When Germany stormed their way to the World Cup semi-finals in South
Africa four years ago, only to fall to Spain at the penultimate hurdle,
the criticism levelled at them was that they were lacking in experienced
heads.
It was a similar story two years later at Euro 2012,
when they were defeated in the last four by Italy, playing a naive brand
of football which left them vulnerable to the counterattack – and Mario
Balotelli twice took full advantage.
This time out there can
be no excuses. When he takes to the field against Ghana on Saturday, Per
Mertesacker will become the latest player to reach the 100 club for the
national team – and he is still under 30.
Since Low’s work
with the national team began in 2006, he has gone about moulding a group
that would grow together for years and years. Of course, as older stars
move on and younger players come to the fore, new faces have appeared
here and there, but a core of Mertesacker, Bastian Schweinsteiger,
Philipp Lahm, Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose has remained for a
decade.
As the years have gone by, key players have grown and
grown. In 2013, Bayern delivered on the promise they had shown for years
and finally delivered the treble they had been threatening to win for
years. The mood among the Bavarians' stars will certainly be high.
Sami Khedira has become a key figure at Real Madrid and helped the
Spanish giants win La Liga in 2012 – complete with a goal in the
critical Clasico – and the Champions League last month.
Mertesacker, along with Podolski and Mesut Ozil helped Arsenal to win
the FA Cup and end nine years of disappointment back in May.
Unlike in 2010, or even in 2012 – when Bayern were fresh from Champions
League final defeats – this group of players have the experience of
winning trophies to go with their undoubted ability.
Age is on their side too. Unlike Spain, perhaps the other most-fancied
European team going into the tournament, Germany had only one player
over 30 in their starting XI for their opening match - Philipp Lahm,
whose talents are hardly on the wane following a great season with
Bayern.
The youngest member of the first team for the
decimation of Portugal was Mario Gotze, but the 22-year-old is hardly a
novice, having won the Bundesliga three times and briefly held the title
of the most expensive German player in history prior to Ozil’s move to
Arsenal. He is no stranger to the hostility and pressure he’ll face as
the tournament wears on.
Crucially, they are also in possession
of players who have proved themselves on the big stage. Thomas Muller
already has eight World Cup goals to his name, Klose is in hot pursuit
of Ronaldo's record of 15 strikes and Podolski has shone at major
tournaments throughout his career.
In Joachim Low, they also
have an immensely experienced coach. His work with the DFB began in 2004
and he has overseen a huge period of change following the team’s
failure at that summer's Euros. He can learn from the mistakes he and
his players have made during his decade-long tenure.
The players are totally united behind their coach too, and recognise the importance of winning the competition this time.
“Low
has introduced a totally new Germany team – one that is respected
across the world,” Ozil said recently. “I hope he will finally be
rewarded. He’s one of the best in the world and and we’re happy to have
him around the team.”
All that now remains for the squad and their coach is to succeed at international level.
This could be their year. Germany started the tournament superbly,
beating Portugal 4-0, despite initial concerns over team selection and a
wave of injuries plaguing the team. Their remaining group games are
against Ghana and USA and look distinctly winnable.
There
should be no lingering doubts as to their ability to win big matches. On
a personal level, too, they will want to silence their critics after
falling short so many times before.
