That is the primary put up in our “Unhealthy Take” collection the place we compile the dangerous Bayern Munich, Germany, or soccer (typically) takes we have now had this 12 months — or the takes we have now now that could possibly be dangerous shifting ahead.
No person’s excellent, proper?
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was trying good for Germany at one level.
Former Bayern Munich supervisor Hansi Flick was on the helm, bringing his relentless attacking technique and relationship administration abilities to a staff that had potential — however desperately wanted a brand new voice to information them.
There was a star-studded roster which featured one of many prime, younger gamers within the recreation in Jamal Musiala, a core of “of their prime gamers” like Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané, and, Antonio Rüdiger — plus a few veteran leaders in Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer, who’ve been there and accomplished that.
It was purported to be the right mash-up.
Till it wasn’t.
I used to be all-in on Germany’s success and was predicting that whereas the staff wouldn’t win the match, they might problem for the trophy and present the world that Germany is again!
None of that occurred, however why?
Flick pushed all the unsuitable buttons together with his personnel and ways
Germany’s destiny was finally set throughout its opening match loss to Japan the place the squad collapsed within the ultimate quarter-hour and finally sealed their World Cup destiny. For what seemed to be the primary time since taking up for Niko Kovač at Bayern Munich, Flick regarded flummoxed. Nothing was understanding the best way he thought it might. Gamers under-performed, they couldn’t settle right into a consolation zone together with his methods, and sometimes did not execute his tactical directions.
Worse, not one of the participant combos appeared to be a match collectively, which was an enormous shock given the massive Bayern Munich contingent and the way Flick all the time appeared to make his gamers meld collectively prior to now.
Worse-er? Flick fell into the Joachim Löw lure of being too loyal to gamers like Thomas Müller and İlkay Gündoğan when it was clear each weren’t taking part in as much as par.
It was…disappointing.
The gamers underachieved and may need been affected by some inside strife
Not solely was the supervisor “off”, however the gamers didn’t dwell as much as their potential. Apart of Niclas Füllkrug and Jamal Musiala, it was arduous to seek out any participant who was persistently good for Germany. Füllkrug carried out when referred to as upon (which was hardly ever) and Musiala was a menace within the assault, however did have bother ending.
Nothing was excellent.
Furthermore, it appears the staff had some inside strife. Not everybody was on board with making a political assertion previous to the primary recreation, which — prefer it or not — did trigger an unwelcomed distraction. The sentiment was clearly one which referred to as for acceptance, however some gamers simply wished to concentrate on soccer.
Who was proper? Who was unsuitable? It doesn’t matter a lot now, however having debates on the right way to protest moderately than specializing in an upcoming opponent did have a tinge of conceitedness related to it — like Japan was simply going to roll over and yield to the mighty German squad?
Clearly, that didn’t occur.
Finally — I used to be a sucker
Yeah, I’m together with myself within the blame right here. I let my want to see a pleasant run by Germany within the World Cup cloud my imaginative and prescient. Admittedly, I used to be already not feeling nice when the Germans barely acquired by Oman within the ultimate warm-up earlier than the tourney. There have been a TON of crimson flags from that effort, however I wished to be excited for the tourney and extra, I wished to see this German staff — that regarded prefer it had such good potential — do nicely.
They didn’t…therefore, my take that Germany was going to be a drive was dangerous (most likely horrible truly).
This collection will compile some takes we had that have been dangerous or that we presently have, which could — or won’t — be dangerous. To verify all of them out, see the stream that will likely be dropping later in the present day and which is able to seize ALL of the dangerous takes we’re laying out.