JOACHIM Loew set the record straight. Germany’s World Cup victory marked the culmination of a 10-year plan that the German Football Federation (DFB) began in 2004.
During that time, Germany came agonizingly close numerous times to hitting the top.
But as it seems now, they peaked just at the right time — at a time at which they can emulate Spain and start their own era of dominance.
“We started it with Juergen Klinsmann [after 2004] and then we continued it,” Germany coach Loew said following their 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday.
“Our biggest strength is that we improved throughout the years even if we missed taking that last step at tournaments.”
Germany were semi-finalists in each of the last two World Cups whilst also reaching the Euro 2008 final before losing again in the last four in Euro 2012.
On both occasions at the World Cup, the eventual champions; Italy in 2006 and Spain in 2010 beat them in the semi-finals.
Germany had also lost the final in 2002 when Brazil beat them 2-0 in Yokohama. But that was sandwiched between group stage exits at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004.
And it prompted the DFB to call for restructuring. It also came at a time when the German society was opening up, getting more multi-cultural.
The DFB pressed the Bundesliga clubs to start extensive youth programmes. Any team failing to do that was going to see it’s licensing cancelled.
“Of course, the Bundesliga has a huge influence on the team and the training the young players get. We had an extremely young team in South Africa in 2010,” said Loew.
“In 2000 and 2004, German football was down and out, so we took decisive steps and invested more in the players education.
“It wasn’t enough just to rely on German virtues, we had to get better on the pitch. We created centres of excellence and I am grateful for the clubs who did that. This World Cup victory is a product of the excellent education and training in Germany.”
That has seen Germany produce players of truly German roots like Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Manuel Neuer as well as players having roots from other countries like Jerome Boateng (Ghana), Mesut Ozil (Turkey) and Sami Khedira (Tunisia).
Lahm and Schweinsteiger have been with the team since 2006. That was their first World Cup. Now, 30, both have been the stalwarts for their team.
The Bayern Munich duo, who were also inspirational in the German giants’ triumph in the Champions League in 2013, were picked out by Loew for their performance in the final.
They provided endless running, adding steel to a German team which has a mix of explosive talents like Thomas Mueller and Mario Goetze — the 22-year-old who scored the winner in extra-time against Argentina.
Captain Lahm lifted the trophy on a glorious evening at the Maracana Stadium seven minutes after Goetze’s winner and despite Germany being gifted with supremely gifted individuals, the skipper stressed on teamwork.
“What we have done and how we have worked is incredible,” Lahm said. “Whether we have the best individual players or whatever does not matter, you have to have the best team.
“We stepped up time and again in the tournament, did not let ourselves get distracted by any disruption, went on our way.
“And at the end you stand there as world champions — an unbelievable feeling. The team has remained quiet and patient.”
At the back, goalkeeper Neuer proved to be a colossus in Germany’s run to the title, winning the Golden Glove award for his fantastic tournament in goal.
“The team has done superbly, not only the players, but also the team behind the team,” he said “At some point we will stop celebrating, but we will always stand up again with a smile.”
If the team behind the team is good, the players who weren’t in Brazil are even better. Borussia Dortmund stars Marco Reus and Ilkay Guengdogan missed the tournament through injury.
Another exciting generation of if German players is in the pipeline. Whether it matches the achievements of this one — hailed as the golden generation, remains to be seen.
But Loew is confident that the World Cup victory, their fourth World Cup title and a first since 1990, will kickstart something big for German football.
“I think this title will give us a push for the future,” Loew said. “We don’t have many players in the squad above 30, but look at Goetze, Mueller, Ozil and Reus, who wasn’t here, so there are a lot of players who can still achieve a lot in their careers.”
Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2014
