Last stop sevilla: clear target from goalkeeper neuer

Manuel neuer didn't even bother to shy away from his record-breaking game in the german goal. The captain formulated a clear goal in front of his 96 in the spring-like warmth of seville. Deployment on tuesday evening (20.45 o'clock/ARD) against spain.

"It is a final for us, a final game. That's how we're going to approach it," the 34-year-old announced before the final training session at the estadio olimpico de la cartuja. Of course, in the risk area of andalusia, the corona danger is again permanently prasent. But the confounded pandemic year 2020 should have a happy ending, at least from a sporting point of view, with the group victory in the nations league. "It will do us good and help us," said neuer, referring to the development process of the young dfb selection.

National coach joachim low and those responsible for the german national team around olivier bierhoff could go into the four-month winter break of the national team a little more relaxed and look forward to the european championships in summer 2021 with a little more anticipation and also confidence if they were successful. The DFB bubble, which has been safe in all seven corona internationals so far (without defeat), should also protect players, coaches and support staff at the end of the year.

"We hope that there will continue to be no positive traps for us," said low. "Surprised" was the 60-year-old's reaction on monday in sevilla to the news that two days after the 3:1 against ukraine, two players used by the opponent in leipzig tested positive: "before the game, all ukrainian players were negative. I do not know what happened in the meantime."

Before the flight to spain and after arrival in sevilla, the german squad was tested again. The 48-hour deadline is to be maintained so that no one has to be placed in quarantine after returning to germany in the event of further negative results. To reduce aubenkontakte even more, the team plane will stop over in munich on the way to dusseldorf. There, among others, the five bayern pros will be able to drop out. "These are turbulent times for society and also for us in fubball," remarked neuer: "all people long for things to get back to more normal."

In the naturally again spectatorless stadium of sevilla is the focus of neuer and co. Here's to rounding off the final league week of the year with a third win, if possible. The test of strength against the spain team led by leader sergio ramos, which has never been beaten by low in a competitive match, will be an important european championship test, also for the highly praised turbo striker with timo werner, leroy sane and serge gnabry, who scored all three DFB goals against ukraine. "We have a rough challenge to pass in this game," said low.

Confidence is high. "It looks very good for us. We couldn't have dreamed of a better starting position after the two draws at the beginning," said attacker gnabry. With nine points, germany leads group 4 of the A-league ahead of spain (8). "We have to go to the pitch with a broad chest and defend our lead in the table," said gnabry on the approach.

A draw is enough. But low does not want to tactic. "We want to win the game and not defend anything," he announced. He named organization and compactness as central building blocks. Similarly, the newer, the sepp maiers 95, was the first to be selected. Commitment in the goal. "We're not saying we're somehow managing a result or looking to play for a draw," the captain said.

Qualification for the final tournament in october 2021 would be very attractive. World champion france is the first participant to be confirmed. Belgium and italy, like germany, are also ahead in their groups before the last match day. The "endgame" against the spaniards was also allowed to be an act of will – and a question of strength in the third game in seven days. Rested toni kroos. Real madrid's 100-game international returns to midfield after yellow suspension. Ilkay gundogan and the in-form leon goretzka should form a strong powerhouse with kroos.

Low has to rebuild its defense because antonio rudiger is suspended. Uncertainty surrounds the deployment of head defender niklas sule, who is complaining of knee problems. The defense in particular comes under fire. Luck was tested against ukraine with three goals against the post. "I have confidence in our defense," reassured neuer. Especially as he can usually be relied upon. "Manuel has been the best goalkeeper in world football for years," low boasted of his number 1 before the record-breaking match. He was "worth his weight in gold" for the DFB team.

A small low debate sparked bierhoff. The DFB director spoke in interviews about the future of the national coach, whose contract runs until the world cup in qatar at the end of 2022. "At the end of the day, we all have to be measured by results. The female jogi, too," bierhoff told the frankfurter allgemeine zeitung with an eye on the 2021 european championships. Low reacted casually in sunny spain: "there's no need to speak there. Oliver and i know each other inside out. We have a relationship of trust," he said. The group win in the nations league will nevertheless relax the coming months.