World Cup 2018: 5 aspects of Germany’s play that need improvement

#2 The pairing of Hummels and Boateng is creaking

The Boateng-Hummels pairing is not working well anymore

Just like Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique for Spain, the combination of Bayern Munich pair Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng has been the first choice central defensive pair for DieMannschaft since 2014.

While both men are still relatively young for central-defenders (both are 29 years of age), the partnership is beginning to show its first signs of strain. Against the fleet-footed Mexicans especially Chicarito who played the role of the playmaking striker to perfection, Boateng really struggled to get a handle on the Mexicans.

With zero help coming from the midfield (thanks to Khedira’s inability to hold his position) and Kimmich’s foraging runs forward, Boateng had too many one-on-one encounters with the Mexicans (one of which led to Lozano’s goal), situations that could have ended really badly for Germany.

Perhaps, it is time for coach Low to play with the idea of deploying a three-man central defence with Antonio Ruediger coming in to join the Bayern pair. The Chelsea man has extensive knowledge playing in a back three and he could be deployed as the left-sided centre-back.

This would allow Boateng drop into midfield when there is a need to aid the central midfield in sniffing out opposition attacks or distribute the ball (he is the best passer of the ball among the four German centre-backs).