Struggling Against Obsolescence

The German national soccer team specializes in tournaments. Analyst Philipp Selldorf wrote in Süddeutsche Zeitung that Germany’s defeat in the first match reflected a theoretical prediction in sociology of an aging society.

AFP PHOTO/TOBIAS SCHWARZ

Fans of the German team wearing clothes with the colors of the German national flag react during a public viewing event at the "Fanmeile" area in front of Berlin\'s landmark Brandenburg Gate on June 17, 2018, during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Germany and Mexico.

The German national soccer team specializes in tournaments. For them, defeats are nothing to worry about. Instead, they use their defeats as lessons to guide them to the finals. Yet that creed has come into question after Germany’s defeat by Mexico at their first match in the World Cup 2018.

After the defeat, the squad under coach Joachim Löw faced an onslaught of criticism. The 58-year-old coach was urged to change his strategies to bring the team to the finals. It seems that he needs to be reminded of an old German sociological maxim: If someone fails, it is not because he truly fails. Instead, it is because his way of thinking is obsolete and outdated.

Analyst Philipp Selldorf wrote in Süddeutsche Zeitung that Germany’s defeat in the first match reflected a theoretical prediction in sociology of an aging society. If the German people wishes to consider its obsolescence, look no further than the performance of Löw’s boys at the newly-renovated and lavish Luzhniki Stadium. There, they can witness their own soccer players clinging to their past grandeur.

In the match against Mexico at Luzhniki, the German squad was filled with players who had appeared in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Back then, they were still young, fresh and promising. They did not reach the final, but they paved the way to becoming the World Champion at the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

AP PHOTO/MICHAEL PROBST

Germany\'s Jerome Boateng blocks a shot by Mexico\'s Hirving Lozano during the Group F match between Germany and Mexico in the 2018 FIFA World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday, June 17, 2018.

As it turns out, the same German players suffered a defeat at the hands of Mexico just four years later. Indeed, their World Cup chances remain wide open. History shows that, in 1982, they were defeated in their first match and still managed to reach the final. However, we also need to consider the other historical facts – namely that world champions France, Italy and Spain were eliminated from the World Cup in 2002, 2010 and 2014, respectively, after failing to win their respective first matches. If they are reckless, it is possible that Germany, the world soccer champion of 2014, will make it to the latter historical fact.

Despite maintaining his self-confidence, Löw could not hide his concern at a recent press meeting. “For us, this situation is unusual. However, we are experienced. We know how to face defeats. Now, we have to win,” he said.

Löw has coached the German team since 2006. Other than Oscar Washington Tabarez, 71, no other coach has stayed this long with a national team. Under Löw, Germany has participated in 163 international matches. The German people believe in his ability. He does not stand out like Franz Beckenbauer, but history shows that he has brought Germany to new heights.

Löw is no longer just Jogi, as he is called by those closest to him. To the Germans, he has become Yogi, a soccer spiritualist who can inject his “mystical force” into all his players. Indeed, under his management, the German national team has always made it through to at least the semifinals. Under Löw, Germany had never been defeated in a first match. As such, the first match of the World Cup 2018 was truly hurtful.

AFP PHOTO/YURI CORTEZ

Germany\'s midfielder Sami Khedira (right) is tackled by Mexico\'s midfielder Hector Herrera during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Germany and Mexico at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 17, 2018.

In the match against Mexico, the German players were neither enthusiastic nor full of initiative. This was in stark contrast with the Mexican players, who, coach Juan Carlos Osorio said, “reacted because they loved victory, not because they feared defeat.” Osorio said Mexico’s performance against Germany signaled the coming of a future prominent Mexican squad. For Löw, this statement might have added insult to injury – as Germany seemed stuck in the past.

Freshness of the past

Indeed, as the match began, Germany was visibly depending on its past glory. Observers said that they had been playing with the same sense of freshness that they had displayed in South Africa eight years ago. However, that freshness was nothing more than a memory of the past. The fact is, other than their age, their playing style was also rife with obsolescence.

Sami Khedira dribbled and passed the ball skillfully, but his teammates had no idea how to receive and pass it properly. Toni Kroos could not run fast enough or dribble the ball agilely. Thomas Müller was all over the place but could never find anyone to support him. Mesut Özil appeared to be suffering from stage fright and displayed a strangely awkward playing style.

Former German coach Berti Vogts observed such obsolescence. “The German players were so convinced that they went to Russia as world champions. They were visibly so self-confident that they could play like four years ago,” he said, adding that this was a mistake.

GETTY IMAGES/BONGARTS

Berti Vogts

“Our performance lately has not been as powerful as expected. In the past seven or eight international matches, I saw nothing I could be proud of. In the match against Sweden, all players must forget all of that. They will just have to step on the gas,” he said.

According to Vogts, German players need to win in man-to-man duels in the match against Sweden. “If some players have no desire or bravery to do this, they should just be replaced. I think Joachim Löw understands this,” Vogts said.

Löw understands that Sweden is different from Mexico. Physically, the Swedish players are stronger than the Mexicans. “We will not play like Mexico. We have our own style,” Swedish captain Andreas Granqvist said ahead of the match in Sochi.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Sindhunata

Sweden fought against France in Group A of the World Cup’s qualification rounds and defeated it, 2-1. They then beat Italy in a play-off match. “We play solidly. We will try to play like we did against France and Italy. We will try to control the ball as much as we can,” Granqvist said.

Sweden’s self-confidence is in full swing, despite the team not having its superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic with them. Ibrahimovic is a fan of the German soccer team. He once said, “We know, Germany pledges to play well, and they have always done so.”

If Granqvist and his teammates can beat Germany, they will negate Ibrahimovic’s praise at a time when the soccer god no longer plays with them.

Sindhunata, Journalist, Soccer Fan