Germany appear to be on right path as they close in on World Cup spot

Germany were not glorious but fans, media and coach Hansi Flick praised the players’ mentality in a comeback victory against Romania. The same attitude could help them clinch a place at next year’s World Cup on Monday.

Berlin (dpa) – If all goes their way Germany can clinch a place at next year’s World Cup on Monday night in North Macedonia.

Whether they are then also good enough to aim for a fifth world title at the finals in Qatar remains to be seen.

A few days after Germany director Oliver Bierhoff said that “We want to return to the top in the world” the team claimed a hard-earned 2-1 comeback victory against Romania in Hamburg on Friday night.

Players from coach Hansi Flick’s former club Bayern Munich made the difference.

Serge Gnabry netted the equalizer early in the second half and substitute Thomas Mueller grabbed the 81st-minute winner off a corner-kick from Joshua Kimmich headed on by Leon Goretzka.

Flick and the players said their passion helped them overcome and early deficit from a solo effort by Ianos Hagi, the son of legendary Gheorghe Hagi, and a stubborn Romanian defence.

“It (the team) kept the pace high. was very eager to win this game,” Flick said.

Mueller told broadcasters RTL: “We were very dedicated. Trailing at half-time was not a good feeling. We felt we deserved more and were happy to be awarded after the break.”

The 25,000 fans honoured the team’s effort with plenty of support, with Mueller speaking of “an explosion” after his winner and that “you could feel the connection” with the fans on the pitch.

Fans had been very critical in the final games under Joachim Loew but new man Flick has now turned around matters with four wins in as many games, while also asking for patience with the reshaped team.

“The goal we conceded is natural for a team that is developing, and when it’s not quite going your way, it’s important to come back into the game and show our strength, and that’s exactly what we did this evening,” he said.

Kicker sports magazine said in an editorial that the game showed that Flick “faces a long road and a lot of detailed work but this is no reason for concern.”

“In the end it was a victory of mentality and unity,” Kicker said, “virtues Flick had named as basic requirements for success.”

A similar attitude will be required on Monday in Skopje against North Macedonia who in the first meeting in March handed Germany their third-ever defeat in a World Cup qualifier.

Should the Germans win and Armenia fail to beat Romania Flick’s team are through to the World Cup with two games to spare.

“It is the next important step towards the World Cup. We want to qualify as soon as possible,” Flick said. “It is about showing the same mentality on Monday in Skopje than we did today.”