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Former assistant Flick took over following Germany's Euro 2020
exit after a 2-0 last-16 defeat by England and the departure of
manager Joachim Loew, but the inconsistency that has been his
side's hallmark of late remained.
After they suffered a shock loss to North Macedonia in March,
the Germans are second in the group on nine points after four
games, one behind leaders Armenia. Liechtenstein are bottom with
no points and one goal scored with 12 against.
"It took us too long to score the first goal, but it's also a
process. I won't let the first game unsettle me. We have a long
way to go," Flick said.
Germany's Robin Gosens hit the post with a header in the 19th
minute but it took until the 41st before Werner finally got the
first goal of the Flick era, latching on to a superb pass from
Jamal Musiala before slotting home with his right foot.
Liechtenstein showed no inclination to chase an equaliser but
continued to frustrate the Germans, massing their players behind
the ball and making the occasional foray forward.
Aron Sele almost did the unthinkable for Liechtenstein, but his
long-range attempted lob in the first half had too much power
and sailed over the bar.
After the break the Germans huffed and puffed but lacked the
guile to open up Liechtenstein, who had chosen to play their
home tie at St Gallen in Switzerland, a 40-minute drive across
the border from their regular home ground in Vaduz.
Having skipped Euro 2020 to rest after a long season with
Borussia Dortmund, Marco Reus ended his brief international
exile by coming off the bench on the hour and provided some of
the incisive passes his side had been missing.
Sane put the game out of reach in the 77th minute as he was
finally rewarded for his industry, dancing to his left in the
box before rattling home a low shot but the Germans will be
unhappy that their dominance did not lead to more goals.
Liechtenstein striker Daniel Kaufmann almost embarrassed the
Germans with a late effort, but their blushes were spared when
his header flashed across the face of goal before going wide.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris and Ed
Osmond)
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