Germany: Grit of the past must blend with finesse of present

Every country has a diverse identity. This stands true in case of football too. England have been synonymous with hard working and direct football. While Spain with its huge Catalan influence is synonymous with tiki-taka. The French are physical and the South American countries play with flair and heart. For most periods the footballing identity of a country does not change, if it does, more often than not, it fails.

There is however one footballing nation, that has managed to change its football completely, and very successfully at that. Yes, I am indeed referring to the ‘Die Mannschaft’.

The champions of Euro 1996, were knocked out in the group stages during Euro 2000. The team was stagnant, old and played with outdated tactics and it seemed that the passion had been sapped out of them. The DFB intervened, and youth was made a priority. Jurgen Klinsmann became coach and brought out a new, attacking German team. The Germans performed brilliantly and national pride was restored.

Fast forward 7 years and the bet made on youth back in 2000 seems to be paying off. Germany are one of the most exciting teams in world football. They seem to have an unending assembly line of exciting youngsters for every position. They play a quick paced game based on high pressing and counterattacking football. Almost all German players are technically proficient and as a result can play a fluid form of football which leaves the opponent chasing shadows.

The fact that they are led by a man like Joachim Loew is only an advantage for the Germans. He makes his team play a brand of football that is not only pleasant to watch, but effective too. He keeps making tactical innovations too, like for example in the last match against Ireland, he used Ozil as a false nine with his two wingers playing as wide auxiliary strikers.

Another thing that swings into Germany’s favour is that they have indeed a very young squad. Take away squad player Westermann and senior striker Miroslav Klose, everyone is aged under thirty. The frightening thing for the rest of the footballing world is that, even when the current squad is not at its peak, it is devastating, to say the least. The demolition of Argentina and England in the 2010 world cup come to mind. But they are not an inexperienced squad. Mertesacker, Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Klose, Gomez and Neuer are experienced campaigners who can guide the young team.

The one thing that the Germans need to develop is to finish off games. Against Sweden they led 4-0 and very complacently conceded 4 goals and the match ended at 4-4. Their defense too isn’t the strongest in the world. Hummels has the tendency to commit one major mistake per game, while Mertesacker is in and out of form. Lahm is a consistently brilliant fullback but the other side stands at the mercy of opponents.

Germany, at the moment are the team playing the best football around the world. They however need to learn not to capitulate in big games. At the semifinals of Euro 2012, Italy thoroughly outplayed them. In the 2010 World Cup they were taken to the sword by a rampant La Furia Roja. The Die Mannschaft have gone forward from their stifling and dull tactics, that brought success to attacking football that does not.

They must wed the old Germany with the new. They must now become a team that has flair but can grind out the results too. It has often looked as if after getting a goal or two the team starts to indulge themselves. A streak of ruthlessness must be mixed with the flair of youth. They must be able to finish off games. The old generations of the Sammers, Klinsmanns, Beckenbauers did not play such attractive football but achieved success.

If they are able to iron out their defensive problems and are able to make sure that they do successfully close games, Germany can be the best team in the world, and not only the one which plays the best football.