German mix of flair and pragmatism a threat to Brazil's World Cup hopes

Belo Horizonte: It's often said that while losing in a final leaves a sour taste in any team's mouth, being beaten in a semi-final is even worse.

At least when a team makes a final it has achieved something tangible and it will be forever remembered, at least in the footnotes of history, as one which was good enough to make the championship decider.

But losing in a semi-final? How many people remember those teams?

How many fans outside their respective countries can recall, for example, that Turkey and South Korea in 2002, Portugal, in 2006, and Uruguay in 2010 were all defeated World Cup semi-finalists?

It's something that one of this year's final four, Germany, knows all about. The Germans were defeated semi-finalists in 2006 when, as hosts, they were beaten in a pulsating match in Dortmund by Italy, the eventual winners. 

And four years on things had not changed much for Die Nationalmannschaft: a date in Durban with Spain yielded another narrow loss to the eventual winners. Victories in the third place play off on both occasions yielded little consolation.

But this time Germany is back, and determined not to fall at the final hurdle once again even though the hosts Brazil stand in their way in a repeat of the 2002 final when two Ronaldo goals helped the Brazilians to a 2-0 win.

For sheer World Cup consistency Germany is almost on a par with Brazil.

In the 16 World Cups since they were re-admitted to the international football fold as West Germany in 1954, the Germans have never been classified worse than seventh. On three occasions they have been world champions (1954, as hosts in 1974 and in 1990) and four times have then been runners-up. 

It's a formidable record and one which the Germans carry with them whenever they enter a tournament. Yet far from stifle them, Germany's great history seems to inspire them.

This side is no different, and while they have to face the South American hosts in front of their own fans, if there is one team that can be expected to cope with the pressure and get on with the job in matter of fact style it is Germany.

In this tournament they have often looked functional and pragmatic rather than dramatic or exciting. But those are virtues which have served the Germans well down the decades.

In Manuel Neuer, perhaps the predominate sweeper/keeper in the world, they have a goalkeeper who inspires confidence in every area of the pitch.

Their captain, Philipp Lahm, is a smart player on and off the pitch, while Thomas Mueller is one of the world's top strikers.

That trio come from Bayern Munich and the bulk of this squad still play in the Bundesliga, illustrating the strength of the German domestic game.

But something different has happened in the past few years: rather than being simply admired for their achievements and consistency and more respected than liked, the German national team has become genuinely popular around the world.

German football has undergone a renaissance in the past decade and the changes brought about by first Jurgen Klinsmann and then Joachim Loew (who was Klinsmann's assistant in 2006) have been manifest.

The biggest change has been in the image of the team. For decades the Germans were seen as a relentless, powerful machine, capable of grinding opponents down in all circumstances, never being out of a game.

To be fair their history is replete with amazing comebacks in unlikely situations, such as the 3-2 extra time win over England in a quarter-final in 1970, when they were 2-0 down with 25 minutes to play, or the penalty shootout victory over France in 1982 when they were 3-1 down in extra time only to level things at 3-3 before winning on penalties. 

That image of cool, ruthless efficiency, enormous self belief and indefatigability was turned on its head in 2006 when Germany hosted the tournament.

Klinsmann ushered in an era of fresh, attacking football, a cavalier approach which put the emphasis on flair and going forward, scoring goals and dominating games rather than winning by attrition and power.

It took them almost all the way - they were only beaten in what was the game of the tournament in Dortmund with two Italian goals in the final minutes of extra time.

Four years later so many of the younger, exciting players were hitting their straps - Mueller, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Lukas Podolski amongst others - and Germany were again an exciting outfit, smashing four past Australia, England and Argentina en route to that semi-final loss to Spain.

This time round those players are now established stars, but the German squad remains young. Of the 23 players in Brazil only 30-year-old Lahm, veteran striker Miroslav Klose (36) and back-up goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller (33) are not in their 20s.

They have, however, played as a more knowing team: Germany smashed four past a depleted Portugal in their opening game, but aside from that they  are performing in a controlled, precise manner, doing enough to get through and win matches. 

They were pushed to the wire for 90 minutes by the impressive Algerians in the round of 16 game before scoring twice to wrap things up in extra time, while they were never seriously troubled by France in the quarter-final.

Germany will not fear Brazil unduly. Their midfield is strong, their defence has conceded only three goals in five matches and they are well suited to coping with the hysterical atmosphere that will be generated in Belo Horizonte in the early hours of Wednesday morning (AEST).

If they keep their heads they might end the Brazilian dream at the cruellest stage of all. If so, they will, genuinely, know how their opponents feel as they indulge in the ritual post match exchange of shirts.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/fifa-world-cup-2014/world-cup-news-2014/german-mix-of-flair-and-pragmatism-a-threat-to-brazils-world-cup-hopes-20140707-zsyfy.html#ixzz36mJ07mM2