5 Conclusions: Germany 3-2 Brazil

August 10th, 2011 | by: Jan | Comments Off

No in-depth review, just a few take aways for a quick post match discussion, starting by stating the obvious.

1. Mario Götze is a very special player. Following a week full of praise, comparisons and speculation about his possible future place in Germany’s Football Hall of Fame, I’ll just leave it at that. He played a great game and scored a wonderful goal and certainly is more than just a back-up for Özil in the center. In fact, while Schürrle has played really well in his first few games for Germany – and again tonight, it probably isn’t about Schürrle or Podolski on the left but rather Schürrle/Podolski or Götze. Depending on how Holtby develops this season, I’d like to see Holtby as an Özil back-up in time for 2012.

2. Germany’s ball retention looks greatly improved. Ahead of the match Bastian Schweinsteiger talked about the team’s ambition to perfect their football. Winning the ball and keeping possession of the ball certainly has been and still is on the to-do list. But following this display against a team that usually likes to keep the ball as well, we can conclude that Germany is on the right way. Germany generally looked in control of the game and thanks to an aggressive pressing high up the pitch also quite dominant. There were some sloppy and careless passes – some were particularly dangerous as they gifted the ball to Brazil in Germany’s half or even close to the penalty box. The defense was well organized though and took care of most of Brazil’s attacks.

3. Mario Gomez doesn’t seem a perfect fit for Germany’s system. He scored at will for Bayern last season and also was on target for Germany recently, so it certainly won’t be a disaster if we’ll go into the next two tournaments with him as our first choice striker. But it just feels like he doesn’t quite fit into the current German system. His first touch really lets him down and it’s difficult to integrate him into Germany’s passing game except for the final pass he then has to put over the line. He feels like an improved and polished version of Kevin Kuranyi. I’d like to see a modern version of Gerd Müller up top instead.

4. Philipp Lahm (unnecessarily) blocks the left-back position. Just because he plays on the left for Bayern again, doesn’t mean Löw has to do the same. With Schmelzer and Aogo we have two left-backs who greatly improved their game over the past two seasons and I’d like to let the two go head to head for a starting spot instead of putting them on the bench, while players like Träsch or Boateng have to help out on the right side.

5. Substitutions were the only letdown. It was a great performance – and for a friendly this has been rare under Löw – so there really isn’t much to criticize. But even though it was Brazil and all, I would have liked to see some more experimental substitutions. It wasn’t Müller’s best game anyway, so why not give Reus 45 minutes? Give Gündogan a few minutes. Give Höwedes a chance alongside Hummels. I think those players are good enough to deliver, even in a high profile friendly.