After an expected victory over Kazakhstan, Germany sits pretty at the top of Group A in the qualifying round of Euro Championship. Having won all their qualifying matches thus far, with the nearest rivals trailing by five points, it is safe to conclude that Germans are going to be the first team to qualify from this group.
After a breath-taking World Cup campaign that saw the black and white brigade demolish top teams in their wake, Joachim Löw signed a contract extension to remain at the helm till the European Championship in 2012. Germany finished third in the recently concluded World Cup and Löw won plaudits from the German greats for putting up a grand show with a bunch of young and inexperienced players despite losing inspirational captain Michael Ballack, experienced defender Heiko Westermann and the German number one keeper Rene Adler through injury.
Germany was pitted against Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in group A. So far Germany has already played against Belgium(Away), Azerbaijan(Home), Turkey(Home) and Kazakhstan(Away). Löw picked more or less the same team that represented Germany in the World Cup. Ballack has been ruled out for a significant part of this season. Defenders Arne Friedrich and Jerome Boateng were also ruled out due to injury. Rene Adler and Heiko Westermann were included in the side.
Offensive Woes
Even though Germany have won all their qualifying round matches, there are some glitches that Löw might be looking to resolve as soon as possible. Germany have so far scored 13 goals in 4 matches and conceded only once. But apart from the match against Azerbaijan which they won by 6-1, German players have found it difficult to finish off the chances they have created.
Müller started of well, setting up Klose against Belgium in the first game and following it up a few more creative movements. But the Golden Boot winner has not opened his account in the qualifier as yet. In the World Cup he has scored 5 times with just 13 shots (six on target). In the last four matches, he’s taken nine efforts on goal and forced three saves, but has yet to find the net. Last night against Kazakhstan he again fluffed two opportunities from one-on-one positions.
Özil continues to be Germany’s main creative force. The match against Turkey in Berlin proved to be the match of his lifetime. Before the start of the match, Turkish media took a swipe at Özil accusing him of betraying his motherland. The match itself was a wakeup call for many football fans as it was hard to figure out whose home match it was.
Özil was booed every time he touched the ball. But the young man showed tremendous character and when presented with a chance to score, he replied to all the jeers with a neatly taken shot past the Turkish number one to score his first goal in the qualifier. But apart from that he has seemed to be quite a goal-shy footballer.
Last night he again came close to scoring from striking distance, but he squared the ball to his team mate instead of having a shot at the goal. His tendency to find his teammates instead of finishing off has been seen during the World Cup as well. He must improve this aspect of his game to give some respite to Miroslav Klose and Germany.
Lucas Podolski was under pressure in the last two qualifying games as Löw included Borussia Dortmund’s inform left midfielder Kevin Großkreutz for the match against Turkey and Kazakhstan. Podolski did manage to score against Azerbaijan and created one for Klose. But the way he went on a goal missing spree against Azerbaijan throughout the match that Löw had to pick the young man to keep Podolski on his toes.
Even though Großkreutz was ruled out of the games, Podolski seemed to be overwhelmed by this pressure and it resulted in yet another slap-dash performance from the Koln man against Turkey. His passing was erratic. Instead of trying to find his team mates he kept shooting waywardly.
Last night he was presented with a golden opportunity in the early exchanges and from a close range he surprisingly skied the ball. Later, Podolski made up for his mistakes by setting up Klose and Gomez for the first two goals and later ran through half of the Kazakh defenders before slotting home the third goal. Yesterday’s performance might convince Löw to continue with him, but Podolski knows that his place in the team is no more secure.
Amidst all problems of goal-bound movement, however, one man has kept proving everyone wrong with his diligence. Miroslav Klose! This season, Klose has not scored a single goal in Bundesliga as yet with Bayern and was dropped from the starting line-up in their last fixture. But the phenom has already scored 6 goals in 4 matches for Die Nationalelf. Klose has scored in all the four matches, including a brace against Turkey and Azerbaijan. It is a mystery to which Bayern Munich would like to find a solution, as to how Klose manages to score for the national team and remains so non-responsive for his club.
The Wall Is Strong Enough
Defensively Germany have fared well. The loss of Friedrich was not felt at all as Badstuber replaced him. Badstuber was brilliant in all the matches. In the match against Azerbaijan he took his game to a new level. The defender roamed forward with the ball, especially in to the open space created in the midfield by the poor marking of Azerbaijan defenders and delivered two brilliant defense splitting passes, one of which resulted in Klose’s goal, the other was missed by Muller.
Badstuber’s set piece delivery in that match was top notch. One of his corner kick resulted in another of Germany’s goal in the same match. Later on, the Bayern Munich rookie scored a late goal to roundup the match of his life.
Westermann has been in remarkable form as a left back. Though his excursions upfront were limited, defensively he has been superb. His clean and no-nonsense tackles coupled with good acceleration and anticipation has proved to be pivotal in case of breaking many attacks down the flank.
German captain Lahm and Mertesacker has also chipped in well and made sure that defensively they remain as closely-knit as possible. Khedira has been instrumental in shielding the attacks as well. Playing alongside Schweinsteiger was easier. But the way Khedira persevered to keep the pressure off from an out-of-positioned Kroos in the absence of an injured Schweinsteiger, was exceptional.
Back To The Future
Four straight victories in the qualifier and with five points clear from the nearest rivals, Löw has been presented with an excellent opportunity to bring some fresh faces to the team. Several players have portrayed their talent in this season’s Bundesliga. Low has confirmed that though he did not want to risk playing the young guns against Kazakhstan, he would like to call up a few of them in an international friendly against Sweden in November.
Defenders:
Centre halves Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) and Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke 04) deserve to be called up. Hummels’ exclusion from the World Cup team came as a surprise to many fans in Germany. Löw explained that the decision was hard and it was taken to keep the balance of experience, especially after the loss of Westermann. With the door to qualification almost unlocked, Mertesacker can be rested to pave way for the younger ones to prove themselves, especially in the matches against minnows Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
Left backs Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund) and Diego Contento (Bayern Munich) are both in contention to represent Die MannSchaft in near future.
Midfield:
Kevin Großkreutz has already got a call up. In ten matches this season, the Dortmund midfielder has already scored 4 goals and set up several assists. He might find a place in the starting line-up at the expense of Podolski.
Marco Reus (Borussian Munchengladbach) has been is supreme form of late. Famous for his thunderbolt strikes, Reus is a tireless engine. He has already been capped once for the national team against Malta in a friendly match.
Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund) and Lewis Holtby (Schalke 04, on loan to Mainz) have both been in outstanding form and are at the beck and call of Jaochim Löw. 19 year-old Götze has been in prolific form this season and has already become the cynosure of Dortmund’s first team.
The pressure is on Löw to pick Holtby for Germany as early as possible as Holtby can also represent England. The protean midfielder is German U-21 team’s captain and is one of the reasons for Mainz’s surprise rise to the top of Bundesliga.
Forward:
Germany is truly lacking talent in this department. Even though Klose has always managed to raise his level for the national team, Germany must look for life after Klose, who is on the wrong side of 30. Mario Gomez has been in an abysmal form off late. Last night’s goal against Kazakhstan might help him to earn some amount of confidence.
- Mainz duo Holtby and Schurrle expect Low’s call
Injury to Stefan Kießling has left Germany with only three options upfront- Klose, Gomez and Cacau. The meteoric rise of teenage hotshot André Schürrle (Mainz) can, of course, give Löw a reason to smile. After being subjected to a transfer war between Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen the sensation has signed a deal with Bayer.