There has been a slight sub-theme that fans are unhappy – or almost furious – on their national sides playing three at the back at Euro 2020.
The most remarkable of these cases has been Dutch supporters with Frank De Boer and after their match day a 1-0 defeat against France, German fans demanded Joachim Low to also change form.
Die Mannschaft’s loss to Les Bleus seemed to signal a real gap in creative quality. France threatened in the early stages, managed to take an early lead and then threw the ball in the German court to find an equalizer. But as we know, it never came.
Joshua Kimmich and Robin Gosens, who have been the wing backs for both Germany matches so far, simply did not provide enough of a threat against Didier Deschamp’s side. To play too deep, potentially skeptical of their chances of overcoming France’s counterattacks, was to stretch the back four an impossible task.
As a result, the front three were easily zeroed by Kai Havertz, Thomas Muller and Serge Gnabry by a pristine French back four and N’Golo Kante in front.
Mats Hummels scored the own goal that gave France the 1-0 victory / BSR Agency / Getty Images
This changed completely against Portugal. Kimmich and Gosens were apparently obliterated and lost confidence in those behind them to handle disks. They stretched their backs wide and therefore created large spaces for the same front three to move in and make darts into the box from. The flow was beautiful, creativity flowed and Portugal really struggled.
In fact, the Portuguese slopes were broken – and that’s an understatement. Nelson Semedo was nowhere to be seen when Gosens steamed into the area or one of the three forwards had pushed into the left channel, while Raphael Guerreiro failed to keep track of Kimmich or the runners in the right channel – all with the permission of the congestion created of such advanced wingbacks.
Not only did they both cause chaos on their respective sides of the field, but their intelligent movement and running into the box enabled them to combine and ask questions that, frankly, no team would have answers to.
Robin Gosens was scary in full flight / Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images
The couple came together to force the opener; Kimmich’s switch to the ongoing Gosens was fought over the six yard box, just so that a helpless Ruben Dias could transform into his own net. The same process was done for the fourth, with Kimmich’s post from by-line being emphatically met on the back post by Gosens, whose head placed Low’s side 4-1 up on the hour mark.
The Atalanta winger also recorded an assist for Havertz (Germany’s third), while Kimmich was responsible for forcing an own goal from Guerreiro (which made it 2-1).
The performance against France was far from inspiring German hopes, but in their trashing of Portugal it seemed as if all pressure was off – exemplified by the freedom and willingness to attack from Kimmich and Gosens. The two had hands in all four German strikes – if it does not justify Low’s decision to continue with his formation, then nothing is.
1️⃣ goal ⚽️2️⃣ assist? ️
Robin Gosens puts on a ???????????? ? #PORGER | #ITVFotboll | # Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/bYW4Eup9tp
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 19, 2021
Many may have thought that Germany was depreciation after a match day. But with an exciting show on match day two to throw Group F wide open – made possible by the fantastic wingbacks – let’s take a step back and remember to never write off the Germans.
