Our 3️⃣ points as Germany keep their World Cup hopes alive against Spain | OneFootball

Germany left it late to draw with Spain as both sides had to rely on strikers off the bench to find their breakthroughs.

Here’s what we made of it.

Strikers are down but never out

Spain started the game against Germany just like they did against Costa Rica, with no recognised centre-forward on the field, a tactic that worked wonders as Luis Enrique’s side ran out 7-0 winners.

Chances were few and far between against Hansi Flick’s side, however, as the two sides seemingly cancelled each other out with Spain controlling the ball and pressing quickly when out of possession whilst Germany pressed high the field to hinder their opponent’s build-up play.

In fact, Germany started without a recognised striker as well (although they entered the competition with a shortage in that department).

Enrique turned to Alváro Morata in the 54th minute whilst Flick looked to Niclas Füllkrug (a player who less than two years ago was in the German second division) 15 minutes later. Decisions that would prove very fruitful for both managers.

The 30-year-old Spaniard stole in front of his defender to poke home Jordi Alba’s cross for the first goal of the game and, considering the way it had been going you could’ve been forgiven for thinking that would be that.

Young starlet Jamal Musiala continued to sparkle (more on him below) and, having spurned a great chance to equalise, Füllkrug wasn’t going to give the youngster another bite at the cherry, nicking the ball off his teammate before firing in a late leveller.

Both sides seem intent of pursuing a tactic that revolves around ‘false 9s’ rather than traditional frontmen but, one thing is for certain, every time strikers seem to be going out of fashion they remind us why the position is so hard to fill.

A tight group made tighter

Germany avoided losing back-to-back group-stage games at the World Cup for the first time in their history, but the threat of yet another early exit from the competition still looms large.

Costa Rica shocked the footballing world by following up their mauling at the hands of Spain with a win over Japan which was good news for Hansi Flick and his side before kick-off.

That result meant that even a defeat wouldn’t rule Germany out completely but with only one point on the board after two games destiny is no longer in their hands.

Flick’s side must now beat Costa Rica to remain in contention but they sit at the mercy of the Spain v Japan result with Spain’s position in the next round not yet guaranteed either.

Germany conceded very few chances to a rampant Spanish side, which in itself will be taken as a positive, whilst Niclas Füllkrug’s goal was enough of a fairytale to inspire support from neutrals far and wide.

Next generation is now

For the average non-partisan football fan, this game was an opportunity to see three of the most exciting talents clash on the biggest of stages.

Spanish duo Pedri and Gavi looked assured as ever, calmly keeping the ball ticking as they made smart decisions and squandered possession rarely.

Conductors of the orchestra, the Barcelona pair can pass under the radar but the tenacity and quiet brilliance they inject into the midfield at club level, and now in the Spanish national team, at barely 20 years old is astonishing.

On the other side of the field is Jamal Musiala, the 19-year-old starlet from Bayern Munich.

Where Pedri and Gavi looked relaxed, Musiala’s face painted a different picture. Bigger in stature and full of running power the teenager wasn’t afraid to share his frustration with the officials after being cut down for the second time in quick succession.

Musiala probably should’ve scored, squandering a chance from close range with a powerful shot well saved by Unai Simón but every time he gets the ball you feel like something is going to happen.

You get the sense that despite their tender age, squads are starting to be built around the abilities they bring to the side they are in as these three players could sit at the top of the game for the next 10 years or more.