After winning the 2014 World Cup, Germany started using analytics software and hardware that so impressed the New York Times, it headlined its article: “
In training camp, Germany players carry around devices and keep them on their night stands for access to the “souped-up analytics” and performancefeedback. During games, Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff said, “I welcome the use of tablets for coaches.”
Apparently, German high-tech was no match for theold-fashioned notepad that Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio carries around and is constantly scribbling in. After Germany’s 1-0 loss to El Tri, Bierhoff
“The Mexicans used different tactics than we expected that we partly didn’thave the means to deal with.”
The German media agreed that Mexico surprised the Germans but was blunter: Coach Joachim Loew was outcoached.
When Loew did make astrategic change, bringing in winger Marco Reus for defensive central midfielder Sami Khedira, that took away cover for Mesut Özil andToni Kroos, and Mexico should have extended its lead with the chances created by the counterattacks that ensued.
Khedira, who lost the ball to set up the counterattack thatled to Hirving Lozano’s goal, was one of eight 2014 world champions in the starting lineup. The German lineup – average age nearly 28 — against Mexico was the oldestGermany has fielded in a World Cup since the 2002 World Cup final it lost to Brazil.
• Germany had not lost a World Cup opener since 1982 (2-1 vs. Algeria). It went on to finishrunner-up to Italy.
• Last time Germany was shut out in a World Cup: 2010 semifinal vs. Spain.
• Germany’s last four World Cup openers: 2014: 4-0 Portugal.2010: 4-0 Australia. 2006: 4-2 Costa Rica. 2002: 8-0 Saudi Arabia.
It had been expected that Loew would inject more new blood into the team. After all, he fielded a young B team at the 2017Confederations Cup, and won it, while his heroes from Rio rested last summer.
But even before announcing the starters against Mexico, Loew had made it clear he wasn’t ready to disrupthis axis of veterans when he left off the squad the most dynamic player of the new generation of German players: 22-year-old Leroy Sane, the 2017-18 English Premier League YoungPlayer of the Year.
A player like Sane, who with exceptional dribbling skills spent a season unlocking the packed defenses that Manchester City faced while winning the EPL title, wouldcertainly have been of use against a team like Mexico sitting on a 1-0 lead.
Loew’s assistant coach, Miroslav Klose, a 2014 World Cup champion striker, said Sane’somission wasn’t a decision against Sane, but one for Julian Brandt, another 22-year-old winger.
That firmly puts pressure on Brandt, whoentered the game against Mexico in the 87th minute and managed a shot that hit the outside post. But postgame, Brandt did himself no favors by being caught posing with a smile for selfies with fans– after the first group-stage loss by Germany at a World Cup since 1986.
But most concerning for the Germans was losing 44% of one-on-ones, mis-hitting 81 passes, and the woeful bodylanguage and bickering of veterans Khedira, Kroos and the particularly disappointing Thomas Mueller.
The Germans have now gone their last seven games with only one win — 2-1over Saudi Arabia thanks to an own goal in their final World Cup prep game. The six games before Mexico were friendlies, and the notion was that Germany would get its act together when it meantsomething.
That could still happen — starting with a win over Sweden next Saturday. But Germany, which boasted after the last World Cup that it won
Germany look like a bunch of senior citizens.
unfortunatly Sweden don’t have Mexican speed and technical skills to smash Germany.
it will be a slog fest on who can defend better.
as much as I loved watching Mexico it’s probebly the worst scenario for us to move on.
but group of death is wide open.
Mexico wanted it more. Loew or the players made no adjustment to the speed of which Mexico brought it out of their third. Didn’t matter which linear third they chose Germany early on had allowed space. Not what one would expect out of their roster.
Seeing this German player smiling for a selfie after a disastrous/ embarassing and should be send home immediately for obviously he’s not taking this seriously.
Why did Germany employ tall centerbacks when the team they are playing are a foot shorter. Germany decided to play in the opponent’s half and therefore they should not have employed slow tall centerbacks, instead shorter faster defenders. Next, when a player like Boateng the centerback makes a lot of end passes to the front line, then there is something wrong. He is a lousy passer and should not have give the attacking balls. Those passes should have been made by a players like Kroos or Ozil, not Boateng. Furthermore, the midfielders made too many bad passes causing ball loss and counter attacks by the Mexicans. Germany also lacked ball winners around midfield, and too many offensive oriented players which caused a real imbalance therefore causing a lot of problems for Boateng and the other centerback.
When Germany brought in a tall striker up front, Gomez which implies using crosses for headballs. But what happened they had Ozil the right side who is left footed…Germany should have placed right footed players on right and left footed on the left for faster and better crosses
Germany has lost its Tiki Taka ability, because what Guardiola had created is finally beginning wear out, which also happened at Barcelona as well when he left. Another problem Germany needs is individualistic type of players which they don’t have and that problem is hidden due to when Robben, the Frenchmen at Bayern played on the wing. But Germany hasn’t had a decent one on one player since Pierre Littbarsky…Germany doesn’t produce those types, somehow they need to obtain a Brazilian legacy player or some Argentinian, for there is nothing in Germany ….
Hey Panchito-Frank S: What it all camed down to was that Mexico wanted it more than the other guys. These guys, whether right or left foot/hand dominant are, as I am sure you must know, are professionals and must be able to play the ball with either foot, and as Rinus Michaels and Dettmar Cramer once said, it is total football, man! So, as I am sure you also know, these guys ought to play in whatever position the coach/manager plays them, even riding the timber squad or handing out uniforms and water. So, as we said it once, SI SE PUEDE, now we can say; SI SE PUDO!!!
Saludos Panchito
For years now I have been seeing a lot of promise in Mexico, but there was always weaknesses holding them back. Finally I think in Osorio Mexico has put together a team, a coach, and a mentality that with a little luck may go all the way to the finals. That game was special, like a dream, for the team and for the crowd.
Rather than blame Germany, I would give full credit to Mexico. That result was no fluke. It was deserved. The only mistake Germany made was a common one for defending champions–complacency. Difficult for a successful organization to change. This opening loss may just be the wakeup call the Germany needed.
Mexico beat Germany because Mexico is better than Germany.
Ric, I understand you’re excited and I too pulled for Mexico. As I watched them play ,right away ,my mind began to compare the US players to the Mexicans. The Mexicans have much quicker ball handling skills and are much quicker and fleetfooted off the mark in the first couple of meters, making the US players look like clodhoppers in their movements with the ball. But you know, when Mexico plays the US, a team much inferior to the German side, it has difficulty playing the US, and Mexico also lacks any sort of dominance play as exhibited against the Germans. Logically, from this analogy, you would conclude the USMNT must be better than the German team.
Mexico out coached Loew furthermore I never could understand why he was picked as the NT coach for Germany when you look at his background. The coaching mistakes he made, like the ones I pointed out, are inexcusable. Loew basically rode the good tide that was created by Guardiola and van Gaal in German
soccer. But without a good solid high level playing background , the great soccer style playing qualities that was thrown in his lap was not sustained for he lacks the “real insights” SEE NEXT POST
The problemsof German soccer can also be seen in the Championship league. The success of Bayern with their NON GERMAN creative wingers, which they sorely lack on the NT, has sort of hidden the problems of German soccer, for without great attacking, penetrating wingers you can’t have a great offense.
This is only one game, we need to see how Mexico will fare throughout the tournament, to get a better picture of Mexico in the long run. I’m not surprised of what Mexico did for they have been sending players to Europe to good teams for quite a few years now, remember Hugo Sanchez ,and they have much better record of sending players to Europe than the US.
I take issue with you about Total soccer and players being able to play all positions and employ either foot.
The fact that Total Soccer means players can play all positions is a TOTAL MYTH That description was brought about and created by the sports press made up of individuals who themselves can’t even kick a ball. The fact is players can’t play all positions, and yes, they should be able to employ either foot, but can’t…just look at Maradona, even Messi has trouble with his right foot or for that matter have you ever seen Messi employ the outside of his left foot, forget about his right. Here we are two best players in the world have limited abilities. So it is within those limitations a great coach makes his team play in a manner so that the weaknesses are hidden by the strengths of other players. NEXT POST
That Mexico wanted it more than the other guys has more to do with RHYTHM. It is like in basketball. How can a team all of sudden go up by 10-15 points, did the other team forget how to play defense all of a sudden. No, of course not, but certain events can psychologically effect the other team’s play.
Well, like in soccer, there are certain moments during the game a team takes advantage of which can have a cascading effect upon the other team and worse if they can pinpoint the weaknesses as well, than Germany can have a tough time.
It is nice to want it better than the other guys but that doesn’t necessarily mean you will win for that case the English teams would always win