Team Check
October 12, 2009
The one moment that best symbolizes the 1-0 win over Moscow that qualified Germany for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was directly after the lone goal was scored. Striker Miroslav Klose celebrated with one of his trademark forward flips - and only narrowly avoided landing on his backside.
Match reports in German newspapers, perhaps understandably, were full of superlatives about Germany's gutsy away win. But that 1-0 victory was of the knife-edge variety, unlike Germany's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2008 European Championships, the last time coach Joachim Loew had a chance to win a title.
So have Germany improved enough to draw level with the Spaniards or Brazil? Or are they more on a par with other large European nations like England, the Netherlands and Italy.
Here's a back-to-front run-through of the strengths and weaknesses of the German squad.
Defense
The one position about which Loew has absolutely no worries is goal. 24-year-old Rene Adler was the key to Germany's victory, making a number of world-class saves, and seems to have sealed his position as Germany's number one.
The young keeper's most brilliant moment in Moscow came in the 73rd minute, when Russian midfielder Igor Semshov was clear on the right side and slotted a crisp pass in the direction of two teammates waiting in front of goal. Adler not only got a hand to the ball but cleverly deflected it over the end line.
And should Adler get hurt, Loew can call on Robert Enke, Manuel Neuer or even Tim Wiese who've all proved their worth at the international level.
Left back Philipp Lahm is arguably the best in the world at his position so his selection is a no-brainer. Interior defenders Per Mertesacker and Heiko Westermann provide a solid anchor in the back four. Youngster Serdar Tasci could also play a role.
The big question is right back. Jerome Boateng, who made his national-team debut in Russia, showed he was capable of provided some welcome offensive pressure. But the 21-year-old also got himself sent off with a red card.
Loew's task will be to get the youngster enough experience in friendlies between now and next June that he no longer poses a risk. Otherwise, he'll be forced to fall back on Arne Friedrich, who's been mediocre at best when wearing the German kit.
Defensive midfield
Though not the force he once was German captain Michael Ballack is the lynchpin of the German squad. The 33-year-old not only wins lots of challenges but is responsible for the opening passes for Germany's offense.
To cover Ballack's back when he presses forward, Simon Rolfes is a good choice. And Thomas Hitzlsperger is also a more offensive option because of his ability to blast in shots from long-range.
If Ballack were to go down to injury, though, Germany would be in trouble. Ballack is to Germany what Gennaro Gattuso has been to Italy, and Loew needs to plan, as best he can, for the eventuality that his captain is unavailable.
The problem is that no one currently on the squad or on the radar screen has the ability to fill the stopper-meets-playmaker role Ballack occupies.
Offensive midfield and wingers
The emergence of Mesut Oezil represents the biggest improvement of Germany's likely 2010 squad over the 2008 edition. The 20-year-old displayed both his pace and his eye for his teammates in setting up the lone goal in Moscow that punched Germany's World Cup ticket.
But after that, the quality tails off. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski are active but relatively inefficient players who've never lived up their potential. It will be interesting to see whether youngster Marko Marin, Oezil's equally fleet-footed teammate at Werder Bremen, can break into the Germany's starting eleven.
But even if he does, a comparison with the world's top teams suggests that Germany's offensive midfield is a relative weakness.
Spain are spoiled for choice with Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Fabregas, Iniesta and Senna. Brazil, too, can chose from nearly a dozen top-quality midfielders, including Kaka, whose skills and creativity are far superior to any member of the German squad.
Thus, as the squad stands, Germany may find it difficult to come back if they go behind early in matches - something that most teams need to do if they want to take a major international title.
The center forward
This position is one of the biggest question marks in the team. If the Russia match is anything to go by, Loew could likely rely on a 4-3-3 formation for much of the tournament in South Africa.
That essentially means the battle to fill the lone central forward slot is between Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez, the same pair of players contesting the same position at their mutual club Bayern Munich.
For now Klose, who will be 32 years old next summer, gets the nod because he, in contrast to Gomez, has been effective for the national squad in the past. But he's clearly lost a bit of athleticism, so in his heart of hearts, Loew might well prefer the 24-year-old Gomez.
Loew choice will probably be influenced by how much playing time the two strikers get at Bayern Munich. However that situation turns out, though, what Loew doesn't have is a center forward who can create goal opportunities for himself a la Wayne Rooney for England or Thierry Henry for France.
That means that Germany could have trouble against other defensively oriented teams like Italy.
As one of the best teams at the back in the world, Germany could certainly fly high in South Africa, and no nation will relish facing them. But their creative deficiencies at the front also mean that Loew's men, if they face tough opponents early on, could end up smack on their backsides.
Author: Jefferson Chase
Editor: Andreas Illmer