German creativity suffers in Ozil’s absence Enrique tasked with finding Spain’s sweet spot
Joachim Loew’s side misses the attacking midfielder’s flair as they fail to go past world champions France
MUNICH: The start of Germany’s post-mesut Ozil era showed Germany are missing a player like Mesut Ozil.
Without the Arsenal midfielder on the field, Germany tried hard but ultimately failed to break through France’s defence, playing out a 0-0 draw on Thursday in the UEFA Nations League.
The 29-year-old Ozil quit the national team in July after being made a scapegoat for Germany’s early World Cup exit and a target for racist abuse.
The abuse started before the tournament when the Germanborn descendant of Turkish immigrants posed for photographs with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then exploded after it, helped by incendiary statements from Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff and German soccer federation president Reinhard Grindel.
Ozil, who finished with 23 goals in 92 appearances for Germany, responded by saying he was German when the team won but an immigrant in defeat.
“It was a mistake to make Ozil a scapegoat for Germany’s exit,” former Germany striker Cacau said in Munich on Wednesday. “The team played badly and Mesut was one of the best players. He tried to make things happen against South Korea, he didn’t hide. He played the passes that he always does so well.”
Germany looked for a fresh start in UEFA’S new competition, where Joachim Loew wanted more focus in defense.
Loew named Joshua Kimmich and Toni Kroos in midfield to provide cover for his back four, while Leon Goretzka was charged with providing impetus for the side going forward.
It didn’t work. The ineffective Goretzka was taken off with 25 minutes remaining for Ilkay Gundogan, another player with Turkish roots who posed for the photos with Erdogan. Gundogan was also the target for racist abuse.
Though Germany forced several good saves from Alphonse Areola in his France debut, the team was reliant of crosses from the wings and lacked the cutting edge that Ozil often provided. MADRID: “This is my style and I don’t care if you don’t like it,” he said. It was April 2016 and Luis Enrique was asked if he felt sorry for berating a journalist, who had been critical of Barcelona’s fitness levels.
“I have nothing to apologise for,” he shrugged. “I didn’t show anyone a lack of respect.”
Barca’s form had dipped but they would still win the domestic double a month later, one year after he had led them to a brilliant treble in his first season, matching the achievement of Pep Guardiola in 2009.
Now he brings his meticulous, single-minded, dynamic, prickly, all-or-nothing style to the Spain dugout, ready to undergo his first test at Wembley against England on Saturday.
When the tie was announced in May, as part of the inaugural UEFA Nations League, few would have expected it to be the visitors confronting questions about style, youth and an underperforming goalkeeper, following a humiliating World Cup exit.
The new coach’s press appearances so far suggest he will carry that same edge felt by the journalist two years ago into international management, and it remains to be seen whether it proves a source of unification or alienation amongst his players.
But David de Gea allowing Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot to skip off his hands was not the cause of Spain failing to break down Russia before losing to the hosts on penalties at the World Cup, and neither was a penchant for texting or fried food.
More deep-rooted are the doubts about Spain’s possession game, so revolutionary during the
golden years of 2008, 2010 and 2012, but now seen by some as a millstone around their necks.
Luis Enrique knows better than anyone the pitfalls of tweaking an identity both entrenched and once adored.
PEPE SCORES ON 100TH MATCH FOR PORTUGAL
FARO,PORTUGAL:PORTUGAL defender Pepe celebrated his 100th cap by heading the equaliser to give his side a 1-1 draw against Croatia in a friendly on Thursday.
Croatia took the lead in the 18th minute when forward Ivan Perisic fired home a loose ball after it ricocheted around the Portugal defence.
Pepe, handed the captaincy for the match, levelled 14 minutes later with a thunderous header from Pizzi’s cross.