A new All or Nothing documentary has shone a light on the issues that led to Germany crashing out in the World Cup group stage for a second successive time.
Released on September 8, the latest addition to Amazon’s ever-growing list of behind-the-scenes series promises to be its most explosive football offering yet after focusing on the tumultuous time Hansi Flick’s side faced in Qatar.
Germany – who won the 2014 World Cup – headed to the tournament with high hopes but their campaign was dominated by unrest between players, a perceived lack of support from fans back home and delicate political issues, with the team picking up just four points to come third in their group.
And in episode two and three of the new documentary, several clips have shown how their tournament fell apart.
This included a lack of punctuality from players, with Armel Bella-Kotchap and Julian Brandt both turning up late to team meetings in the run-up to their crunch clash with Spain, much to the anger of Flick.
An All or Nothing documentary has detailed how Germany’s World Cup campaign fell apart
Hansi Flick’s side were knocked out in the group stages in Qatar after earning just four points
The four-time winners failed to reach the knockout rounds for the second World Cup in a row
Bella-Kotchap was the first to be late two days out from the game against La Roja, with Flick sending a stark warning to his players at the time as he said: ‘OK guys, it’s a matter of discipline. Even if there’s a lot going on right now, be punctual from now on or else… you’ll make a contribution to the cash box.’
The four-time winners were looking to bounce back after a shock 2-1 defeat in their opening game against Japan.
Germany had played pretty well during the clash and missed several first half chances before conceding two late goals.
Speaking in episode three, midfielder Joshua Kimmich admitted the toll the loss took on the team.
He explained: ‘Right after the Japan defeat I looked around the dressing room and it looked to me like we’d already been knocked out.’
The mood didn’t improve much just a day out from the Spain clash when this time Julian Brandt wasn’t on time to the team’s pre-game tactical meeting.
An infuriated Flick added: ‘OK guys this is the last time I’ll talk about this. This is the last time.
‘Yesterday a few guys came late. That has to do with respect and appreciation for others. That is my opinion and I think you share that opinion.’
Flick’s attempts to motivate his side also provided an interesting watch, with the 58-year-old using the example of geese to get his side pumped up ahead of the Japan clash.
Presenting a video of them flying in a group across the sky, various subtitles were attached on a rolling ticker after Flick had said: ‘Let yourselves be inspired (by this video).’
The ticker included phrases such as ‘World Cup 2022 our big flight’ and ‘let’s learn from geese and take off on our flight together’.
Players were late to team meetings, with Armel Bella-Kotchap one individual to infuriate Flick
Julian Brandt (left) was also guilty of poor timekeeping ahead of the crunch clash with Spain
Flick then addressed the room to try and coax extra motivation out of his side on the eve of their World Cup campaign.
‘Greylag geese don’t really have anything to do with us, but they’ve developed a system that allows them to achieve someone amazing,’ he said.
‘They manage, when everyone follows the rules, to extend their flight range by more than 70 per cent. I think the film did a good job of showing that.
‘What is important is that we as a team act in such a manner that we behave as a team on the pitch as well as while sitting here together.
‘If we internalise that we can go really far and to me this is the most important thing to me. Always protect the team each and everyone of you here.
‘If there are times when things aren’t going so well, we’ll protect you. We’ll protect you. Let’s go on a flight together.’
When dissecting the Japan game in a team meeting, Flick also used another bizarre phrase to reflect on a game where Germany came to regret several missed chances.
He said: ‘There is a saying which sums up how I felt last night. It says “what good is a cow that gives you 10 litres of milk in the day but knocks over the bucket with its tail in the evening”…. that’s how I felt last night.
‘We had chances, I think we had 78 per cent of possession in the first half. We didn’t score. We weren’t efficient enough. In the end we punished ourselves.’
Meanwhile, in the final throes of Germany’s build-up to their clash with Spain, Flick tried to encourage his side to enjoy their football more as he said: ‘This is a final. A last chance to stay in the tournament. I expect everyone to embrace that. Forget what happened. We just talked about politics now it’s about embracing this World Cup.
Flick also used some strange motivational techniques, including the example of flying geese
He also compared their performance against Japan to a cow knocking over a bucket of milk
‘That’s why we’re here. That’s our job. It’s your job. To compete against the best of the best. I expect each and every one of you to be a fighter, to be someone who decides this match.
‘And when I see how the Brazilians celebrate their goals, how euphoric and full of joy they are, that’s awesome, that’s football. That’s what I want from my team.’
Germany – who were knocked out of the group stage in 2018 – were ultimately handed a lifeline when Costa Rica beat Japan 1-0, but Flick’s side then needed a late goal from Niclas Fullkrug to rescue a point against a Spain.
Fullkrug and Kai Havertz scored late again as they came from behind to beat Costa Rica in their final game, but Spain’s defeat to Japan meant they were knocked out on goal difference.
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