After an energetic first 20 minutes and a few minor worries regarding Nico Schlotterbeck, the DFB team has encountered its first major turning points in their second group match—most notably, the unexpected deficit against Germany!
Initially, the ball found its way into the Ivorian goal at the 22-minute mark, but referee Benitez quickly halted play. The incident followed a corner kick, where Fofana was prevented by Pavlovic while attempting to head the ball, resulting in a foul. Although the Bayern player managed to score, the goal was disallowed due to the arm contact on Fofana.
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This was not a clear-cut refereeing mistake, so VAR chose not to intervene, leaving the decision intact. It was certainly justifiable.
In a turn of events, things took a frustrating turn for the German team shortly after the drinks break: following a good block by Brown against an attempt from Amad, the rebound landed at the feet of Franck Kessié in the box, who took full advantage and scored with a precise strike from his right foot in the 30th minute.
As a result, the underdogs now lead the German national team 1-0—an unexpected outcome for a team that performed so impressively just last Sunday. If the score remains the same or worsens as they approach halftime, things are sure to be challenging for head coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team.
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What are your thoughts on Wirtz, Musiala, and the team’s performance so far? Do you believe they can make a comeback quickly? Share your opinions in the comments!
This article has been translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.