UEFA Euro 2012 : Jogi LAi??w Masterstroke Steers Germany To Semifinal

By Arnav Bose
12 years Ago

In UEFA Euro 2012, Germany became the second team to qualify for the semifinal. TheHardTackle analyzes how Jogi LAi??w had planned to execute the Greek downfall.

Germanyai??i??s resounding victory over Greece has taken Joachim ai???Jogiai??? LAi??wai??i??s men to the last four of UEFA Euro 2012, their fourth consecutive semifinal qualification in a top international competition. Fans can warm the cockles of their hearts as the Germans have justified their top billing by going from strength to strength with every passing game. Incidentally, this victory has helped Germany win their 15th straight fixture in competitive international games, eclipsing the previous record for consecutive wins in competitive international games held by Spain, France and The Netherlands.

LAi??w, who has already marshaled his troop against defensive Portuguese and Danish sides in the league games, knew that his team did not play to its true potentials. After the first three games, it was difficult to relate this Germany with the Germany that raked up 34 goals in ten qualifying games. Germany, which has evolved into a team playing fast passing and attacking brand of football since LAi??wai??i??s induction as the head coach, appeared to have slowed down the tempo. Not only that, much to the disappointment of the fans, they played rather cautiously and defensively during the first three games.

The explanation from LAi??w was simple, though. That was the group of death. Germany were pitted against teams with world-class attacking talents. The group was much different from Germanyai??i??s Euro qualifier group, from which no other country qualified for this edition of Euro. Playing an all-out attacking game against teams with Ronaldo and Nani in it, or against a team that has not only Robben in it, but also top scorers from two different leagues, could have been suicidal.

After being put into the group of death slugfest, LAi??wai??i??s first target was to qualify for the quarter finals. Germanyai??i??s 3-5 defeat against Switzerland did not bode well with the future of the team in the tournament. With Mertesacker out of action for a lengthy injury spell during the course of the past season, LAi??w had to rely on Badstuber and Hummels in the heart of defense, both of whom were playing their first ever International tournament.

Desperate situations give rise to desperate measures. Enter LAi??wai??i??s defensive organization. The build-up playai??i??s tempo was slowed down so that the opposition can never launch a counter attack. To ensure ball possession, there were hardly any orthodox goal-kicks taken as build-up started through Badstuber and Hummels. Podolski and MA?ller, both of whom are not natural wingers, were chosen ahead of the uber-talented SchA?rrle, Reus and GAi??tze. This was done keeping in mind that both Podolski and MA?ller have better defensive capabilities, have a physical presence and both can track back and forth tirelessly to aid their defensive fullbacks. However, these tactical rejigs came at the price of Germanyai??i??s much touted attacking flair.

The result was for all to see. Germany successfully negated the threat of Ronaldo and Nani as the wide midfielders (Podolski and MA?ller) worked with the fullbacks to double on them every time they had the ball, in the game against Portugal. Against The Netherlands, not only the strategy worked well to nullify the threat of Robben or Affelay, while attacking Germany nutmegged the inexperienced Dutch left side-back Jetro Willems, proving him to be Achillesai??i?? heel for the Oranjes.

However, the game against Denmark was an eye-opener for LAi??w. Denmark, more or less, parked the bus in front of their goal and Germany, owing much to their new-found slow tempo and without any natural winger in the starting line-up found the Dane defense difficult to penetrate. Even though Germany fortuitously found the goal, the moment the Danes drew level, Germany were once again out of their depth, lacking in pace and width. LAi??w, not known for his impromptu decisions, did read the situation well for once and replaced an ineffective Podolski with a gifted winger in SchA?rrle, throwing caution to the wind that there is no more defensive need against a side that is defending fervently.SchA?rrle buzzed around the opposition third with more vim and vigor, was in the thick of a couple of chances and the same Germany looked more lively in front of the opposition third. The rest is history.

Germany went into the quarter final game against Greece, at the back of an overwhelming fourteen-match (competitive) winning streak. Arena Gdansk was set for a David versus Goliath apocalypto with so much at stake. Greece had never defeated Germany in its history. Germany, on the other hand, had never lost a quarter final match in the history of Euro.

It was known beforehand that Greece will defend with all its might and main, and launch furiously fast counter-attacks whenever the need be. Their confidence was high after a thrilling victory against a much favored Russian offensive unit. Prior to the game, the caretaker captain, Kostas Katsouranis even voiced a caveat,

We will give it all on the field. It will take a minor miracle on Friday. Germany are the favourites, we are the underdogs, but think about it: we will not play against the Germans ten times to see who wins the most. It’s one match and we will fight to the end.

Greece were expected to follow Danesai??i?? suit, albeit with a better defensive application and even more deadly counters. They said that you donai??i??t change the winning combination. They said that Joachim LAi??w is a conservative coach. They said that the slow Germans will be taught a lesson by the drive of the efficient Greeks. But LAi??w defied it all. LAi??w knew it well that in order to unlock a defense where nine-ten men were put behind the ball, Germany needed a sudden change in the tempo, width in attack and an air of unpredictability in the final third.

And along came the changes. Makeshift wide players Podolski and MA?ller gave way to natural wingers SchA?rrle and Reus. Not only that, surprisingly enough, in-form lethal weapon Mario Gomez made way for the veteran and yet more mobile and creative Miroslav Klose. The message was simple from LAi??w. Keep possession, keep moving off the ball intelligently to create spaces and launch an avalanche of onslaught till the opponents give in.

The game started in accordance with LAi??wai??i??s strategy as Germany created three clear cut chance within the first five minutes of the game, with their pace and width. As the game wore on it was only a matter of time that they scored. Even though the beginning of the ordeal came through the unlikeliest candidate, Philipp Lahm, Germany deserved it. After the break, Greece brought in a couple of attacking elements into the gameAi??and the move paid immediate dividend as Greece drew level. But the changes brought in by Fernando Santos came at the expense of their defensive organization and soon it fell into the hands of the German ploy.

Germany kept the pressure up, deploying an all-over closing down strategy so that the ball hardly gets to their half. The off the ball movements of Reus and Klose created a slew of chances after the Greek equalizer and with Ai??zil pulling the strings, Germany looked relentless in attack. Germanyai??i??sAi??perseveranceAi??was repaid sooner than expected when Khedira launched a killer volley off a Boateng cross to restore Germanyai??i??s lead, the first of the three goals to follow. Later Klose scored to justify his selection taking his tally within four goals of Gerd MA?llerai??i??s national record, and even Marco Reus found the back of the net with an emphatic volley to mark his debut in the competitive International stage. Even though SchA?rrle did not score any goal, he was a constant thorn in the Greek defenseai??i??s side with his movements and cuttin-ins and on a couple of occasions his trademark right-footed long-rangers did create dangerous situations.

All in all, a very satisfactory result as Germany were able to break the Greek resolve without much fuss and the three pivotal changes did pass muster, defying the prophecy against changing the winning combination. An elated LAi??w chimed afterwards,

I thought we had to be unpredictable against Greece, because I felt they would be ready for us. It is good to be cheeky like that from time to time. I thought the plan worked out quite well.

Even LAi??wai??i??s Greek counterpart, Fernando Santos, hailed LAi??wai??i??s team shuffling strategy,

We weren’t expecting so many changes to Germany’s lineup. Their coach wanted to change to freshen things up, and for me it was the right move on his part.

Germany will be up against either of Italy and England in the semifinal. Since both these teams are not likely to portray any defend-only strategy, LAi??w may again go back to the earlier strategy of playing a waiting game, with a cautious approach. But with LAi??w looking to outthink his opponentsai??i?? moves, hold onto your horses before making a presumption.

Categories: COVER STORY, Euro 2012
Tags: Andre Schurrle Joachim Loew Marco Reus Miroslav Klose

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