Seventh game under national coach Hansi Flick, seventh win for Germany. However, the DFB team also revealed a weakness in what was in principle a commanding 4:1 in Armenia
Just like the 9:0 win against Liechtenstein, the game against the Armenians, who only had a theoretical chance of winning the World Cup, was neither of great sporting relevance nor a real test of their mettle. The Germans played all the more freely at first. Neuer, Reus (both under strain), Rüdiger (suspended), Günter, Baku (both on the bench) and the injured Goretzka made way for ter Stegen, Neuhaus, Ginter, Tah, Raum and Havertz – and the newcomers immediately made a big impact.
Flick’s eleven dominated the first quarter of an hour with entertaining attacking football, and after 15 minutes Havertz, who had already hit the post (5th), broke the Armenian five-man defence. Or rather Müller and Hofmann, who set up a fine one-two for the nonchalant Champions League winner to finish the ball.
Germany’s remaining defence is wavering – Gündogan safe
The visitors, for whom Sané had a good chance to make it 2-0 (26th), had everything under control – until the counter-attacks by the increasingly active Armenians caused Germany’s remaining defence to waver. Spertsyan just missed the equaliser after a back-heel by Hoffenheim’s Adamyan (27th). And there were further dangerous counterattacks, which the underdogs did not play cleanly.
Shortly before the break, the Germans had lost their sharpness in attack and Neuhaus dribbled on his own – and was brought down after a double pass in the penalty area. The VAR did not call until two minutes later, but then the penalty was justified. Just like against Liechtenstein, Gündogan stepped up – and converted with aplomb (45.+4).
Flat over there, kick over there
The static did not change after the restart. Germany had the ball – and before Armenia could find their counter-attacking game again, the ball was in Buchnev’s net. The keeper himself was responsible for that, because he allowed Gündogan’s harmless low shot to pass very unhappily (50th).
However, the supposed preliminary decision was not enough to demoralise the home side. Only minutes after Germany’s 3:0, the Armenians exposed the Flick team’s weaknesses after losing the ball. Counterattack after counterattack caused Germany worries before Neuhaus was clearly too late and stepped on Terteyan’s foot in the penalty area. The ex-Dortmund player Mkhitaryan scored just as surely as Gündogan before, only 1:3 (59.).
Hofmann rewards his strong performance
The euphoria in the stadium spread to the Armenian players. For a few minutes, both teams played on equal terms, until Hofmann, who is a pleasing right winger, restored the three-goal gap with a well-placed low shot after a high ball was won through collective counter-pressing (64th).
This time, the home side let up for a longer period of time, and Germany also managed the rare counter-attacks better. The visitors tried to score more goals, but the substitute Nmecha and Co. were already a bit on the back burner. Volland, also a substitute, had the best chance of the final phase, but it was blocked (80th minute).
This concludes the international year for the German national team, which qualified as group winners for the 2022 World Cup. In 2020, the bitter 0:6 defeat against Spain had been the end of the year, and now the German team goes into the break with seven victories under Flick since September.
