Schlotterbeck’s Redemption

Antonio Rudiger The MVP of the round of 16 was chosen against Denmarkalthough at least it can be considered a curious decision, because one that is so big is Nico Schlotterbeckin a match that was a real redemption for the central defender.

The Borussia Dortmund player has not been a starter until now, but the sanction of Jonathan Tah This gave him a chance to return to the eleven in a great tournament with Germany.

“Until now I haven’t had the happiest performance in the national team”he said after the game Schlotterbeck. There is no shortage of reason. Many said he was responsible for the elimination of the Mannschaft from Qatar World Cup due to scoring error against Japan in the group game, letting Takuna Asano escape to score the winning goal in the 83rd minute. And, since then, Nico has always lived in the eye of the storm, accused of his mistakes, his coldness and his mistakes. In fact, he had one of those lapses in the 42nd minute, when he fell asleep on the ball in the area and Hojlund He stole it and almost scored the first goal of the match.

There is still a ‘run run’ in the stands. Disciple of the controversial Max Kruse, with whom he was at Unión Berlin, some saw similarities. “It’s just football,” said the midfielder at the time, who in 2016 was kicked out of a rally by Löw for taking a cell phone from a journalist who had taken a photo of him in Berlin.

This relaxation, known as microsleeps by German fans and defined as common mistakes of “a real Schlotterbeck”. Dortmund also experienced this at the time, but by the end of the season the 24-year-old center back had started to show that something had changed in him. Otherwise, one cannot play in the Champions League final against Madrid wearing the team’s shirt. Borussia Dortmund.

Seen it before Denmark the definitive version of Schlotterbeck, which Germany is almost desperately looking for, knows its potential. Despite the occasional lapse, his game was brilliant. Starting with aerial disputes and standing out for his impeccable delivery of the ball, something in which he clearly surpasses Jonathan Tah. He provided fluidity to the game, found midfielders and pulled a quarterback pass out of his hat only to leave Musiala and the final goal was scored.

Now the ball is in his court Nagelsmann. Tah will not be suspended for the quarterfinals, although Rüdiger is injured. He has to decide whether to continue to trust Schlotterbeck, who wants to show that these comparisons to a Russian roulette no longer do him justice.