Japan have followed Saudi Arabia’s shock win with one of their own coming back from 1-0 down at half time to beat Germany 2-1 and have put Germany in a tough position in their group with Spain to play in their next game who have just beat Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening group game.
Lothar Matthaus said that he thought the substitutes that Hansi Flick made were the reason Germany lost yesterday: ‘By substituting Müller and Gündogan, two experienced players at the same time, the order lost. The rhythm was lost.’.
Matthaus also said that it reminded him of the 1999 Champions League final when he was substituted late in the game: “I thought of the 1999 final, when (Ottmar) Hitzfeld substituted me shortly before the end, and Manchester United won 2-1.’’
Matthaus also said:” You take a personality off the field that your opponent respects, and you’re letting them know you feel safe, too sure! An invitation to attack. It was like that now.” showing that he doesn’t have faith in the German manager by him taking off the more experienced players.
With only 2 games left into the group and an inform Spain team next Germany will find it tough to turn their competition around and may make it 2 world cups in a row without getting out of the group.