Germany face the pressure of a final against Spain but Luis Enrique is still wary

Asked whether the four-time world champions were still the mighty tournament team of the past as they face the prospect of a second early World Cup exit, he said the game on Sunday would determine their reputation.

"This will be answered on Sunday. Maybe we have another answer to that question, the right answer," Flick told a news conference.

Germany started their World Cup campaign with a shock 2-1 defeat by Japan on Wednesday after holding a 1-0 lead following a dominant first half.

But they inexplicably crumbled after the break and let Japan score twice late in the game to snatch the win and join Spain on three points.

The Germans suffered their earliest tournament in 80 years when they crashed out of the first round at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. They were also eliminated in the Last 16 at last year's Euro.

"The last two tournaments were not (good)," Flick said. "We want to avoid a repeat of this. The focus is on concentration. This is the first final for us at the World Cup and that's what it's about - to avoid a repeat of that."

Flick will have to wait for the last training session to see if winger Leroy Sane (26), who was nursing an injury, will be fit to feature on Sunday.

"We have to wait for final training and afterwards we can say more (about Sane)," he said. "It is good news that he can train. Our medics did a lot of good work and we will see how the training goes."

While the injury to Sane, who missed their first game, may be of some concern for the coach, a far bigger issue is getting the players to focus on the game and put the Japan loss behind them.

Flick appeared by himself at the final news conference prior to the game and not, as usual, with one player, saying they all needed to stay in their training base in north Qatar to focus on the game.

"For me the focus is football," Flick said.

"I am convinced of the idea of how we want to play. If we are not on 100% then we give the opponent space. We did it against Japan. Such a defeat and how it came about is very bitter because it was avoidable."

"But we will continue down our road because we believe in the quality of the team and that it can apply the things we want. We have courage and belief going into the game," said the German.

Enrique wary of Germany

Spain could be given a taste of their own medicine when they take on Germany because both European heavyweights seek to control games by dominating possession, Spain coach Luis Enrique (52) said.

"Without a doubt, they are the team that is most similar to Spain in terms of dominating the play and controlling it. That is a beautiful challenge for us," Enrique told reporters on Saturday. "I think it will be an open game."

Spain thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening match in Qatar on Wednesday when their fluid passing left the Central Americans pinned deep in their own half for much of the game.

"A big win like that creates confidence but we can't go into the game over-confident," Luis Enrique said.

Reporters asked the Spain coach if he was worried about the risk of a desperate German fight-back in the Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday night given the match means so much to Germany's chances of progressing.

"Will Germany be more dangerous because they need the win more? You never know in football," Luis Enrique said.

Spain thrashed Germany 6-0 when they last met in November 2020 in the UEFA Nations League, but the former Real Madrid and Barcelona player, who went on to coach Barcelona, warned against any complacency.

Striker Dani Olmo (24), speaking at the same news conference, said Spain would not be distracted by the high stakes facing their rivals and would go for the win that would qualify them for the knockout phase with a game to spare.

"Of course, they are under pressure because they need to win after the loss against Japan, but we know Germany is one of the best national teams in the world and you cannot put them down after one game," Olmo - who plays his club football in Germany for Leipzig - said.

"It will be a final for them. They need to win to have a possibility to be in the next round, but if we win we will be through also, so we will go for the win."

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