World Cup Final 2002 - Germany 3 England 0 (Germany National Football Team)

Name: Sugar Matty O

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Product:	Germany National Football Team
Date:	05/09/01 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Never discount the Germans

Disadvantages: Lacking usual strength in depth, Continuing problems of bringing youth through the ranks

Germany 1 England 5. A complete one-off. A freakish result even. Germany fielded their worst side in years. The national side is at crisis point. Really? As difficult as it may be to accomplish, let’s get back down to earth just for a second.

For a team in supposed turmoil then what on earth are they still doing on top of the group table? If Rudi Voller’s side were at such a crossroads, a) how come they managed to beat England at Wembley in the first place, and b) how come they are still the realistic favourites to qualify for Korea2002 without the necessity of a play-off? It’s the usual story of a media witch-hunt and fickleness of the general public after witnessing this spectacular off day. Make no bones about it, Germany are definitely a side in transition in light of two below par performances in both France 98 and Euro2000, but to suddenly say they are a shambolic outfit is hardly justified.

The main ingredient the Germans are lacking at the moment is a degree of squad continuity that runs through the spine of the team if explored closer. In years gone by Germany has regularly been able to call upon suitable replacements for those exiting the international scene. After all, this is a nation who have produced world-class forwards such as Riedle, Klinsmann, Voller, Rumminegge and of course the greatest of all Gerd Muller. Saturday’s selection pitched together a choice between Jancker, Neuville and Diesler, none of them proven international scorers and lacking an ally in Oliver Bierhoff, whose performances for the national side have deteriorated as a result of a poor spell at Milan having looked one of the world’s best in a free-scoring stint beforehand at Udinese. Germany in many years have experimented with their forward line with competent club level players such as Kuntz, Bobic, Kirsten, etc but since Kilnsmann’s departure they have found it hard to fill the void of a striker with a handsome record of find
ing the net for his country. Back in Italia 90, some poor opposition aside, Klinsmann and Voller were untouchable. Their 2001 incarnation in the form of Jancker and Neuville is anything but, the former a Wanchope clone who can mix brilliance with utter buffoonery, the latter hinting at promise but evidently lacking confidence if his current strike rate is anything to go by, complimented by Diesler’s miss when it mattered to most to effectively set England on their way. It seems that while the majority ply their trade for Bayern Munich in achieving success in a fairly mediocre division, this performance at club level cannot be translated to a higher degree on the international stage – an attribute usually accredited to England’s overpaid, under-performing contingent. Nick Barmby is reportedly the Premier League’s wealthiest earner but he looked well out of his depth come Saturday and yet still overshadowed the opposing middle line.

The same therefore goes for the German midfield. Comparing the respective sides as they lined up on Saturday and in their last World Cup meeting in 1990, the flair of Gascoigne is now Beckham’s platform while Owen looks to emulate the often match-rescuing skills of Lineker at his best. In days gone by, the Germans could easily call up the likes of Matthaus, Littbarski and Haessler and later on Moller and Effenberg, all who possessed sublime skills with a tough edge based on the much vaunted but realistic German trait of ruthless efficiency. Matthaus in particular has never been easy to replace, in recognition of the fact that he probably outstayed his welcome too long in the national XI. Memhet Scholl is probably the pick of the current German midfield, but his absence was all too evident; Dietmar Hamman was roundly sounded out as being as ineffective as colleague Steven Gerrard was instrumental in this midfield battle. Whether Owen Hargreaves’ defection to the English team bears fruit remains t
o be seen, but already the Germans must be thinking what a huge loss in an under-strength area this could be.

Defensively, gone are the days of solid no nonsense rearguard action from the likes of Italia 90’s Buchwald, Augenthaler and Kohler. Matthias Sammer has also gone unreplaced and the natural lead in the mould of Franz Beckenbauer looks a long way off. While in some parts the media were eager to highlight the unconvincing performances of Ferdinand and Campbell in the face of such a weak attack, the way England sliced through the German defence with unerring ease was a far cry from a back four usually ultra stable in snuffing out opposition offensives. Christian Ziege often looks uncomfortable in trying to make the role of Andreas Brehme his own, and then there’s Oliver Khan. Promptly championed as the best goalkeeper in the world ™ after saving penalties in the European Cup final against Valencia, Khan still insists on looking decidedly dodgy when the mood suits him. Having vied for the number 1 jersey for so long with previous incumbent Andreas Kopke, who seemingly dropped off the face of the earth to give the Munich man his berth, Kahn flapped and dithered like the novice he often suggests he is. Comparing him to Italia 90’s Bodo Illgner, an overlooked and underrated custodian who did more than most to cement his country’s victory 11 years ago, Kahn should be thankful that England aside, the rest of the group tails off into minnow territory bearing in mind the threat of Greece, Albania et al, are unlikely to be installed as new World Cup favourites in the foreseeable future.

Germany 1 England 5. Just watch them win the group and huff and puff their way to going close in the finals as England fail as gallantly as they are obliged to do.

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