Flick hails ´perfect´ result after victory over North Macedonia seals World Cup spot

Hansi Flick hailed Germany’s attitude and their perfect start to his tenure after they confirmed their 2022 World Cup spot with a 4-0 win over North Macedonia on Monday.

Kai Havertz broke the deadlock at the Tose Proeski Arena and Chelsea colleague Timo Werner netted a quickfire brace, with Jamal Musiala adding the fourth goal to become his country’s second-youngest scorer in history (18y 227d).

Flick subsequently becomes just the second Germany head coach – along with predecessor Joachim Low – to win all of his opening five games, while Die Mannschaft have now qualified for every World Cup since 1954, with only Brazil achieving the same feat.

And the former Bayern Munich head coach, whose side have scored 18 and conceded just one since his appointment, was delighted with their performance in Skopje.

“We now have five wins from five this season,” Flick told RTL post-match. “The result was perfect.

“We wanted to qualify as quickly as possible. You have to compliment the team on their attitude.

“Of course the first half was a bit wild, but we can be happy that we won and qualified. We were very consistent after the first goal, so we can be satisfied.”

Congratulations Germany! The 4-time #WorldCup winners have become the 1st team to join hosts Qatar at the 22nd global finals pic.twitter.com/jBy4YsnZTm

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 11, 2021

Werner attempted a game-high nine shots – two more than the entire North Macedonia team combined – and Flick also found time to praise the striker as he looks ahead to Qatar in 2022.

“We now have time to develop and improve until November 2022,” he continued. “I’m looking forward to the task. Timo Werner’s second goal was the best today.

“He didn’t have it easy. He had a few chances in the game and scored two great goals.”

The Chelsea forward, who has scored 21 times for his country, added that his relationship with Flick is vital for his performances.

“If the coach counts on you, it helps every player,” Werner said. “I need this trust from outside. He gives me 100 per cent. I’ll try to pay that back.”