Germany Rlayer Ratings vs Liechtenstein: 9/10 for Reus, Muller, Sane; Gundogan settles for 7.5

Marco Reus grabbed a goal and two assists as Germany steamrolled Liechtenstein 9-0 at the Volkswagen Arena on Thursday.

Germany maintained their free-scoring form under Hansi Flick by securing a thumping 9-0 win over Liechtenstein on Thursday. The victory helps the new head coach retain his hundred percent winning record since taking over from Joachim Low in September.

It was a brutal performance from the Germans, who were on the front foot right from the get-go. Jens Hofer’s brutal foul on Leon Goretzka led to an early penalty, setting the tone perfectly for the hosts to dominate this game.

They scored the opener through Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty, and within the next 15 minutes, Leroy Sane and Marco Reus both found the back of the net, while an own goal from Daniel Kaufmann gave Germany a handsome 4-0 advantage heading into half-time.

Determined to avoid humiliation, Liechtenstein defended doggedly after the restart. However, an early goal from Leroy Sane broke their rhythm. Even though they were held off for a while, the hosts made the next breakthrough in the 76th minute through Thomas Muller.

Shortly afterwards, Ridle Baku scored a wondergoal before Muller eventually doubled his tally to make it 8-0. In the end, it was Liechtenstein’s very own Maximilian Goppel, whose attempted block, unfortunately, deflected the ball into the back of the net, thus adding further gloss to the scoreline for Germany.

Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over the German players in their 9-0 rout of Liechtenstein this midweek.

Manuel Neuer: 6.5/10

It was a quiet day at the office for Manuel Neuer, as Liechtenstein failed to offer any threat going forward. The visitors did attempt four shots on goal, but none of them was on target, leading to an easy clean sheet for the veteran goalkeeper. The Germany captain does deserve credit for his flawless performance in acting as a sweeper, though.

Jonas Hofmann: 6/10

Starting at right-back, Jonas Hofmann was not the most imposing player on the pitch. He did move forward with the ball, but the consistency and pressure were lacking. Hansi Flick was quick to notice his shortcomings as he subbed him off at half-time.

Thilo Kehrer: 7/10

Thilo Kehrer operated on the right-hand side of the central defensive unit. He was solid at the back, doing well to get rid of the occasional long balls from Liechtenstein. His pace was also useful in denying any counter-attacking scenarios for Yanik Frick.

Antonio Rudiger: 7/10

Antonio Rudiger spearheaded the German defence in the absence of Mats Hummels. The Chelsea centre-back used his experience to good effect, stopping the Liechtenstein attackers in their tracks while motivating his teammates throughout the entirety of the proceedings.

Christian Gunter: 7.5/10

Christian Gunter was given a deserved start ahead of David Raum at left-back. The SC Freiburg star did not disappoint either, bombarding the Liechtenstein defence with his forays down the flanks. His support out wide was essential in helping Germany create chances from the left side of the pitch, though the defender’s influence did fade as the game progressed.

Leon Goretzka: 8/10

Leon Goretzka received a nasty knock on his neck due to a high boot from Hofer. It led to the defender’s dismissal and a penalty for Germany. After that, the midfielder recovered from his knock really well and inspired his team throughout the first half. He was then subbed off at half-time by Flick.

Ilkay Gundogan: 7.5/10

Ilkay Gundogan scored the all-important opener that broke the shackles for Germany. He was involved heavily in his team’s chance creation as well. But he was extremely wasteful in front of goal and could have easily scored a hat-trick in the first half. The midfielder’s influence also faded as the game progressed, leading to a substitution around the hour mark.

Ridle Baku: 8.5/10

Playing in front of his home fans, Ridle Baku produced an impressive attacking display on Thursday. He initially started the game slowly, struggling to emerge as a standout performer amid a star-studded attacking lineup. However, a late flurry saw him score an absolute wondergoal while it was his attempted cross that led to the own goal from Goppel.

Marco Reus: 9/10

Marco Reus operated primarily as a hybrid between a number ten and a false nine. The Borussia Dortmund skipper did not disappoint at all, playing a leading role in Germany’s chance creation. His trademark one-twos, excellent understanding with the likes of Sane and Baku made life difficult for the Liechtenstein defenders.

Reus was involved heavily in the build-up to Sane’s first goal. Less than a minute later, he got on the scoresheet himself. He also registered two assists in the first half, making him one of the best performers on the pitch.

Leroy Sane: 9/10

While Reus was highly productive in the final third, it was Leroy Sane who played the role of a catalyst behind Germany’s dominance. His electric pace, quick feet and mesmerising understanding with his teammates were simply way too much for Liechtenstein to handle. As a result, Sane ended up scoring twice, continuing his rapid revival this season.

Thomas Muller: 9/10

Thomas Muller was another German attacker who stole the show with his creative prowess. The Bayern Munich forward created multiple scoring opportunities for his team, and though he failed to grab an assist, he did score a couple of late goals. The return of Muller has been a blessing for Germany this summer.

SUBSTITUTES

Florian Neuhaus: 7.5/10

Florian Neuhaus replaced Goretzka at half-time, but it did not change the dynamics of the game. The Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder applies more pressure to the opposition defence with his silky footwork and creative prowess in the final third, eventually registering the assist for Muller’s first goal.

Lukas Nmecha: 7/10

Lukas Nmecha replaced Hofmann at half-time to add more juice upfront. He swapped places with Reus as the team’s main number nine, offering a valiant shift throughout the second half.

Maximilian Arnold: 6.5/10

Maxi Arnold made a rare appearance for Germany when he came on to replace Gundogan. The midfielder produced a solid display in front of his home supporters.

Kevin Volland: 6.5/10

Kevin Volland added more freshness in the Germany attacker after coming on for Sane around the hour mark. A fox in the box who could have easily found the back of the net.

Matthias Ginter: N/A

A late replacement for Kehrer. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.