Neuer is a great mop-up guy
His actions far outside the penalty area possibly even prevented Germany from falling behind against Algeria
After the group play, I praised the pace and the courageous offensive style but predicted that in the Round of 16, tactics would take over. It happened with a few teams, but the others? The pace and offensive approach was still there. On top of it, many matches were decided in the final minutes. We saw five of the matches go into extra-time. In two cases, it came down to penalties.
In the past, the second round separated the wheat from the chaff. Today, countries like Costa Rica and Colombia have reached the final 16, and advanced further. This can’t be praised enough. I still believe Latin American countries have prepared especially intensively, so much so that even Brazil must now watch out for Colombia.
Brazil should probably reconsider their playing style. Brazil do not live from teamwork but from the class of individual players. But if to become world champions, the class of the entire team becomes decisive. Brazil can clear the next hurdle if they improve and James Rodriguez does not again show the kind of magic he did in the 2-0 win over Uruguay.
EASIER BATTLE
For Germany too, the match against Algeria was anything but easy. Against France, we can’t afford to see so little running and so many balls given up the way we did in the first half. In the second half we were more in control.
It was Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer who was in the middle of it all. His actions far outside the penalty area possibly even prevented Germany from falling behind. Some journalists are describing Neuer as a combination of Sepp Maier, our goalie at Bayern and the West German team that won the 1974 world title, and me. What they mean is there has been a rebirth of the old sweeper position.
I would put it this way — Neuer is a mop-up guy, an outstanding one at that, but not a libero because that position also means performing offensive tasks. Oliver Kahn, who had an outstanding 2002 World Cup, calls Neuer’s actions harakiri. Against Algeria, if Neuer’s charging out had been a fraction late, he might have seen the red card. Although France look stronger than Algeria, I think Germany will have an easier time in the quarters because we know the French and because from the first minute on, every player will be much more focused.
One is permitted to shed a few tears for the surprisingly strong Mexico. They were unlucky in how Netherlands turned the match. The Dutch now have an opponent they should be able to handle in Costa Rica. Unlike in the past, the Dutch no longer intoxicate themselves with their own style, but are instead playing a more pragmatic, efficient and rational game.
ONE IS PERMITTED TO SHED A FEW TEARS FOR MEXICO. THEY WERE UNLUCKY IN HOW NETHERLANDS TURNED THE MATCH AROUND.
Switzerland, under Ottmar Hitzfeld, fought fantastically in what became the last match for this great coach. And if they came close to beating Argentina, among other reasons, it is because they kept Lionel Messi under control. The Swiss lacked that bit of luck.
The USA put up a great battle against the technically-skilled Belgians. A 2-1 defeat for them, but coach Juergen Klinsmann succeeded in getting the country of American football and basketball to watch soccer, including President Barack Obama.