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5 Conclusions: Russia 0-1 Germany (and beyond)

October 11th, 2009 | By: Jan | 15 Comments »

Nick already covered the individual performances of the players, so I’ll just focus on some of the other things I noticed.

1. All is well that ends well. Well, at least the realization that this team can up its’ game when needed is encouraging. In previous games there had always been a little bit of uncertainty over whether the team just couldn’t care less or just can’t do it any better. That being said, to see a Germany team under Löw that is playing well for the whole 90 minutes, we’ll have to go all the way back to the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Yet, Germany keep their 100% on the road record in World Cup qualifiers and Russia lose theirs on home soil. That Germany needed the referee to misjudge Arne Friedrich’s late tackle in the box is one of the things, that doesn’t end up in the statistics.

2. Guus Hiddink can change a game. Jogi Löw has beaten Guus Hiddink twice now, and both times it came by virtue of a good first half performance. Löw certainly deserves credit for his ability to figure out a good initial line up and tactics for a match. Yet, when it comes to reading a game and adjusting your tactics and making the right substitutions as the game progresses, Hiddink is one head and shoulder above Löw. In both games Russia managed to turn the table on Germany and in both cases the only answer Germany had, was riding out the storm and grinding out the victory with a bit of luck. I’m not sure whether this is something where Löw can still improve until 2010. Maybe we should rather put our hopes on Löw assembling ever better teams, that are less vulnerable to other coaches tactical interventions…

3. Germany can’t counter attack. At least not via the wings and with pace. Overall there just aren’t enough players available, who can burst through the defense and open up the required space. One Podolski on the wings doesn’t cut it. With that option unavailable though, Germany can’t afford to lose control of a match, like they did in the second half in Moscow. That doesn’t necessarily equal always enjoying the majority of possession and passing the ball around aimlessly. Germany’s midfield just needs to remain in a position, where it can push up field and move the offense into position at any time. At that point we have the players, who can break most or even any defense, both through the center or from the wings with some clever through balls and one-twos. The Ribbery and Robben type of winger are still something that the German FA might want to put on its’ youth center’s to-do lists for the future. Can’t hurt to have them.

4. The door isn’t closed on Germany’s U21 European Champions. Looking back at Germany’s qualification campaign, I’d give it one out of two possible points. The one point is for getting the job done and qualifying. The missing point is for failing to build a World Cup ready team. For that the majority of games were just too lackluster, uninspired and flawed by enduring problems in Germany’s defense and offense. In that respect it’s good to hear that Löw intends to use the three remaining matches this year, to test a few younger players. The instant impact Mesut Özil had on the team, certainly helped opening the door for other talents as well. I presume defenders and creative midfielders will receive preferential treatment. Some fresh blood may also help to shake things up a bit in the team. Players like Özil certainly can lift the mood, as his team mates see that he can really make a difference and is not just a player for the depth charts. At the same time there’s more competition for the available starting spots, which might help dealing with some of our more complacent fellows.

5. I’m not entirely sold on Germany’s one striker tactics. The game against South Africa showed some promise with Özil and Marin supporting the lone striker, so it’s a matter of having the right creative players available to make those formations appear more positive and attack minded and less destructive. I’m still secretly hoping to see a glorious return of the Euro 2008 qualifying Germany complete with its’ original 4-4-2 though.

Tags: Guus Hiddink, Jogi Löw, Mesut Özil, Russia, World Cup 2010

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Comments | Add your comment

By Nick | October 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

Well Löw has been a surprise as of late. I highly doubted that he had the cajones to start Özil so many times or use Boateng so quickly, so there is hope for the future yet. On the other hand he needs to stop picking out-of-form Stuttgart players and he seriously needs to take some risks at half-time. He makes good tactical plans and picks the right players, but I agree that he is weak or just timid in tactical adjustments. His failure to adapt also results in our poor counterattacking abilities.

Case in point, after the red it was obvious that Friedrich needed to come on, but instead of replacing Klose he opted for Özil. Maybe he thought Klose might still score from a set piece. Discounting our luck and an incredible Adler, the smarter thing would have been to keep Özil on as he is much better in terms of ball retention and a much bigger worry for the Russians in a counterattack. Our strikers just don’t have the ability to carry the ball the entire length of the pitch when we are under siege. In all honesty, there are probably only three or four versatile forwards in the world who can. We were playing against one of them.

It reminded me of the Spain game and perhaps even more of Croatia 1998. After Wörns got sent off, Vogts threw on two attackers and withdrew our only playmaker in Hässler and also a ball winner/distributor in Hamann. We had four strikers, but only a winger, an already committed defensive midfielder, and an aging sweeper to feed the front. Klinsmann, Bierhoff, and Kirsten were all clinical strikers, but none of them could walk the entire half of the pitch by themselves at that point.

Bottom line is that now we have Özil and Marin. Löw has to use them correctly in these situations when they are needed most.

By A Kap | October 11th, 2009 at 5:29 pm

In response to #3, Germany is also quite vulnerable to a good counter. Russia’s best attacks came when the defense was out of shape due to slow back-tracking defenders. Boateng and Friedrich had to hack players down due to the fact that they’d been outrun.

I agree that Boateng seems to be a better CB due to size and speed. The search for a wide back will continue.

Now if only Schweini plays for club like he does for country…

By Jan | October 12th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

@Nick: True, Özil is someone who could have either helped to keep the ball in midfield or in combination with Podolski open up the Russian defense with a clever pass. I wonder whether it might be an idea to invite Toni Kroos to the two remaining friendlies? He is IMHO the one player who could act as an Özil backup for the World Cup.

@A Kap: “Boateng and Friedrich had to hack players down due to the fact that they’d been outrun.”

Though it’s worth mentioning that Boateng in particular is a very fast player. Over longer distances he can catch most players. But he timed his runs wrong and I would also say that Bystrov should have been doubled with the help of the midfield. Boateng could still be an interesting option on the full back position. He will learn a lot from the Russia game. But I agree that centre back is probably his ideal position, possibly alongside Mertesacker instead of Tasci.

Posted from Germany

By Jan | October 12th, 2009 at 12:40 pm

Some more good news (IMHO) coming from the national team: Germany intend to play one of the World’s big boys ahead of the World Cup next year, which is a welcome change to the Euro 2008 preparations with friendlies against Switzerland and Austria…

Posted from Germany

By Nick | October 12th, 2009 at 1:54 pm

Let’s hope it’s not Argentina haha.

By Nick | October 12th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

We play Egypt, Chile, and Denmark for the rest of this year. Not bad sides at all, and gives us a good idea of the competition. As for the big teams playing Holland, Spain, or Brazil would be the best idea.

By Jan | October 12th, 2009 at 3:13 pm

The Denmark game takes place after the World Cup. But Chile and Egypt should be interesting opposition indeed. I fear that Chile will be jet-legged and won’t be able to play up to their true potential.

Posted from Germany

By A Kap | October 12th, 2009 at 9:05 pm

@Jan, “big boys” the way they played Italy before WM06 and got the fire lit under their behinds? A team like Cote D’Ivoire would be ideal though not really a big boy: Pace and power are two aspects Germany needs to get used to playing against. What about England?

Also, I haven’t seen Boateng too much to know about his pace, but another year’s experience should hopefully help, depending on both club and country gaffers being on the same page wrt his position.

Nick’s mentioning of Moeller and Haessler brought back memories, especially this image after the Euro 96 semifinal shootout (first in the slideshow)
http://www1.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=724881.html

By LEONEL | October 12th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

hey I’m argentinian, and here they’ve been saying that Germany will face Argentina in march, apparently it is already settled, or at least thats what some journalist say… so something is something, i think by the way argentina is playing that Deutschland would destroy them, but… let’s first see if this match takes place or not

By Nick | October 12th, 2009 at 10:45 pm

I must have forgot to read the year on the Denmark game. It’s too bad because they would be a perfect competitor. They aren’t afraid and give little respect to us. Plus they would give our defense a good run.

As for the friendlies it seems like Löw is going to nominate Thomas Müller in November, poor Kiessling his natioanl career is over. Better Müller than Cacau or even Gomez at this point. Funny how no one has heard of the kid until a few months ago.

No mention of Kroos, Hummels, etc. Kroos is a good free kick taker and tactical player. On the other hand maybe it’s too early and we already have so many choices in attacking midfield already.

By Nick | October 12th, 2009 at 10:52 pm

@LEONEL – I think Germany are going to play Argentina. Bierhoff mentioned it also. I am sure Argentina will get their act together and qualify. I hope Messi is fit for it!

@A Kap – Let’s not play England again. We would not want Capello to figure Löw out too soon. That picture of Möller is classic, not very sportng of him but hilarious.

By Arminius | October 13th, 2009 at 1:05 pm

@Nick
I feel your assessment of the Möller posture is biased or at least
misguided.
You certainly have to take into account the atmospheric context. And by that I do not so much think of the atmosphere in the stadium but rather the truly hilarious – you might also bluntly call it stupid – anti-German attacks in the English yellow press prior to the match.

To me Möller is saying: “Take that, John Bull.”

By Nick | October 13th, 2009 at 2:23 pm

Well as I recall Möller was just mimicking Gascoigne who did the exact same posture after he had scored a penalty.

The atmosphere was pretty bad… the BBC commentator had to apologize for a lot of England fans booing throughout the German anthem.

By Nick | October 13th, 2009 at 2:33 pm

Point is just because some England fans are a bunch of ignorant asses and their media entirely dismissive of German football doesn’t mean we have to sink to their level. Möller did kind of tease them you have to admit.

By Jan | October 13th, 2009 at 3:11 pm

“Let’s not play England again. We would not want Capello to figure Löw out too soon.”

I think Capello and most coaches in next year’s World Cup will have figured out already, that Germany can’t handle aggressive forechecking and that some players get nervous under the pressure and give away a lot of easy balls. That one friendly last year against England among others will have been enough I guess.

Posted from Germany