Germany 1-4 Japan: Hansi Flick under pressure after heavy defeat

Germany supervisor Hansi Flick is under critical pressure after a dismal 4-1 defeat towards Japan in a pleasant.

Ayase Ueda tucked in from shut vary to revive Japan’s benefit halfway via the primary half at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg.

Takuma Asano and Ao Tanaka then put the sport to mattress within the closing moments.

Germany’s fourth defeat of their final 5 outings was additionally their heaviest setback since a 6-0 loss within the Nations League towards Spain in 2020.

Former Bayern Munich boss Flick has received simply 12 of his 25 video games in cost since changing Joachim Low in August 2021.

Germany additionally misplaced 2-1 towards Japan on the 2022 World Cup as they didn’t get out of their group and have recorded simply three wins from their final 12 fixtures – beating Oman, Costa Rica and Peru.

A “brutally dissatisfied” Flick stated he nonetheless thinks he’s the “proper supervisor” for Germany, however is aware of “how issues can change in skilled soccer and I am unable to see what’s to come back”.

That disappointment was echoed by his gamers, with captain Ilkay Gundogan saying “we’re not ok proper now, it is a fully bitter day – all of us must ask questions of ourselves”.

Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich added: “The backside line is that it was a well-deserved defeat. We had nothing up entrance within the second half. We have not truly performed a very good recreation because the World Cup. This has to offer us pause and we’ve got to query our high quality.”

Germany’s director of soccer Rudi Voller was much more stark, calling the 4-1 loss “a shame”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro League podcast earlier this week, German soccer journalist Raphael Honigstein steered the German FA could sack Flick if he proves incapable of getting outcomes throughout this worldwide break.

“It sounds ridiculous being two pleasant matches however Flick is under large pressure to not mess this up. The final video games [defeats by Poland and Colombia] have been so dangerous this has develop into an unofficial ultimate for his period,” stated Honigstein.

“Two dangerous performances and two dangerous outcomes and the Germany FA can be pressured to get rid as a result of the general public pressure could be insupportable.”

Germany – who host Euro 2024 – tackle 2022 World Cup finalists France in a pleasant at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday.