Joachim Low's men begin their Euro 2016 qualifying
campaign on Sunday and are fresh from their World
Cup victory, but can they repeat their double of the
1970s?
Despite being humiliated, exposed and outclassed in
a 4-2 defeat to Argentina that was billed as a
rematch of the World Cup final on Wednesday,
Germany can be sure it hasn’t peaked too early. In
fact, the World champion can begin its Euro 2016
campaign on Sunday against Scotland with great
belief that it has what it takes to complete an
incredible international double and lift the Henri
Delaunay Trophy in the Stade de France in two years’
time.
The international retirements of Philipp Lahm and
Miroslave Klose symbolize the end of an era for the
German side, and along with Per Mertesacker’s
decision to bring an end to his time with the national
team, mean coach Joachim Low has several key
positions to fill and key figures to replace.
However, with the likes of Marco Reus, Thomas
Muller, Manuel Neuer, Marco Reus, Bastian
Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Julian Draxler, Mesut
Ozil, Jerome Boateng, Andre Schurrle, Mario Gomez
and Mario Gotze still available, Die Mannschaft have
the strongest and most complete national squad in
the world. And with the nation’s talent for producing
incredible young players, it’s fair to say players like
Shkodran Mustafi, Christoph Kramer and Max Meyer
will have a growing influence at the national team.
The constant themes for the
German national team since
Joachim Low became involved has
been to continue to develop and
remain competitive in each
tournament. With Low assisting
Jurgen Klinsmann, Die Mannschaft
finished third place in the 2006
World Cup. While a downgrade on
the silver medal they picked up four
years earlier, that third place finish
set the tone for the next few
tournaments as the former
Stuttgart player soon took over
from the current USA coach after
the competition in their homeland.
After failing to halt Spain at the
very beginning of La Roja’s
incredible treble win in the final of
Euro 2008, Germany would then
come third in the 2010 World Cup having been
pushed aside by Vicente del Bosque’s men in the last
four. Low’s charges looked destined to challenge the
Spaniards in Euro 2012, but fell at the penultimate
hurdle, falling to Italy who went on to lose 4-0 as
Spain recorded a historic treble.
The tournament in Brazil earlier this year, though,
would be Germany’s time to shine. Spain’s torrid,
toothless and one dimensional displays did not only
send them crashing out at the group stages, but it
confirmed the inevitable – its reign of dominance on
the world stage was over.
And thus with the fall of one great power arises
another.
Germany’s industrious, fluent, eye-opening displays
in Brazil saw it take to the throne and displace the
slain king.
As Mario Gotze slotted home in extra time against
Alejandro Sabella’s Argentina, over a decade of
acclaimed hard work, youth production and strict
governance from the very bottom level of the
nation’s game was justified.
It is, though, not yet complete, as the Germans look
to build long term success and match and
subsequently improve on their double win in 1972
and 1974.
The Germans are one of just three nations to hold the
European and world crowns at the same time, with
France and Spain having done so already.
But after a series of near-misses at the international
tournaments, they certainly look capable of achieving
the feat a second time.
Heading into the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign,
there are obvious outright challengers in with a
chance of halting the Germans’ march to a lengthy
spell at the pinnacle of world football.
As tournament hosts and with an excellent team with
a bright coach, France, whose World Cup campaign
was cut short in the quarterfinal stage by Germany,
cannot be discounted as genuine contenders. With
Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema, Yohan Cabaye, Raphael
Varane, Mathieu Debuchy and Antoine Griezmann
among a strong group still to hit their physical peak,
Laurent Blanc’s side will fancy its chances of winning
a third European championship.
As it looks to regroup from their humiliating showing
in South America this year, Spain can bounce back
very quickly as one of the most dangerous sides in
Europe again, but a great deal has to change in
terms of the playing staff as well as Del Bosque’s
game plan.
The Netherlands' approach the qualifying campaign
buoyed by their incredible third place finish in Brazil.
While the Oranje have already gone under a key
change with Guus Hiddink replacing Louis van Gaal
at the helm and there remain doubts they will be
able to replicate that level of performances in two
years, the growth of players such as Memphis Depay,
Jean-Paul Boetius, Daley Blind, Kevin Strootman and
Stefan de Vrij coupled with the remaining influence
of Arjen Robben means they cannot be ruled out.
Italy, heading in a new direction under Antonio
Conte, who replaces Prandelli after a group stage exit
in Brazil, with a strong and attacking team lead by a
wise, sensible and good man manager and with
talents such as Marco Verratti, Giorgio Chiellini,
Leonardo Bonucci, Mario Balotelli, Daniele De Rossi,
Ciro Immobile and Mattia Destro, could grow into a
real force in the next two years.
However, none of these sides are such a well-oiled
machine as Germany. A group of supreme individuals
who morph together to make a sublime team. Every
component of the team ties together to make a
formidable force. The retirements of the likes of
Lahm, Mertesacker and Klose are huge losses for
Low’s side, but Gotze, Kroos, Muller, Reus, Hummels,
Boateng, Neuer, Draxler, Ozil and Howedes will only
improve over the next two years.
Meanwhile, Schweinsteiger is going to be one of the
most important players in the team far beyond the
tournament in France.
After years of disappointment through near-misses
and narrow defeats, this is Germany’s time to shine.
One reign of world domination comes to an end as La
Roja are stamped out, but Die Mannschaft’s time at
the top is just beginning.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
