It was a punishing victory over Portugal that gave the Germans their egos back. It was today’s game that brought them back to Earth. A fresh squad full of youth seems to be missing that special spark, that certain jazz that makes the Germans such a complete team. Traditionally, Germany has mixed its stars into ranks that created potent combination. In essence, they took their world class players and used a formation that uses them to the best of their individual abilities. This is what separates them from other teams, this is what makes them such a great footballing nation.

Give credit to the Ghanians though. Ranked 37 in the FIFA rankings, and 35 in ELO, the Africans knew that they were the team that everyone expected to beat in order to qualify for the round of 16. Granted, they’ve bested the United States historically, but they were still a lesser team on paper. They proved their attacking prowess during that game, and it seems the Germans didn’t pay attention. The Ghanians did exactly what they needed to do, they counter attacked and built up plays and pressured their opposition in midfield.

The German False 9

Joachim Low is left with a lot of problems. For one, he has no true striker worthy of leading the charge. Being one of the great talent producers, there is a drought when it comes to the offense and a surplus in the midfield. Most football addicts would cry false 9.

Then again, most football addicts would be wrong. The use of the tactic isn’t working for the Germans. Often times, players are moving ineffectively, being forced to perform roles that they just can’t do. A team that traditionally builds up quickly and attacks from everywhere on the field is reduced to slow, picky midfield play. Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze are asked to be pushed out wide, and while both do their jobs sufficiently, neither is able to use even 75% of their talents. Both players can launch attacks and can weave through defenses with ease, but both find difficulty working with a congested midfield and their passing suffers as they’re pushed out wide. Okay, so say you throw in Julian Draxler, who can play that role almost perfectly. That still means taking a huge risk by benching one of your best players, and will certainly cause bedlam in the locker room and in the media.

Meanwhile, the wonder of Thomas Muller is asked to play a role he doesn’t enjoy. Sure, Muller scores goals, but he doesn’t do the job of a traditional striker. Holding the ball up, triggering offside traps, and providing outlets for attacks is something Muller just can’t do. The Bayern midfielder is better in his traditional attacking mid role, where he is allowed to dabble in goal scoring. He just doesn’t have the proper mentality to be a striker game in and game out. That’s a job for a poacher like Mario Gomez, or a true striker like Lukas Podolski; both of whom are much too out of form to be on this side. Too often, there are large swathes of space and no one to take advantage of them. Germany has all that passing ability, but no one to pass to.

On the defensive end, Phillip Lahm was put where he shouldn’t have been. While Lahm played defensive mid for Bayern, his ideal position for Germany is clearly still in defense. His ability to lead from the back and to attack going forward was really missed, and the team suffered from his experience in that respect. Sammy Khedira was pushed off to the side, when he really should’ve been sitting in front of the defense where Lahm was. While Lahm has a high football IQ, it’s Khedira’s ability to protect his centerbacks from curious forwards. Meanwhile, Tomi Kroos suffered from his nations inability to keep in formation and wasn’t able to be the playmaker that the Germans needed.

Introduction of Klose and Schweinsteiger

The introduction of Miloslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger, however, brought back the old Germany. Klose’s ability to be in the right place at the right time gave the squad an outlet and a target. He pushed Muller back into an attacking role to help in the buildup, and he allowed Ozil to move more centrally and make key passes. Schweinsteiger did what he does best, boss the midfield. Using his experience, he chose to use a bit of physicality to regain control of the midfield. He is fundamentally a differnet player than the other passers in the squad. Ozil and Kroos pass when Germany need to move forward, Schweinsteiger passes to dominate the game. Simply put, no one is able to hit the long distance passes that Germany were lacking so far this tournament. The stats don’t lie either. One third of the German’s shots came from the two substitutes. A little over one third of their crosses came after that time as well.

Should Joachim Low insert Klose into the Starting XI?

The million dollar question is whether Joachim Low should use Klose to his full capacity as a starting member of this squad. Even with age, he is a component that is in absolute demand, and he pulls together Germany’s attacking option. While his age doesn’t necessarily affect him as much as other players, he just turned 36 and under normal circumstances, his international career would long be over. Schweinsteiger almost definitely needs to start going into the round of 16, as he provides exactly what the German defense needs. Low can’t chance being a one trick pony and he absolutely needs to abandon the false nine.

Unfortunately for Germany, their backs are against the wall. If the USA beat Portugal, Germany’s fate will be determined by the events next week. If they are fall to the United States and if Ghana beat Portugal, the Germans could be the third big team to tumble out of the tournament (after Spain and England of course). For now, however, they can rest easy. Even if the USA goes to win the group, the Germans can rally and create a result next week to launch them forward, and they are easily still the favorites to win that game.

That being said, if there is a time for this generation of German players to win the World Cup it is now. As the best are falling, Germany is one of the few great nations that are still relatively on top of their game. It will take training, soul searching, and a full turnout of mentality, but it isn’t impossible. After all, one thing is clear, if Germany can find themselves, they will almost certainly attain glory.

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