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Flexibility makes Germany optimistic of ending its trophy drought
It's almost incomprehensible that Tuesday marks just the second time Brazil and Germany -- the two sides with the most matches won at World Cups -- will meet on this stage. The rarity of the occasion, however, makes it all the more spectacular.
Who could forget the first time, in 2002? After all, it was on that Yokohama night Brazil celebrated their fifth and last title. It was also the last time Germany got that close to their fourth.
You might still recall the forlorn image of Oliver Kahn, aghast and slumped against the goal post as the Brazilians danced on the other end of the pitch. After having played a brilliant, Golden Ball-worthy tournament, Kahn failed to corral a harmless Rivaldo shot in the 67th minute. Ronaldo pounced for the first of his two goals to send Brazil to the title.
Only one player from that final remains today. (Okay, and Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is back for his second go-around). Miroslav Klose led the line for Germany that night, as he did at the following World Cup, and the one after that, and again last Friday against France. Tuesday offers a chance to do more than vanquish the ghosts of 2002.
With 15 World Cup goals to his name, Klose is tied for the all-time lead with the very Ronaldo who crushed his dream twelve years ago. What better time, place and opponent for Klose to take that record away from him? Payback, to the second degree. And what better way to end your World Cup career the way it began, with a run to the final.
No one will mistake Klose for one of history's most gifted strikers. He is much more a poacher than natural talent, one with "a nose for goal" as his coaches have routinely described him. Still, Klose has cemented his place among World Cup legends, and he remains an invaluable part to Germany's most talented team since the early 1990s. His strength in the air and around the box forces defenses to mark him carefully and creates spaces for others to exploit. Thomas Müller, himself quickly climbing up the World Cup's all-time scoring charts, has arguably benefited the most.
On Tuesday, Klose should get another crack at Brazil, though he may be asked to climb off the bench again, a role he performed impeccably against Ghana by scoring the important equalizer on his first touch of the tournament. That key decision will be up to Joachim Löw, a man ready to amend his own shortcomings.
Like his only true No. 9, the Germany manager has come painfully close to collecting the country's first silverware since Euro 1996. Despite boasting a track record any other coach would envy -- two World Cup semifinals (plus a third as Jürgen Klinsmann's assistant), one European final and another Euro semifinal appearance -- Löw knows he needs to lead his team over the hump.
"We've been in the final four the last five tournaments. Now we want to take the next step," Löw said after Germany's 1-0 win over France.
In Germany, the responsibility for Die Mannschaft's success or failure will always fall on the coach. Löw's imprint on the team received plaudits at the outset -- he is credited for turning German football into the universally praised, entertaining product it has become -- but he has increasingly come under criticism after falling just short time and time again. The country's patience has run out, the belief in Löw has waned.
This summer, Löw has been heavily criticized back home for stubbornly gambling on a defense consisting of only center backs and playing his best full back, Philipp Lahm, in midfield. The public feared a reprise of Löw's misguided tactics that saw Germany crash out to Italy in the Euro 2012 semifinals.
Against France, however, Löw surprised by making several changes to his side. Lahm returned to right back. Jérôme Boateng moved inside with Mats Hummels replacing the slower Per Mertesacker. Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger were reunited in central midfield. Klose featured from the start and the moves worked.
Germany appeared more stable and organized against Les Bleus. Löw wouldn't share if he would stay with the same plan against Brazil. He's made it clear, though, that lineup and tactics depend solely on the opponent.
After the quarterfinal victory, Löw said, "By analyzing France, we saw they are very compact in the center. That's why we thought to put Lahm on the right side, because we knew we'd have to come more over the wings." Löw may draw a similar conclusion when surveying Brazil's physical core of Luiz Gustavo, Fernandinho and possibly even Paulinho. Concerns over Brazil's tough tactics were also on his mind.
''My hope, or what I expect, is that the referee [Marco] Rodriguez keeps an eye on these things,'' Löw told reporters on Monday. ''In Europe there would not be 22 players on the pitch at the end. There were many hard fouls from behind, from the side. You have to see that this brutal and robust physical side is stopped because then you won't have a Neymar, Messi ... but other players who destroy the game.''
Neymar's absence could prompt the hosts to adopt a more cautious approach and leave Germany with more possession. As such, don't be too shocked if Lahm does return to midfield. It would be an unpopular decision, but Löw hasn't shied away from making those before.
In any case, Löw's flexibility should make Germans more optimistic about ending the drought. They know that even if they beat Brazil, it might still not be enough. But they'll be close. As close as they've come since Yokohama.
