FIFA World Cup: Germany Look to ‘Wake Up’ After Mexico Sucker Punch

The backlash to Germany’s loss against Mexico has been mostly directed at coach Joachim Loew, with media, fans and former players questioning his tactics and refusal to adapt despite seeing them struggle in their FIFA World Cup opener.

Many observers have billed this as the toughest moment of Loew’s 12-year career at the helm of the German team. The clearest headline following their opening game loss came from Die Welt, reading, simply, ‘Wake Up’.

There has been a feeling that the national team may have taken Mexico too lightly, and Loew himself was tactically out-manoeuvred and out-thought by his Mexican counterpart, Juan Carlos Osorio.

Despite playing a four-man defence, Germany’s two central defenders, Mats Hummel and Jerome Boateng, were often left outnumbered in the face of a Mexican counter attack, mainly due to a lack of diligence from their more attack-minded full backs, Joshua Kimmich and Marvin Plattenhardt.

Loew, a patient and quiet man at most times, has not responded to critics openly, but his assistant coach Miroslav Klose openly acknowledged the discussions that the team have had around their tactics in the Group F opener.

Klose admitted that tactics could be altered for the crunch clash against Sweden -- a game Germany must win to have their fate in their own hands -- but was confident that their strength in depth gave them a reason to believe the defeat was a one-off.

The former Lazio forward, who is the highest goal-scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals, said Germany had given itself little room for error navigating Sweden on Saturday and then South Korea to ensure a place in the knockouts.

“We have many players yet to play, who are hungry for it, anxious to get out there,” said Klose, who was assigned to coach the strikers who succeeded him in the first XI since he retired after their 2014 triumph.

The backlash against the German team’s loss in the opener has been building and not just for footballing reasons. The usual German swagger at a World Cup was already under strain following a nationwide debate about national identity and belonging, prompted by midfielders Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan’s photo-op with Turkish president Recep Erdogan earlier this year.

Gundogan bore the brunt of the German public’s displeasure, booed every time he touched the ball in their laboured warm-up game against Saudi Arabia before the World Cup.

The recent criticism, though, has been more for footballing reasons. Critics have reasoned that Germany -- and Loew in particular -- have their blinkers on in addressing the defensive frailties of the team, a fault exposed brutally by Mexico’s fast forward line.

Midfielder Sami Khedira acknowledged that, in review, they ‘would have to play more intelligent football going forward’.

“We have to attack but not expose our defence,” he added, highlighting that Sweden will be a threat considering a win would see them ascend into the knockout stages.The loss to Mexico was Die Mannschaft’s first opening game defeat in a World Cup since the 1982 edition. Perhaps, there is a positive omen there too. On that occasion they reached the final.

(With inputs from IANS)