure throughout Germany’s turbulent moments.

Full throttle all the way

One of the reassuring elements of this team is their ability to bounce back. The +1,145 2022 FIFA World Cup winners stuck to the system in place, showcasing their confidence in playing together in the way they want to. This is a classic team cliche, but when the DFB Team performs accordingly, it’s hard to overlook their potential. It was not an error-free performance against the Spaniards, but what we witnessed was significantly better than their opening match. Flick said the world would see a new team that recognizes the significance of his system and so it proved this time around.

David Raum might have shown lapses during his shift, but kept the motivation going. The RB Leipzig defender blocked shots and zoned out the young Spanish forwards. Meanwhile, İlkay Gündoğan stayed in the pocket and opened up. Leon Goretzka also flew into challenges and won the ball multiple times. Germany pressed like this was their final match.

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