Four observations from Germany’s narrow escape against Switzerland

Germany’s soft underbelly

Scotland never really managed to threaten Germany in the host’s opening match of the tournament. But Hungary threatened multiple times and really made Germany sweat for long periods of the game, exposing a potential soft underbelly of Germany. In that sense, Switzerland merely continued where Hungary left off by getting at Germany, just with more efficiency than Hungary did.

Both teams focused on quick, precise and direct counter attacks through the middle once the ball was won and continually reaped rewards for this kind of attacking behavior from a Germany team that still cannot deal with it. But it was not just through the center where Germany struggled…

The balance on the right was all wrong

Germany’s right side was…strange. None of Germany’s attacking quartet wanted to play on the right side, continually drifting into the middle and robbing Germany of an option to play out wide. Joshua Kimmich made up for some of the lack of width, but this led to the Bayern Munich player picking up some very, very aggressive positions, in turn forcing right sided center back Antonio Rüdiger to step forward and consistently unbalancing the backline.

Even in a settled defensive position, however, the duo of Kimmich and Rüdiger struggled. It is not surprising that the goal Germany conceded came from a cross from the right side, as well as the big chance conceded straight after the goal, as well as the offside goal Switzerland scored. Kimmich and Rüdiger simply struggled to harmonize all game long, something that needs to improve if Germany is to make it to the latter rounds of the tournament.

Was it football out there or rugby?

In March, Germany played a friendly in Frankfurt and won. One would think it would be cause for celebration, but the likes of Musiala and head coach Julian Nagelsmann instead were incensed by the state of Frankfurt’s hybrid pitch, which has also hosted NFL games in the recent past. The quality of the pitch proved to not be much better now than it was months ago, as the “Deutsche Bank Park” was host to yet more slipping and poor passes on a very poor surface. Combined with the ever increasing amount of fouls witnessed in this match, one could have been forgiven for thinking that it was rugby being played here instead of football.

Germany’s depth off the bench could be vital this tournament

It is easy to make the simple argument that Niclas Füllkrug’s dramatic late equalizer means that the subs on Germany’s bench are good. That is certainly true, but what is truly striking about the subs is how they all brought something very unique to the team. Füllkrug replaced Florian Wirtz and added the focal point and physical presence in the box the team was lacking and that Wirtz could not provide, David Raum replaced Maximilian Mittelstädt provided the curling crosses that were so dangerous even before his brilliant assist, which Mittelstädt could not provide, and Leroy Sané provided the width on the right Musiala simply could not provide.

The beautiful thing here is that these substitutions are not merely player-for-player swaps but ones that genuinely add different factors and abilities into the mix Germany’s opponents had not had to deal with before. This tests their opponent’s defense in so many ways it is bound to eventually pay off, like it did today. That variety of profiles was enough to break down Switzerland’s resolve and it will likely continue to help Germany as they aim to go far in this home tournament.