Hansi Flick sat alone at the top table in Press Conference Room 1, a visible display of a lone German manager under pressure. The reason for his solo appearance may result in a fine from Fifa, but it will be worth every Swiss franc if it helps the four-time world champions walk away from a humiliating early exit.
Things are done differently in Qatar, as you may have heard, and media duties are no exception. A manager and a player must appear at a press conference the day before a match – only at this World Cup which is not taking place at the stadium or team training ground, but at the main media center FIFA in Doha. For Germany, that means a 210km round trip from their Al Shamal training base at the northern tip of Qatar. For Flick, who knows defeat to an in-form Spain on Sunday will mean almost certain elimination from the tournament, it is no way to prepare for the busiest mission of his international reign. So he showed up alone.
“We can’t expect a player to come and drive for three hours. It’s a very important game so I told them I would come and do it myself,” the coach said. Germany: “Every player on the 26th is important so I asked them not to come because it’s important that they put energy into the training session.
” We are disappointed. We have a very good media library [at the training ground] and it would have been possible for a player [to come] if the press conference had been held closer.
Quick guide
Qatar: beyond football
Spectacle
It’s a World Cup like no other. For the past 12 years, the Guardian has reported on the issues surrounding Qatar 2022, from corruption and human rights abuses to the treatment of migrant workers and discriminatory laws. The best of our journalism is collected on our dedicated Qatar: Beyond the Football homepage for those who want to dig deeper into the issues beyond the pitch.
The goalkeepers’ reporting goes far beyond what is happening on the pitch. Support our investigative journalism today.
The DFB, the German football federation, asked to move the press conference, but Fifa refused, fearing it would set an awkward precedent. Fifa’s response is also expected to include a fine for the player’s no-show.
After his media appearance, Flick returned to the north to conduct another training session ahead of the showdown in Spain. There is work to do after the loss to Japan and to deal with the prolific threat from Luis Enrique’s young side.
“The main focus for me has been football,” Flick said when asked about the many distractions that surrounded Germany in Qatar, such as the OneLove armband and the team’s subsequent protest. “I am convinced of what we want to do and how we want to play football, even if we cannot reach 100% and we are less intense than our opponent.
“Japan was tough to take, it was bitter and it could have been avoided. But we have to stick to our guns. We have the quality and we are optimistic. That’s what it’s all about. – be brave. Tomorrow we will see a team give their best to ensure that we reach the round of 16. The door is still open.
Spain have a worrying recent record of closing the tournament gates against Germany. Flick was Joachim Löw’s assistant when Germany lost to Spain in the 2008 European Championship final in Vienna and the 2010 World Cup semi-final in Durban. “I’ve been in many games against Spain in the past when we also lost in 2008 and 2010,” he said. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Other games are a thing of the past and tomorrow is the future.
“If you look at the last two tournaments [Euro 2020 and the 2018 World Cup] we haven’t done as well and we want to stop that happening. Tomorrow is the first final for us in this World Cup. That’s what it’s all about. We want to prevent going out.
Germany finished last in a group of Sweden, Mexico and South Korea at the last World Cup. In last summer’s delayed European Championships, they were beaten in the round of 16 by England. Those two poor performances paved the way for Flick to take over from Low, but the change of manager has not changed reservations about the team and trepidation hangs over the build-up to Sunday’s crucial game at Al Bayt Stadium.
Germany’s loss of self-confidence and reputation was underscored by Flick’s response when asked if the country could still consider itself a favorite on the international stage. “Sunday’s game will show that,” he said. “Wait and watch. Maybe I can answer that question better then.
Flick was criticized for his starting selection and his substitutions against Japan. He doesn’t lose sleep over what to do next. He said: “I’m not quite sure of the line-up yet, there are several positions open. But I’ll watch practice, get a good night’s sleep and tomorrow I’ll know what lineup I’m going for.
“We had clear discussions as individuals and as a team. We need to explain to the players what to do against Spain, where they can find the gaps and be brave, and I’m sure they know that.
