Die Mannschaft made an impressive start against USA, but it was their opponents who triumphed in the end. Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger spoke to DFB.de on the negative and positives from the clash between the World Champions and the Gold Cup Winners.
DFB.de:Die Mannschaft began very well and didn’t look like they had just come back from their holidays. What did you make of the first 45 minutes?
Bastian Schweinsteiger: I felt we began very well. We dominated the game and had some clear-cut chances too. If we had scored another goal, it would have been deserved to go into the break 2-0 up. We conceded though and should have defended better in those kinds of scenarios. That then influenced the match of course. We have to work on being more purposeful with our chances. But if you have a look at us today – lots of players were on holiday for us, the Americans are warming up for a tournament – we can be very happy with the first 45 minutes.
DFB.de: How would you value your own performance from the USA game?
Schweinsteiger: I was almost surprised at how good I felt. We only began training properly again two days ago. Therefore it was decent. I liked the whole structure in our game. We moved the ball about well and controlled the match. We were just lacking in the final third, as I said: We’ll work on it. In particular with an eye on the games against Poland, Ireland or Scotland.
DFB.de: The stadium wasn’t sold out, does that disappoint you?
Schweinsteiger: It’s always better when the stadium is completely full. That’s almost always the case with our players. It was different today though and some spectators stayed at home. But you shouldn’t resent it.
DFB.de: What does the captain have to say on Patrick Herrmann’s debut?
Schweinsteiger: Very good! I always like this kind of player, he’s played terrifically in Gladbach and has earned his place here. You saw the skills he has and how quick he is with the ball.
DFB.de: How important would it be for Die Mannschaft to go into the summer break as top of the group following the Gibraltar match, before it gets underway in the manic autumn again?
Schweinsteiger: It’s especially important to pick up three points. We can’t influence the other results. At the end of the day, the main priority is to qualify for the tournament, everything else is of secondary importance. Poland, Scotland and Ireland are no easy teams to play against as we’ve found out already. We have to pull out top-level performances in these matches, otherwise it will be tough. But now we’re looking ahead to our next task – in Gibraltar.
DFB.de:Die Mannschaft could be woken up with the defeat to USA.
Schweinsteiger: We would have been awake with a win too. We won’t make the mistake of underestimating Gibraltar. Of course we know that we’re better than Gibraltar. It’s clear that we have to pick up a win there. But it doesn’t have to be double-digits. It has to be a good game from us there. We have to find the breakthrough against a team, which will sit back a lot. For that, today was important for getting a game under the belt and building a little rhythm through it.
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Die Mannschaft made an impressive start against USA, but it was their opponents who triumphed in the end. Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger spoke to DFB.de on the negative and positives from the clash between the World Champions and the Gold Cup Winners.
DFB.de:Die Mannschaft began very well and didn’t look like they had just come back from their holidays. What did you make of the first 45 minutes?
Bastian Schweinsteiger: I felt we began very well. We dominated the game and had some clear-cut chances too. If we had scored another goal, it would have been deserved to go into the break 2-0 up. We conceded though and should have defended better in those kinds of scenarios. That then influenced the match of course. We have to work on being more purposeful with our chances. But if you have a look at us today – lots of players were on holiday for us, the Americans are warming up for a tournament – we can be very happy with the first 45 minutes.
DFB.de: How would you value your own performance from the USA game?
Schweinsteiger: I was almost surprised at how good I felt. We only began training properly again two days ago. Therefore it was decent. I liked the whole structure in our game. We moved the ball about well and controlled the match. We were just lacking in the final third, as I said: We’ll work on it. In particular with an eye on the games against Poland, Ireland or Scotland.
DFB.de: The stadium wasn’t sold out, does that disappoint you?
Schweinsteiger: It’s always better when the stadium is completely full. That’s almost always the case with our players. It was different today though and some spectators stayed at home. But you shouldn’t resent it.
DFB.de: What does the captain have to say on Patrick Herrmann’s debut?
Schweinsteiger: Very good! I always like this kind of player, he’s played terrifically in Gladbach and has earned his place here. You saw the skills he has and how quick he is with the ball.
DFB.de: How important would it be for Die Mannschaft to go into the summer break as top of the group following the Gibraltar match, before it gets underway in the manic autumn again?
Schweinsteiger: It’s especially important to pick up three points. We can’t influence the other results. At the end of the day, the main priority is to qualify for the tournament, everything else is of secondary importance. Poland, Scotland and Ireland are no easy teams to play against as we’ve found out already. We have to pull out top-level performances in these matches, otherwise it will be tough. But now we’re looking ahead to our next task – in Gibraltar.
DFB.de:Die Mannschaft could be woken up with the defeat to USA.
Schweinsteiger: We would have been awake with a win too. We won’t make the mistake of underestimating Gibraltar. Of course we know that we’re better than Gibraltar. It’s clear that we have to pick up a win there. But it doesn’t have to be double-digits. It has to be a good game from us there. We have to find the breakthrough against a team, which will sit back a lot. For that, today was important for getting a game under the belt and building a little rhythm through it.
