Bratwurst and beer in a Bedouin tent – how Germany stayed alive at the World Cup

Alvaro Morata of Spain and Leon Goretzka and Antonio Rudiger of Germany in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Spain and Germany at Al Bayt Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo: Lionel Hahn / Getty Images)

By Ossian Shine

28 Nov 2022

Germany gave themselves hope of avoiding another embarrassing early World Cup exit when they snatched a 1-1 draw with Spain on Sunday.

Any job is easier when you use the right tools, and on Sunday a bruised Germany bounced off the World Cup ropes to come from behind in their Group E match with Spain to earn a priceless 1-1 draw and boost their chances of reaching the knockout phase.

An opening match defeat by Japan had hardly augured well for this clash in the Al Bayt Stadium.

Spain’s 6-0 rout of the Germans the last time they met added to the apprehension. And the grim backdrop of dissatisfied sponsors, and many Germans back home wishing their team had not even come to Qatar because of the host nation’s human rights record, can have done little to boost German morale.

But if this was a German team in crisis, you would never have known it and they set about their task with plenty of huff and not inconsiderable puff. Much industry, though precious little art.

Niclas Füllkrug of Germany scores his team's first goal against Spain at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday. (Photo: Matthias Hangst / Getty Images)

Having survived until half-time goalless, the inevitable began to loom when they fell behind to a 62nd-minute Alvaro Morata flick.

Many in the arena expected Spain ease to the finish line as they stretched the Germans this way and that with incisive passing and tireless pressing.

But then German coach Hansi Flick played his masterstroke.

Sweeping aside years of alternative and introspective German attacking strategies centred on an obsession with “false nines”, he threw on a real number nine, a target man in the most German of attacking moulds.

Alvaro Morata scores Spain's first goal agaimst Germany. (Photo: Catherine Ivill / Getty Images)

Never mind that the 29-year-old Niclas Füllkrug had only made his Germany debut earlier this month in a friendly against Oman. With seven minutes left on the clock he smashed home a loose ball to revitalise the Germans and give them a point they thoroughly deserved.

Old-fashioned centre forward

Who knew? If you want goals, turn to an old-fashioned centre forward. It had worked in all four of Germany’s World Cup titles.

“He showed his determination to score. He gives the team a lot… not only the goal. He has his heart in the right place,” Flick told reporters.

Thoroughly reinvigorated from the introduction of Füllkrug, Germany looked a different side.

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Eight years of tinkering following the retirement of all-time World Cup scorer Miroslav Klose was instantly forgotten as Füllkrug led the line in the fashion of German World Cup greats Ottmar Walter, Gerd Mueller, Juergen Klinsmann and Klose.

Asking a 33-year-old Thomas Mueller to be the counterattacking option had been a stretch, which ultimately allowed Spain considerable comfort and time in defence. But with the burly Füllkrug rampaging around the Spaniards’ back line it was another matter altogether.

Niclas Füllkrug celebrates his goal against Spain with teammate Jamal Musiala. (Photo: Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images)

From the 70th minute when he was thrown into the battle, Germany simply looked more German. They took more of a grip on the game. Became the bosses rather than the bullied. The last 20 minutes was a German performance as traditional as bratwurst and beer.

Suddenly sharper and stronger, the Germans swarmed forward and it would not have been a shock, nor a travesty, if they had converted a last-gasp golden chance to take the win.

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Inside a 60,000-seat stadium built to resemble a Bedouin tent, this was hardly the greatest show on Earth, but it did see Germany survive a toe-to-toe battle with one of the tournament favourites, and provide a major boost to their chances.

Certainly, the players who posed for the German team photo before their opening match with their hands held over their mouths to indicate their views on gay rights being silenced, now have something to shout about in footballing terms here.

New life

“We knew what the situation was, what was at stake,” Flick said. The coach also said that Füllkrug’s equaliser might prove to be a turning point for Germany in Qatar.

“Things start to happen when you start to win, so maybe this will give us a boost and give us the self-confidence to get goals,” he said.

Spain coach Luis Enrique said he was left ruing his side’s failure to hold on to their lead. “But after two matches we are in the top of the classification of the death group and I think that we have to be positive.”

Alvaro Morata of Spain is tackled by Leon Goretzka and Antonio Rudiger of Germany. (Photo: Lionel Hahn / Getty Images)

The Spaniards had looked more relaxed from the start, cutting through Germany with their angled passing. Dani Olmo almost created an early breakthrough in the seventh minute but his shot was palmed onto the bar by Manuel Neuer.

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Germany thought they had taken an unlikely lead in the 39th minute when defender Antonio Rudiger powered in a header from a Joshua Kimmich free kick, but the German celebrations were cut short as VAR quickly ruled that he was offside.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon was forced into his first save in the 56th minute when the 2010 champions got into trouble trying to play out of defence, allowing Kimmich to shoot from just inside the penalty area, but Simon saved impressively.

Spain top the standings with four points and now need only a draw in their final Group E game against Japan to progress. A win would send them through to the knockout round in first place. Reuters/DM

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Old-fashioned centre forward

New life