Gregor Kobel believes Borussia Dortmund have left themselves in a deadly place on the Membership World Cup.
The Bundesliga facet drew 0-0 with Fluminense of their opening match, which noticed Jobe Bellingham make his debut following his swap from Sunderland.
Bellingham adopted the footsteps of his older brother, Jude, in becoming a member of Dortmund, and performed the ultimate half-hour of the match.
Niko Kovac’s workforce managed to build up simply 0.24 anticipated objectives, their lowest complete in any single recreation since September 2021, registering solely seven photographs regardless of having extra possession than their Brazilian counterparts, who produced 0.64 xG from 14 photographs.
It ended a run of seven straight matches with Dortmund scoring at the least two objectives. BVB have failed to attain in consecutive matches simply as soon as for the reason that begin of the 2024-25 season, in February towards VfL Bochum and Sporting CP.
And goalkeeper Kobel is adamant that Dortmund should win their subsequent matches to qualify for the knockout stage of the event.
“We have to win the subsequent two matches,” Kobel advised DAZN.
“After at present’s efficiency, we have to make sure that we rediscover the shape that made us very robust on the finish of the Bundesliga season within the subsequent matches.
“So it’s a case of getting the legs prepared once more and adjusting to the time distinction. After which I’m constructive that we will do nicely within the upcoming video games.”
Buddies, reunited pic.twitter.com/0kMQAaECwO
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) June 17, 2025
Kovac felt the draw was a good outcome, as he identified that South American groups play higher soccer than they’re given credit score for, with their league schedule additionally serving to them of their Membership World Cup preparations.
“We’ve to stay with it [a draw] – and we will stay with it too. It positively wasn’t our greatest recreation, nevertheless it was okay for the primary match,” stated Kovac.
“We Europeans suppose that soccer solely takes place right here, however some actually good soccer is performed in South America too. You additionally should keep in mind that we performed our final match on Could 17 – that’s a month wherein we’ve hardly been collectively.
“The Brazilians are in the course of their season and have solely just lately been on a break. They’re in a very completely different rhythm. It’s a must to take all that under consideration. We acquired the purpose, which was the minimal we needed. Now it’s a case of securing first or second place within the subsequent two matches.”
Dortmund face South African facet Mamelodi Sundowns of their subsequent group fixture.
Iqraam Rayners scored the one aim, however had two extra disallowed by VAR, as Mamelodi beat South Korea’s Ulsan HD in Group F.
Defeat for Dortmund in that fixture might see all of them however knocked out, particularly if Fluminense handle to beat Ulsan.
