Another smooth build up sees the Mannschaft firing on all cylinders as they look to challenge outright
While Germany’s
progression to the final of Euro 2008 was seen as a surprise, it was in fact
the continuation of a trend of attacking brilliance that saw its birth at home
during World Cup 2006 under the sparkling intent of Jurgen Klinsmann’s team. While both ’06 and ’08 versions contained
some of the deadwood of former captain Michael Ballack’s generation, the
complete retool was completed under Klinsmann’s successor Joachim Low and
unleashed to spectacular effect in South Africa at the 2010 World Cup. Although some sceptics would point out that
Germany’s precociously talented team may have overachieved both there and
previously in Austria-Switzerland in 2008, the fact is that Germany’s
progression to both tournaments’ latter stages, their form during qualification,
and the impression they have made at youth levels, suggest that the national
team is ready to take the final step – and win it all.
Romantics will point
out that Spain are the team to beat and in many ways they remain so, having
dominated and won both Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010. And thereafter the threat of Holland,
offensively stocked and technically gifted, looms large. But whereas the former two nations were far
and away the best two teams from Europe, and often the World, at previous
tournaments, Germany is now ready to join them in a troika of heavyweights
slugging it out for the tournament title and the right to be called Champions
of Europe for four years. Germany’s team
is young, a point labored several times over, hungry for success, balanced in
all areas of the pitch and technically well drilled in both individual and team
tactics and strategy. The coaching
structure has remained intact for several years, no small feat that reaps its
rewards with the stability it brings, and like Spain, is built around a core of
players who have been playing the same style of football, together for
years. And in some areas of the pitch,
like at left full back and in goal, Germany’s talent is the best in the
world. This German team is peaking at
the right moment and the time is ripe for it to seize its chance and capture
the glory.
Looking at it another
way, if Germany’s relatively mediocre and transitional teams made it to the
final at Euro 2008 and the semifinals at both 2006 and 2010, surely this team, now
at its best, can surely go further and possibly even do one better? Writing off
Germany at major tournaments is a hazardous task, with only Euro 2004 and Euro
2000 being disappointing outings for the national team in the last 30 odd
years. They possess a mental setup that
balances pressure and ability perfectly and rely on a winning attitude that
makes them believe that they will go
far. Now they have allayed that with the pyrotechnics of young football and are
arguably better equipped than even their World Cup winning side in 1990, to win
it all. Of course several banana skins
remain and in a tournament played over a four week period, a surge in form at
the right time could upset the balance, while head to head matches against
Spain and Holland, when encountered, will present the stiffest of
challenges. However, taking into account
the draw, the team and the trend of results that Germany has achieved in recent
games of importance, one can only conclude that the current side is readymade
for success.
Anointing a talented
group of similarly talented players a golden generation is a tricky and
potentially ominous task as England’s and Brazil’s cohorts have shown. However the fact remains that Germany’s
current crop is one of their finest harvests with many players who will miss
the final cut of 23, able to walk into most teams at the tournament, including
fellow heavyweights like England, Italy and France. German teams has long been more comfortable
with the description of effective rather than good, however with a vintage this
special surely a better epithet can be conjured. Typically, expectations have been tempered,
with no rallying cries, as yet, having been made by any of the coaching staff,
team members or media. But at home, fans
are quietly optimistic as they book their trains and tickets. Already the full allocation of 12,000 tickets
has been snapped up by German fans for their team’s matches in the group
stages. And while Low has been
notoriously low key, preferring to talk about his team’s preparation and players’
fitness, he must retain the strongest belief that the time is now for his side
to succeed.
Germany has dropped
points in only two games, both draws in their previous two qualification
campaigns, while a third, enroute to Euro 2008, saw just one loss as they
finished second to Russia in their group.
More impressively they have spanked four goals past both Argentina and
England in crushing victories in 2010 while getting past Uruguay and Portugal
in third place matches with a degree of comfort. Add in the narrow defeats to Spain in the final
in 2008 and the semi-finals in 2010, along with a heartbreaking extra time
defeat to Italy in 2006, and it is quite clear that they only ever lose to the
eventual champions. Germany have always
played well and achieved strong finishes.
But this team is even better. From
front to back the team is stocked with the cores of several of the Bundesliga’s
latest dynamic generation, formed around the nuclei of Borussia Dortmund, Bayer
Leverkusen and Bayern Munich with a smattering of talent from elsewhere like Real
Madrid and Borussia Moenchengladbach. A
quick rundown reveals the depth of talent in place.
While Bayern’s Manuel
Neuer is first choice in goal, his backup pair of Rene Adler and Tim Wiese make
one wonder how many other teams can boast such riches between the posts. Captain Phillip Lahm is one of the game’s
premier wing backs and is joined at the back by Dortmund duo Marcel Schmelzer
and Matt Hummels, who have picked up successive Bundesliga crowns, Schalke
captain Benedikt Howedes, a commanding presence at centre back and versatile
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng, capable of playing anywhere along the
back four. Further afield Wolfsburg’s
Christian Trasch, Munich’s Holger Badstuber and Hamburg’s Dennis Aogo round out
the options which may mean exiles for experienced Arsenal defender Per
Metesacker, and wily veteran Arne Friedrich.
It’s not just the strength, speed and technical brilliance of this
defensive corps but their versatility and interchangeability.
In midfield, Germany’s
strength really comes to bear as only Spain has a better set of starters and no
one has a deeper pool of talent.
Bayern’s attacking midfield pair of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas
Muller have already wreaked havoc at several international tournaments with a
cut and thrust style played at breakneck speed.
Add to them Real’s pair of attacking midfielders, Mesut Ozil and Sami
Khedira, and Dortmund’s own dynamic duo of Sven Bender and Mario Gotze, and you
have a real handful of central midfielders who can pass, run, tackle and
dribble with the ball at pace.
Additional options are available through Bayern’s latest up and comer in
the middle of the park, Toni Kroos, Schalke’s part English sensation Lewis
Holtby, Gladbach’s Marco Reus and Bayer Leverkusen trio Lars Bender (Sven’s
twin), Simon Rolfes and Andre Schurrle.
If injuries do take a toll, Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan, Bremen’s Marko
Marin and yet another Leverkusen midfielder Gonzalo Castro, can all step
in. A look at the squad list makes would
make many an opposing coach wince.
Dortmund’s captain Sebastian Kehl does not even get a look-in.
Up front, the cupboard
is anything but bare with old warhorse Miroslav Klose still banging them in for
Lazio in Serie A, Leverkusen’s forward Stefan Keissling in the form of his
life, Cologne forward Lukas Podolski (who can also play on the left wing)
coming off another prolific season and Bayern’s Mario Gomez scoring for
fun. Stuttgart’s Brazilian born striker Cacau
and Wolfsburg’s Patrick Helmes are more than competent in front of goal and
with Muller able to play in the hole, Germany’s attack is every bit as potent
as its midfield. While Low can line his
troops up anywhere from a traditional 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-3-3, they
play at a high tempo with speed and power, something that most teams will
struggle to contain.
Germany’s moment in
the sun has arrived, their time is now – a fact evident to all who follow the
game. If they play to their potential, keep
their minds on the task and take the chances that their style of football
creates, they may very well go home with the trophy. Not that this makes them favourites of
course, just the leading contenders to Spain’s crown.
Qualification Route:
Germany once again
sealed qualification at a canter, winning all ten games in Group A and putting
both Belgium and Turkey to the sword.
Having sealed qualification early, they played their last three matches
with experimental teams containing debutantes, and giving fringe players a
chance. Making the big dance was never
in doubt and Germany delivered with a swagger and confidence one has come to
expect from this squad, scoring 34 goals and conceding only seven. Ominously, they never trailed and only
conceded an equalizer four times, with a 3-1 battering of Turkey in Istanbul,
the highlight of a campaign that was smooth, efficient and comprehensive.
Group Rivals
Holland:
One of the two
favourites, along with Spain, for the title outright, the Dutch present an
early test of Germany’s credentials.
Like their rivals across the Rhine, Holland is blessed with outrageously
gifted players and well stocked at all positions of the pitch. They play a high line and are very strong
with a physical side of their football, particularly in defence, overshadowing
an epic offense. In strikers Klaas Jan
Huntelaar and Robin Van Persie, Holland have arguably the finest strike pair on
the continent. With a midfield of Rafael
Van Der Vaart, Arjen Robben, Nigel De Jong and Wesley Sneijder behind them, the
Netherlands will definitely come to play.
At the back the Dutch rely on the athleticism and physical prowess of
their defensive unit who are a threat at set pieces as well. Germany’s match
against Holland on June 13 in Kharkiv will determine the outcome of the
tournament for both. Germany crushed
Holland 3-0 in a friendly in November 2011.
Portugal:
Ridiculously talented
with an array of mesmerizing players and arguably one of the best on the planet
in Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s inclusion in Group B very much makes it the
group of death. Alongside captain Ronaldo,
who is capable of winning most game on his own, Portugal offer threats from all
over their front six in Nani, Hugo Almeida, Ricardo Quaresma, Raul Meireles and
Joao Moutinho. On the flip side,
Portugal’s defending is a bit suspect. Germany’s
defense will be stretched by a fast passing and tricky Portuguese side who are
absolutely terrifying when in the mood and on song. Howedes and Hummels will have their work cut
out in keeping Ronaldo off the scoresheet. They play Portugal June 9 in their
opening game of the tournament in Lviv.
Denmark:
Hardly a threat
without being pushovers, the Danes will bring their typical industry and
organization to the tournament, although polished with some much needed
creativity in Ajax’s attacking midfield jewel Christian Eriksen. Dennis Rommedahl is still tricky up front but
at 33, his fastest years are behind him while Nicklas Bendtner, a more
traditional centre forward is prolific in patches and is better with the ball
in the air rather than at his feet. The
Danish midfield is hard working without being eye-catching and Germany should
have little trouble in bypassing them.
However if the Danes dig in and Germany has to resort to working the
ball in off the wings or over the top, Klose and Muller’s skills could come to
the fore, once again. The Danes and Germans square off on June 17 in Lviv.
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