Comments on: Why Germany need to look to Klopp for inspiration

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:15:32 +0000

Spain have always had amazing players, but it wasnt untill they actually won something did the pressure ease off and they clicked with the right skills and mentality – i think germany will be the same, the current team plus the talents coming through puts them in excellent shape, once they get a bit tougher mentally and loew stops experimenting in big games then germany will be fine

By: sincerely

sincerely — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 22:47:20 +0000

no my dears friends…the only lack for the mannschaft is the win mentality, all players are super

By: Caylum O'Neill

Caylum O'Neill — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 15:26:00 +0000

I felt that Ozil and Khedira didn’t perform well enough at club level to be certain starters for the national team, and while Dortmund’s domestic form has been poor, Reus and Gotze have performed well enough individually to warrant a run in the side.

I agree with you on both Westermann’s inclusion ahead of a pool of talented, young German goalkeepers (Ter Stegen and Trapp come to mind, but Neuer’s place has been cemented), and their strike problem. Gomez’s poor form as of late is irrelevant, unfortunately, as the likes of Kiessling and Meier wouldn’t fit in to the system, and Klose won’t have the legs for a full tournament, in my opinion.

And I don’t actually think that simply applying Dortmund’s system would solve all their problems, but I may not have made that clear, sorry.

Thanks for your feedback, it’s much appreciated.

By: C C

C C — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 13:04:54 +0000

“unless Joachim Löw looks to these heirs apparent to the German throne, I fear they will once again falter at the last.”
Then perhaps the Clubs involved could have the good grace to allow him to select ALL players available at international breaks, rather than these suddenly appearing ‘viruses’ and niggly injuries that appear at such times, only to miraculously disappear once Club fixtures resume!!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 10:59:37 +0000

can’t agree if you think Özil and Khedira should be dropped from Germany. both are brilliant and they’re easily two of Germany’s most important players. Kroos would be next in line ahead of any Dortmund player for Mesut’s spot anyway.

you make some interesting points and I think Germany do need to take a look at some elements of their team. Jogi has indeed tended in recent years to favour his most experienced players like Mertesacker, Poldi, even recalling Westermann recently – sometimes bafflingly if you look at the players left behind, whereas I agree it’s time for the likes of Wollscheid and maybe Jung to be given a go at the back and Poldi to take a backseat too.

But Germany have problems that go further than ‘playing like Dortmund’, they don’t play much differently philosophically from Dortmund anyway so I’m not sure what the point of that is.

I think they’re being prevented from realising the potential touted upon them at the mo because in some positions they have too many great players to accommodate and in other positions there isn’t enough quality. They lack one top class full-back which has caused them problems, they don’t have great strength in depth at centre-back currently. and up-front Klose is still great but coming to the end of his career, and they have a bit of trouble using Gomez effectively with Özil, Reus etc. Interestingly Özil worked suberbly as a false-9 in the 2nd have against France and that could be a fascinating alternative option to the striker. you’d probably be able to add Kroos or Gotze to the first 11 too.