Tag Archives: Germany

World Cup Diaries: The Coronation

14 Mon Jul 2014

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Germany WC 2014Germany are the world champions! Twenty-four years after their last triumph, the Germans have won football’s highest accolade yet again. Die Mannschaft earned a fourth star on their jersey by defeating Argentina 1:0 in the finals at the Mecca of football, the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

Rarely has anyone deserved to win so richly. It might be counter-intuitive but not always does the last team standing win the hearts and minds of everyone. England’s second goal in 1966 come to mind, as does the assistance “God” extended Argentina in 1986. More recently, the ugly spat between Marco Materazzi and Zinedine Zidane in 2006 also cast a shadow upon Italy’s eventual triumph.

In contrast, even to their own days of ‘robust football,’ the German team was perceived as being too nice to win. There were no leitwolf or Führungsfigur in Joachim Löw’s team. In the entire tournament, Germany collected just six yellow cards, whereas Argentina received 8, the Netherlands 11, and Brazil given the most of any team in the World Cup – 14.

Even in their record 7:1 demolition of the hosts in the semifinals, Philipp Lahm & Co. decided to go easy on the Brazilians in the second half. After the final whistle, Bastian Schweinsteiger and other German players were seen hugging and consoling their defeated foes rather than jubilantly celebrating their astounding victory in arguably their most difficult fixture of the tournament.

An admirable quality in the Germans is their humility and decorum. No German team has ever fielded a prima donna like Cristiano Ronaldo, Robson de Souza, Mario Balotelli, or Nicolas Anelka, nor has one ever had the same swagger as the Selecao. After winning the championship, audiences were spared the theatrics of a German Gennaro Gattuso running around the pitch in his underwear. Most players instead preferred spending a few quiet minutes in the embrace of their wives or girlfriends before the lifting of the Cup and the obligatory victory lap and photo session.

Luckily for football fans, this world-beating German team did not enjoy an easy draw. A Germany that arrived at the finals to play and defeat Argentina after strolling through lesser teams would not be as inspiring as what was accomplished in this World Cup. From the group stage to the Cup, the Germans eliminated Portugal, France, Brazil, and Argentina. The only other side that could have arguably posed a challenge to the champions was the Netherlands though it is unlikely that anyone would bet on a Dutch victory over the Germans.

WC2014 Mascot - FulecoIt has been often said that the Germans may lack star players but play as a team. In Brasil 2014, Germany outscored, out-passed, and out-teamed all the other 32 teams that had gathered there. The Mannschaft scored 18 goals, completed 4,157 passes, and had the most number of goal scorers and assists than any other side except the Netherlands; no less than eight members of the German team put the ball in their opponents’ net over the space of seven matches.

While the world was focused on rivalries between Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller, the goal that won the championship came from substitute Mario Götze. Yet even throughout the tournament, Löw’s boys were generous in their passes and assists to allow the person with the highest likelihood to score to shoot on goal. Neither Miroslav Klose, who broke the world record for the most goals in World Cups (16), nor Müller, who was just one goal shy of yet another Golden Boot award, hogged the ball to themselves and instead played for their team to win.

Brasil 2014 tied for the highest goal-scoring World Cup with 171 goals scored in total; only in France 1998 were so many goals scored. Ironically, despite Brazilian player Neymar’s back injury being one of the most iconic moments of this tournament, the World Cup saw the least number of yellow and red cards ever given (187, 10) since the practice was started in 1970. UEFA (Union of European Football Association) has now won two World Cups more than CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football), the last three in a trot. Germany lifted FIFA’s trophy for the first time as a united country; Germany also became the first European team to win a World Cup in South America and surpassed Brazil’s tally to become the highest goal scorer (224) in World Cup history. It was the country’s eight final, a record in itself.

What may be frightening to a Europe busy preparing for the Euro 2016 in France is that the world champions were probably not even at their best. There have been a few injuries and the defence has looked shaky at times, something the coaches will be working hard to remedy. For now, Lahm & Co. go home with $35 million in prize money from FIFA and a fourth World Cup, ensuring that they will be long remembered in the annals of German football; the Deutscher Fußball-Bund has also sweetened the German victory by promising its conquering heroes a bonus of $408,000 each.

Despite worries about delayed construction and protests, the South American giants have hosted a remarkable World Cup. Germany, the eventual champion, has not just won the trophy but done it with a dignity, grace, and sportsmanship that has unfortunately become rarer; this is all the more reason for their victory to be savoured. in Brasil 2014, Löw’s team set an example for how professional football ought to be played. Congratulations Germany, champions and gentlemen!

World Cup Diaries: Germany vs. Argentina

11 Fri Jul 2014

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Germany vs. Argentina (Final) | Kickoff: July 14, 00 30 IST | Stadium: Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Thus it all comes to an end. A glorious month of football that started with 32 eager and hopeful teams comes to a close with only the strongest two standing. It has been a month of disappointment and jubilation, agony and exhilaration, tears and tears of joy. Against the backdrop of protests against the hosting of the World Cup, Brazil’s socioeconomic difficulties, and fears that the infrastructure may not be ready in time for the world’s most sacred tournament, 31 days have gone by very quickly and enjoyably. Controversial refereeing, the Brazuca, and the Bite have all left their mark on a contest played out at the Mecca of football.

The last two heroes of this tournament are Germany and Argentina; twice, they have faced each other in the finals and both won their last championship by defeating the other. In World Cups, Germany has fared better against Argentina, winning four of their six previous encounters and drawing another; however, Argentina has a slightly better 9:7:4 record against Germany overall. Interestingly, Germany and Argentina have met in World Cups more than any other pair except Brazil and Sweden, whose record of seven they will equal in this final.

In Brazil, Germany reached the final by thrashing Portugal 4:0 in their opening match and pushed aside an impressive France in the quarterfinals before demolishing Brazil 7:1 in the semifinals. Argentina’s path may not have been as star-studded but they overcame an inspired Iran, a stubborn Belgium, and a challenging Netherlands to set up a repeat of the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals.

The Argentines come to the finals after a long and tough semifinals but it would be naive to think that an extra half hour of football three days ago would dull players at this level. On the other hand, the Germans are euphoric after the unbelievable 7:1 annihilation of Brazil; however, Joachim Löw is a seasoned coach and knows that such results are more an aberration than a sign of prowess. Consequently, the German team’ will not be as high on their semifinal success as some of their fans are.

The Germany-Argentina clash has been heralded by many commentators as one between Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller, the most effective players on either side. Yet such a perspective reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of German football. Most of the the major teams come together around one or two stars – Luis Figo, Andrés Iniesta, Andrea Pirlo, Diego Maradona, Marco van Basten. Supported by others, these players become the tip of the spear.

However, German football has rarely, if ever, believed in spear tips. When they last won the World Cup in 1990, the German effort was fuelled by Lothar Matthäus, Jürgen Klinsmann, Rudi Völler, Thomas Häßler, Pierre Littbarski, and the goal scorer, Andreas Brehme. In 2014, though Müller has scored most of Germany’s goals, it would be ludicrous to disregard the contributions of André Schürrle, Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, or Sami Khedira to the team. One on one, no German player comes close to matching the flair or finesse of the greats like Garrincha (Manuel Francisco dos Santos), Diego Maradona, or Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) but the European side’s strength comes from their organisation, discipline, and inability to give up until the final whistle is blown – and they have three World Cups to show for it. Football is a team sport and as their generous passing even within the opponent’s penalty area shows, that is how the Germans play it.

As their fans glare and jeer at each other, there is much respect between the two sides. Argentine legend Maradona and coach Alejandro Sabella have both heaped praise on the German team, their players, and their method. Löw has been equally respectful of his opponents, applauding the stout Argentine defence as well as strikers Messi and Gonzalo Higuain. For better or for worse, the explosive rivalry between Argentina and Brazil or Germany and the Netherlands have been avoided in this final. Interestingly, this will be one of the rare occasions Germany goes into a match as the favourite – despite their 7:1 drubbing by Germany, Brazilians are slow to forget their grudge against Argentina!

Despite their different approaches to the beautiful game, there is little difference between the two finalists. The German defence is famous and questions have been raised about the Argentine back line but in this tournament, it is the South Americans who have proven more unflappable. Germany’s true advantage has always been its midfield and this team is no different. Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Götze, Kroos, and Özil dominate their part of the field and feed Germany’s attack. Müller has been played forward in this World Cup and along with Schürrle and Klose, bring up Germany’s attack, which, though not as lethal as Messi and Higuain, is supported by the best midfield in the world.

At the Maracana in Rio on Sunday (Brazilian time), all things considered, Germany will have the slightest of edges over Argentina…but it will be just that, the slightest of edges. The best teams have survived, and by the end of the evening, only one will be left standing – Argentina will win its third championship or Germany its fourth. In all likelihood a low-scoring match, it will nonetheless be one for the history books.

Update:

Final score: Germany 1 – 0 Argentina (after extra time)

World Cup Diaries: Brazil vs. Germany

06 Sun Jul 2014

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Brazil vs. Germany (Semifinal I) | Kickoff: July 09, 01 30 IST | Stadium: Estadio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte

Four weeks after the World Cup kicked off, four of thirty-two teams are left – Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, and Argentina. There can be little surprise at this eminent list of survivors, though some may have held fond hopes of others making it so far. By the previous stage of the tournament itself, the eight teams remaining were all those who had topped their groups.

For German fans, the upcoming semifinal against Brazil may be their most critical match of the tournament yet. The fixture is not just in their way to a record eighth World Cup final but it is against their bête noire, Brazil, who already have the home court advantage. In 21 meetings between the two footballing superpowers, Germany has won a mere four times against Brazil and drawn five times; Brazil has claimed the remaining dozen victories, scoring 39 goals against the Germans and conceding 24. The only time the two sides met in the World Cup was in 2002, when Brazil won comfortably with a 2:0 scoreline. In fact, Germany has never beaten Brazil in a tournament – not the World Cup (2002) nor the Confederations Cup (1999, 2005).

Germany’s last victory against Brazil, in a 2011 friendly, came after an 18-year wait. It came, as did all other German victories against Brazil, on German soil; the boys from Brazil have not been encumbered by any such geographical limitation and have defeated Germany on their own soil (5/12) as much as anywhere else (Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Japan). Interestingly, Germany seems to be the only European team that chokes against Brazil. Italy’s record of wins, losses, and draws against Brazil reads 5:7:2 and France has an even more enviable 5:4:4.

In a sea of depressing statistics, Germany can take solace in a couple of things. The first is that Brazil seem not to be performing at their highest level, drawing with Mexico in the group stages, escaping with Loki’s own luck past Chile in the second round, and struggling past Colombia in a very rough quarterfinals. Germany itself struggled a bit with Ghana in the group stage but otherwise had little trouble with either Algeria or France in the elimination rounds. However, teams of the calibre of either Brazil or Germany can ramp up their game at the drop of a hat and spectators may be in for a scintillating semifinal.

World Cup playersSecond, Brazil’s star player, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, has injured his vertebra in the last match and will be missing the rest of the World Cup. Neymar is an important fixture in the Brazilian team despite their deep bench strength; the South American side has so far relied on the forward for 23 per cent of its scoring chances, its next two most valuable players, Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior and Givanildo Vieira de Souza (Hulk), being responsible for 13% and 11% respectively. By contrast, Germany has seen its scoring opportunities and gameplay divided fairly evenly between Thomas Müller (21%), Mesut Özil (19%), and Toni Kroos (14%). The importance of just one player cannot be overlooked as Germany learned in their semifinal against Spain in the last World Cup when Müller was unavailable for play due to his second yellow card of the tournament in the quarterfinals against Argentina, or for that matter the absence of Michael Ballack in the 2002 World Cup final after his yellow card against South Korea in the semifinals.

Of course, history is not everything or FIFA might as well invite only former champions to compete. Germany has already created a record of sorts by being the first country to reach four consecutive World Cup semifinals; if Germany were to manage to move past Brazil and go into the World Cup finals, it would meet the winner of the second semifinal between Argentina and the Netherlands. Die Mannschaft‘s record against either of these teams is significantly better than against the host nation. Head-to-head, Germany has won 7, lost 9, and drawn 4 matches against Argentina; the European side has bested the South American team in four of their six encounters in the World Cup and lost only once, in the 1986 final. Against the Netherlands, Germany’s record stands at 15:10:15, not one loss at a World Cup. Germany lost 3:1 the last time they played Argentina in August 2012 and drew against the Netherlands in November of the same year.

In the last few days of this World Cup, the greatest threat to a German triumph comes from Brazil. Argentina’s Lionel Messi may have won the hearts of millions and the Dutch trio of Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, and Robin van Persie may indeed pose a problem for Joachim Löw’s boys but the psychological hurdle of defeating Brazil is far higher than any of Germany’s potential opponents in the finals. In fact, if Germany can win on July 08 (Brazil time), it may very well go on to win the World Cup.

Update:

Final score: Brazil 1 – 7 Germany

This post appeared on Daily News & Analysis on July 07, 2014.