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World Cup Morning Report - German class shines through in first round of matches
Whether the English like it or not, when it comes to football there are not many who are better than the Germans. After having now witnessed all 32 World Cup teams in action, it is the class, nous, knowledge and simply flawless execution of Germans that have stood out as boldly as the splendid architecture of the Reichstag in the heart of Berlin.
Whilst off the field the vuvuzelas and the beautifully wild spirit and colour of Africa is endlessly breathing life into the tournament, on field events have frustrated fans as a result of the generally negative approach that has been adopted by teams in their opening group fixtures. Yet Germany did not adhere to this trend in the slightest, as they steamrollered Australia by playing fast-paced, energetic football with young players such as Mesut Özil and Thomas Müller marauding forward, making clever runs beyond the defence and linking with other teammates effortlessly in an all round supreme performance. Germany’s attacking display was most definitely the stand-out one of the opening round of matches, but Switzerland’s defeat of European champions Spain yesterday was clearly the most eye-catching result. It was the first genuine shock of this year’s competition, and it is no coincidence the victory was masterminded by a German – Ottmar Hitzfeld.
The Swiss Coach knew his team were not going to have much possession and therefore had to stay patient and compact with plenty of players behind the ball in a bid to frustrate their superior opposition. The realisation that those tactics should be employed against a team of Spain’s quality, with their cornucopia of La Liga stars who are so comfortable in possession and can conjure up pieces of magic at will, was not the masterstroke. The reason Switzerland were successful was down to Hitzfeld’s meticulous preparations and his ability to get the very best out of each and every player in his side. His team were so well drilled not one of his protégés was out of position at any time in the game. It was a truly team performance with every player understanding his role and executing it brilliantly. Hitzfeld is a totally mercurial coach and a curriculum vitae bulging with impressive accolades, such as winning the Champions League with two different clubs (Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich), seven Bundesliga crowns in total with the same two clubs and being named ‘World Coach of the Year’ on two occasions, underlines his magnificent managerial talent. The promising news for England supporters, or perhaps better put, those who detest German success, is that teams who start in a blaze of glory tend not to go all the way.
Another of Germany’s close friends, France, come up against Mexico in today’s evening match having plenty to prove. Their dreadfully lacklustre display against Uruguay six days ago left plenty of questions being asked and an inauspicious taste in the mouth. With rumours of a severe bout of discontent within the camp whizzing around, the mental state of the players is questionable and they are at risk of crashing and burning just as in 2002 despite a wonderful collection of players. The decision to announce the appointment of Laurent Blanc, who will succeed Raymond Domenech as Coach following the World Cup, just a few weeks before the tournament, was probably not the wisest thing to do either. The feeling is that not many of Domenech’s players rate or respect his methods, and diverting their attention to the new, incoming Coach may not have been the most intelligent move.
How France perform today will be very interesting to observe. Almost as interesting as examining the chemistry between the astrologically-barmy Coach and his troops.
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