Since the disaster in Russia, the fact that time has passed over German football has been talked about again and again.
But in the national team, with national coach Löw and in the German Football Association, this discussion has so far only led to one reaction: to turn a blind eye to it.
Michael Horeni
Correspondent for sports in Berlin.
Follow I follow
On Tuesday, at the opening game against world champions France, that was no longer possible.
Ten minutes before the end of the French lesson, today's world champions delivered breathtaking images of this long-suppressed German football truth, those that no one forgets who has seen them.
When Mbappé started his sprint about ten meters behind the abandoned Hummels at the level of the center line, it looked as if Usain Bolt was in French football boots in a race against the German Holzmichel.
Mbappé decided this running duel in such an elegant and light-footed way that these seconds made it clear as if in fast motion: Germany has lost track of the pace of the new times by lengths.
"Nothing has happened yet"
Hummels gave what he could.
He chased after lost time, teeth bared with exertion.
In the penalty area, he tried a tackle with the courage of desperation.
At that moment he risked everything.
When Mbappé was lying on the ground after yesterday's desperate action by the world champions, no one could have complained if the referee had decided on a penalty.
And Hummels would have flown from the square.
After his own goal to 0: 1, that would have been the tragic end of his late return action by the national coach, the actual act of desperation after three years of delayed and unsuccessful German rebuilding.
But some German eyes are still tightly closed, even after this French lesson.
The national coach said after the game: "Nothing has happened yet."
Really not?
In the unsuccessful sprint and successful tackling of Hummels, the whole dilemma - if not to say the drama - of this lost national team with its many good players who have been on their own for years is reflected in reality.
It was an attempt to save with the last of my strength what can hardly be saved.
The French, on the other hand, presented themselves as a truly world-class team to those who opened their eyes.
Not only do the individual players have top format, they have it in a downright lavish way.
The Equipe Tricolore, with its many artists and individualists, also presents itself as a team that has grown over the years, in which all these individualists and artists know exactly what they (should) do.
And what their teammates do.
In the Munich stadium you always had the feeling that Didier Deschamps' selection could increase if it has to. In this game, but also throughout the tournament. So when it comes down to it. That wasn't necessary against Germany. Deschamps put it like this: "With the second goal we would have been on the safe side, but we didn't suffer a lot in the second half."