Philipp Lahm has said that German football’s biggest problem is a lack of identity. Toni Kroos believes Germany lack world-class talent. Mats Hummels has spoken about the issues in the system. When it comes to why Germany suffered its third consecutive World Cup disappointment, there are plenty of opinions and arguments to choose from.
Frank Wermuth, a former player, German Football Association (DFB) coach-teacher, first-division coach in the Netherlands and currently a mental coach, believes that team context matters.
“It’s not about playing philosophy. It’s about the quality of players within that playing philosophy,” Wermuth said.
“You have to look at it differently – our top talents are still talents. (Florian) Wirtz had a less than ideal season at Liverpool. (Jamal) Musiala was out with injury for a long time. (Leroy) Sane remains a perennial prospect. What do you expect now?
“So, right off the bat, you have three very important players responsible for creativity on the field who were not in peak form. And it’s nothing to do with (head coach Julian) Nagelsmann. It’s a matter of individual form. (Kai) Havertz is the way he is. He scores from time to time, but he manages to give the pass. Then Havertz, a penalty taker you’re sure of, misses a penalty. It’s It’s all the little things, and I say at this level, the little things make a big difference and that’s why it didn’t work so well for us in attack, even though that was really our strength.”
Wermuth also cites the example of Nico Schlotterbach, whose injury early in the tournament was seen as a significant blow to Germany’s chances.
“He gets injured and suddenly everything falls apart because we’re missing a left-footed player who can start games with his build-up. That’s a one-dimensional way of looking at it,” Wormuth said.
“The question is, are we really that good defensively? Just look at other teams and how they use their bodies to challenge opponents. We don’t do that anymore. I can clearly see that we have problems defensively in one-on-one situations.”
Germany’s team system affected by structure and social change
With the relatively recent changes made to Germany’s youth system, it seems wrong to suggest that a complete overhaul of youth football is needed. After all, the impact of recent changes won’t be felt for years to come. However, with character being another area where character has been questioned by those analyzing Germany’s latest World Cup exit, there are case studies from abroad that can be considered in the context of the development of youth players in Germany.
Mark O’Sullivan, associate professor of football at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences in Oslo, highlights Bodø/Glimt’s perspective. I am writing in my blogO’Sullivan explains that the way the football club shaped their environment had a positive impact on their performance on the field. In the season just concluded, the club based in the small town north of the Arctic Circle reached the round of 16 of the Champions League.
“A major reason for this success is the club’s strong emphasis on shared values, culture and player development,” O’Sullivan wrote.
“The club promotes principles such as trust, humility, collective responsibility and continuous improvement. Under the leadership of head coach Kjetil Knutsson, Bodø/Glimt has developed a distinctive playing style characterized by a strong teamwork ethic. Knutsson has emphasized a learning-oriented environment in which players are encouraged to take responsibility, support each other, and continuously seek improvement.”
Has Germany gone soft?
“Ultimately, the reason why Germany is not successful is because of culture, training and youth development,” Wermuth said.
“The most important thing is the mindset, and that has changed. Now you can ask, ‘How?’ Well, let me tell you: society. School. Upbringing. Parents. Culture. Things have changed. And when Ecuador really goes behind Germany, although still fair, and we can’t keep our point, it’s a cultural thing. Their culture of survival is completely different from ours. And that’s why I say that’s what we’re losing. And this is not even a matter of coach development or academy training. No, this is society. And you can’t change it overnight,” he explained.
“We develop everyone like the Spanish players, but without their mentality. “It’s a cultural issue. Society is always reflected a little bit in football, or vice versa. We have become soft in many social situations over the years.”
Such an assessment is difficult to measure, but if softness is seen as a person, policy or thing that has lost its original edge, solidity or discipline, then it is fair to say that German football currently looks to be an example of this.
Perhaps Germany can take inspiration from its nearby country. O’Sullivan believes that the importance of affordability in the provision of facilities has played a significant role in Norway’s success in elite sport.
“A football pitch, sports hall, park, or ski trail does not generate participation simply because it exists and proximity to facilities does not necessarily translate into participation. This could be called the spatial fallacy. Unfortunately, this is often a typical assumption in planning, public health, and sports policy.”
This year, the German government has pledged to invest €333 million ($380 million) in refurbishing 314 sports facilities across the country, modernizing them and making them more sustainable. Read a summary of O’Sullivan’s talk here. The upgrades to these facilities cannot be seen as the only steps towards building a meaningful connection to sport for Germany’s youth. This should only be the beginning.
The same is true for the expected appointment of Jurgen Klopp as Germany’s new men’s head coach. German football has entered a period of crisis. What he decided to do next will be remembered for years to come.
Edited by: Chuck Penfold