We're in the middle of an international break, the leagues have paused, and footballers have scattered around the world. Some are training with their countries. Others are taking the opportunity to recover from injuries and return fresh for the resumption of competition.
During these days, attention shifts away from clubs to follow performances with national teams. However, not everyone is leaving a good impression. One of the most talked-about cases is Antonio Rüdiger's.
A match to forget
The German center-back from Real Madrid had a match to forget with Germany. The opponent, Slovakia, won 2-0 in a game where Rüdiger was a protagonist... but for the wrong reasons.
From the start, he looked uncomfortable. He was nervous with the ball, inaccurate in his passes, and slow in his coverage. His performance was marked by two serious mistakes that proved very costly.
The first was a poor play out from the back that led to Slovakia's goal. The second was weak marking in the box that allowed the second goal. These are two mistakes that aren't expected from a player of his experience.
The worst rating of the match
The statistics don't lie. Rüdiger was rated the worst player of the match according to several German media outlets. On top of that, he received a yellow card for a late tackle, a sign that he was overwhelmed by the situation.
Germany, which is looking to fine-tune details before the European Championship, left the match with more doubts than certainties. One of those doubts falls directly on the Real Madrid center-back.
Xabi Alonso doesn't forgive
If there's one thing that characterizes Xabi Alonso as a coach, it's his high standards. The manager doesn't tolerate serious lapses. If Rüdiger repeats such a performance with Real Madrid, he knows the consequences would be immediate.
In Xabi's system, defensive focus is non-negotiable. Mistakes are costly and competition is fierce. With teammates like Militão, Nacho, or even young players coming up strong, there's no room to relax.
A wake-up call
For Rüdiger, this international break has been a wake-up call. He must step up if he wants to keep his place in the starting eleven. Real Madrid is in a crucial phase of the season and every match counts.
Physical strength or experience alone aren't enough. Precision, leadership, and consistency are needed. As seen against Slovakia, there are aspects the center-back must correct as soon as possible.
The message is clear: what happened with Germany can't be repeated in Madrid. Xabi Alonso wouldn't forgive two mistakes like that. If he doesn't improve, his time as a starter could be cut shorter than he imagines.