Why the Germans failed in Russia

Head coach Joachim Loew has always stuck by his tried and trusted stars – but it was Germany’s undoing in Russia.

Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira are glaring examples of misguided loyalty.

Both were dropped for the 2-1 win over Sweden after woeful performances in the opening shock defeat to Mexico, yet neither made an impact when recalled for Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to South Korea.

Thomas Mueller, one of the heroes from the 2014 win, was rightly dropped from the starting 11 against South Korea but failed to make an impact as he came off the bench.

A cleanout of the winners from four years ago, many of whom are past their sell-by dates, is on the cards.

Russia 2018 is a serious dent to Loew’s golden reputation and his 12year reign could be coming to an end.

Germany have stagnated in the last 12 months.

Loew has not developed the team tactically, torn between the 4-2-3-1, which won the World Cup, or toying with deploying a back three.

A lack of tempo in Germany’s game has been a glaring factor and when the pressure was on, none of his stars could crack the South Korean defence.

Germany won last year’s Confederations Cup without their stars, but Timo Werner was the only emerging starlet to be given a regular starting berth in the senior team.

The decision to omit Manchester City’s Leroy Sane, the Premier League’s Best Young Player last season, from the World Cup squad spoke volumes when fresh impetus was badly needed in Russia.

Before the World Cup started, Kroos and Jerome Boateng described Germany as “a tournament team” who switch on for finals and the feeling was things would just click eventually.

The myth was blown clean away by the defeats to Mexico, South Korea and the nervy, last-gasp win over Sweden.

It is a consequence of too many Germany stars enjoying their status as World Cup winners without the performances to back it.

Germany qualified for Russia with a perfect record of 10 wins and as Mats Hummels admitted after the defeat to South Korea, the last time the team played well together was late in 2017.

In Russia, Germany were nowhere near the compact unit which conceded just four goals in seven games in 2014.

First-choice centrebacks Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng are short of pace and too often left to fend for themselves at the back.

Despite only recently returning from a fracture foot, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was too often called upon as Germany’s last line of defence.

The lack of German defenders hurling themselves into tackles has been glaring, as was the lack of composure when defending. – AFP