
Grit
Having won over many neutral fans during the 2006 FIFA World Cup with their attacking football, which continued as Germany became the first team to book their place in the 2008 finals, it seemed business as usual in the opening 2-0 win against Poland in Klagenfurt. But four days later at the same venue, Croatia triumphed 2-1 and the Germany side that emerged from that match and made their way to the final did so with grit rather than élan. It was the return of the Turniermannschaft – the ‘tournament team’.
Efficiency
Needing a point to reach the last eight, co-hosts Austria were beaten 1-0 in Vienna in a cool display of efficiency that would not have looked out of place in the 1980s. The 3-2 quarter-final defeat of Portugal in Basel showed how Germany’s physical attributes could overcome more technically skilled opposition, something France had discovered in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. And the semi-final victory against Turkey by the same scoreline and at the same location, was down to determination and cool finishing. Germany were finally bested by Spain but the mood was not downbeat. “I have to compliment the team for a fantastic time over the last 45 days,” said coach Joachim Löw. “We have had a lot of fun and enjoyed it, but we were very ambitious and dealt with people with respect, in and out of the team. Of course the players are disappointed now. But reaching the final is something special.”
Ballack stength
Maybe Michael Ballack would beg to differ. Having tasted defeat in the UEFA Champions League and English League Cup finals with Chelsea FC, the Germany midfielder suffered another such reverse at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion. Ballack was clearly struggling with his calf injury during the final, but that did not stop Löw praising him: “I wouldn’t like to comment on individual performances but it was good to have him there. He was a leader for our team – he represents the team and Germany very well.”
Lehmann frustration
At 31, Ballack and midfield partner Torsten Frings are well aware that time is against them ahead of the 2010 World Cup, something also on the minds of forward Oliver Neuville, 35, and 38-year-old goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who produced his best performance of the tournament in the loss to Spain. “I am very disappointed about the final,” said Lehmann. “It was most likely my last EURO. These are my thoughts: ‘What could we have done better?’ Bad displays were followed by good ones, but unfortunately we could not keep that rhythm going into the final.”
Future
What, then, does the future hold for German football? If the stalwarts are ageing, bright talents such as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski have again shone on the big stage even though their club form since the 2006 World Cup has been mixed. Striker Mario Gómez, by contrast, was unable to reproduce his goalscoring heroics for VfB Stuttgart, though at 22 he should have more opportunities. The same goes for 19-year-old playmaker Marko Marin, who just missed out on selection. Löw’s men now meet Russia, Finland, Wales, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein in World Cup qualifying, and Löw mused: “This defeat is going to be an incentive to work hard over the next two years. Looking at the last few tournaments, we’re right at the top in Europe and the side in recent years have learned a lot. They have developed well but we know we must not lose energy and strength – we must go on working and improving.”



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