BackWorld Cup 2014: Germany stun the world with vintage football
On a day that rocked the sport, coach Joachim Loew managed to find the right mix of players, distilling what no doubt is the finest Germany team in decades
Premium
Belo Horizonte: It takes years for a fine wine to mature and the Germany team that ripped Brazil apart 7-1 in an astonishing World Cup semifinal has become a rare vintage with coach Joachim Loew finally getting the blend right.
On a day that rocked world football, Loew, in charge since 2006, managed to find the right mix of players, distilling what no doubt is the finest Germany team in decades.
He had reached at least the semifinals in his four tournaments in charge but always seemed to be missing some ingredient that could help Germany take the last step towards ending their 18-year wait for a major trophy. On Tuesday, Germany retained all the attributes that were so attractive in their youthful and exuberant 2010 World Cup squad that fell at the last four but infused it with the right dash of battle-hardened maturity. “It’s something special what we’ve accomplished and what we can do," said central defender Mats Hummels.
Germany’s starting line-up included seven of the players who had featured in their 1-0 semifinal loss to Spain four years ago, and another two were on the bench on Tuesday. In 2010, it was their youngest World Cup team in 76 years that grabbed the headlines, on Tuesday it was one of their finest ever. The holding midfield partnership that shone so brightly in South Africa of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira was fully restored, operating flawlessly and having the added experience of four years of playing top football. If Schweinsteiger, who turns 30 next month, ever dreamt of a game to prove he was back at his very best, especially after criticism for his performances at Euro 2012, this was it.
Khedira, who had torn a cruciate ligament in November, was doubtful for the tournament but Loew had insisted he was the only player in his team who was valuable even if not fully fit. The 27-year-old proved him right, helping to set up the fourth goal with an unselfish pass to Toni Kroos.
It was that attacking impetus from his midfield that Loew had yearned for in Brazil and he got the full 90-minute show.
Captain Philipp Lahm, who had been tried in midfield, again played in his familiar right-back role, just like against France in the last eight, to eliminate any threat from winger Hulk. Left back Benedikt Hoewedes crowned his best performance by shutting out the injured Neymar’s replacement Bernard.
The 54-year-old Loew also timed his use of a sole striker perfectly as Miroslav Klose, who had been on the bench for much of the tournament, netted his record 16th World Cup goal. Right behind him Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil and Kroos wreaked havoc in the Brazil defence, which was badly missing suspended captain Thiago Silva. The trio’s lightning-quick passing game and scoring prowess made Brazil’s defence look frozen under the waves of attacks.
Kroos delivered the first goal for Mueller and then added two himself in a sensational first-half display that will no doubt seal his expected move away from Bayern Munich.
The challenge now is to shake off the high and focus on the final.
“We haven’t reached our goal yet, we will put our foot to the floor once again and put our heart and souls into it to win this thing," said Mueller. “We can’t run away with ourselves."
But Germany has already proved one thing: Sometimes results come through playing the beautiful game the way it was meant to be played. Reuters
For more stories from Brazil, go to www.livemint.com/worldcup2014-
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
