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The Klinsmann effect: for USA fans, Germany's compromises feel familiar The Klinsmann effect: for USA fans, Germany's compromises feel familiar
(about 1 month later)
When Germany take on Brazil in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, Jogi Löw’s coaching legacy may not be the only one on the line. Löw's players have found success over the last month in part by abandoning a free-flowing style that was introduced to the German national team before the 2006 World Cup, as part of an ideological overhaul implemented by Löw and Jürgen Klinsmann.When Germany take on Brazil in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, Jogi Löw’s coaching legacy may not be the only one on the line. Löw's players have found success over the last month in part by abandoning a free-flowing style that was introduced to the German national team before the 2006 World Cup, as part of an ideological overhaul implemented by Löw and Jürgen Klinsmann.
Klinsmann, of course, is now in charge of the USA. He will look on from a distance on Tuesday, his team having shown signs of progress mixed with similar pragmatism before being knocked out by Belgium in the round of 16.Klinsmann, of course, is now in charge of the USA. He will look on from a distance on Tuesday, his team having shown signs of progress mixed with similar pragmatism before being knocked out by Belgium in the round of 16.
The question for American soccer fans, then, is what does the evolution (or regression) of Germany under Klinsmann's protégé, Löw mean for their own team's prospects, not least as it continues to field and pursue German-born talent?The question for American soccer fans, then, is what does the evolution (or regression) of Germany under Klinsmann's protégé, Löw mean for their own team's prospects, not least as it continues to field and pursue German-born talent?
Germany: substance over style?Germany: substance over style?
In a quarter-final victory over France typified by Mats Hummels' barging run to head the only goal from a set-piece and subsequent muscular defensive performance, it was clear Löw had added a pragmatic physicality to his team – even going so far as to practise, shudder, set-pieces. It seemed consistent with a tournament in which a giddy group stage has given way to cautious realpolitick among all the favourites.In a quarter-final victory over France typified by Mats Hummels' barging run to head the only goal from a set-piece and subsequent muscular defensive performance, it was clear Löw had added a pragmatic physicality to his team – even going so far as to practise, shudder, set-pieces. It seemed consistent with a tournament in which a giddy group stage has given way to cautious realpolitick among all the favourites.
For some it was the death-knell for a project that started in 2004, when with Germany in disarray Klinsmann was appointed to guide the team through its own 2006 World Cup.For some it was the death-knell for a project that started in 2004, when with Germany in disarray Klinsmann was appointed to guide the team through its own 2006 World Cup.
There is a feeling in German football that perhaps the federation didn’t know what it was getting itself into with the appointment of Klinsmann, who used a brief that went well beyond the first team to weed out ultra-conservative members of the governing body, institute fitness regimes and tests that tied the federation and Bundesliga more closely together, and generally use his force of personality and legendary status to force through reforms few others would have had the capital to try.There is a feeling in German football that perhaps the federation didn’t know what it was getting itself into with the appointment of Klinsmann, who used a brief that went well beyond the first team to weed out ultra-conservative members of the governing body, institute fitness regimes and tests that tied the federation and Bundesliga more closely together, and generally use his force of personality and legendary status to force through reforms few others would have had the capital to try.
Certainly the revisionism that credits Löw as the tactical brain behind the 2006 World Cup campaign neglects the platform provided by Klinsmann. Löw was a relatively minor figure in the German game when he was made Klinsmann’s assistant, yet he was given space and support to help develop the new blueprint. Klinsmann, the figurehead, was busy fending off conservative pushback while giving young German players the belief that they would be hailed as reformers rather than reckless vandals. Certainly the revisionism that credits Löw as the tactical brain behind the 2006 World Cup campaign neglects the platform provided by Klinsmann. Löw was a relatively minor figure in the German game when he was made Klinsmann’s assistant, yet he was given space and support to help develop the new blueprint. Klinsmann, the figurehead, was busy fending off conservative pushback while giving young German players the belief that they would be hailed as reformers rather than reckless vandals.
Despite public criticism and pressure before the 2006 tournament, the Germans played with style and verve – if not quite enough guile to get past Italy in the semi-finals. After that, with Löw in sole charge and Klinsmann about to discover the limits of his iconoclasm at Bayern Munich, they fell short in the final of Euro 2008, then reached the semi-finals at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.Despite public criticism and pressure before the 2006 tournament, the Germans played with style and verve – if not quite enough guile to get past Italy in the semi-finals. After that, with Löw in sole charge and Klinsmann about to discover the limits of his iconoclasm at Bayern Munich, they fell short in the final of Euro 2008, then reached the semi-finals at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
In doing so they were breathtakingly fast on the counter, compact in defence and were fun to watch. They made friends. But they didn’t win any tournaments.In doing so they were breathtakingly fast on the counter, compact in defence and were fun to watch. They made friends. But they didn’t win any tournaments.
This was not the ruthless late-20th-century Germany – arguably, this was a version of the talented sides those Germans beat: the French, the Dutch and the English of 1990 and 1996.This was not the ruthless late-20th-century Germany – arguably, this was a version of the talented sides those Germans beat: the French, the Dutch and the English of 1990 and 1996.
While the fitness reforms Klinsmann instituted are still standard practice at national and club level in Germany, and while the technical emphasis for young German players has shifted definitively, there is still a feeling in the country that one of the great European footballing powers could be about to let a golden generation fall through its fingers.While the fitness reforms Klinsmann instituted are still standard practice at national and club level in Germany, and while the technical emphasis for young German players has shifted definitively, there is still a feeling in the country that one of the great European footballing powers could be about to let a golden generation fall through its fingers.
Even Klinsmann acknowledges the nagging doubt around the team. When I spoke to him before the World Cup, we were discussing England’s chances when he broke off to offer an unprompted comparison:Even Klinsmann acknowledges the nagging doubt around the team. When I spoke to him before the World Cup, we were discussing England’s chances when he broke off to offer an unprompted comparison:
If you compare a little bit to Germany, Germany’s a side that can win the World Cup, is among the top three right now in the world, and it’s also a very special generation that is there. But at the end of the day that generation has to put the dot on the 'i' to make the final step to win a competition like that – otherwise you go down as an amazing generation without winning a big tournament.If you compare a little bit to Germany, Germany’s a side that can win the World Cup, is among the top three right now in the world, and it’s also a very special generation that is there. But at the end of the day that generation has to put the dot on the 'i' to make the final step to win a competition like that – otherwise you go down as an amazing generation without winning a big tournament.
Could they do so while being true to their hard-won attacking ideals? In the opening game, against Portugal, it really looked that way, as the Pepe-less Portuguese were cut to ribbons, but by the time Germany rumbled past France in the last eight the iconic image was not a sweeping counter ending in a Thomas Müller finish, but a set-piece on to the head of Hummels, who manhandled his defender to where he wanted him before glancing a header to the far post.Could they do so while being true to their hard-won attacking ideals? In the opening game, against Portugal, it really looked that way, as the Pepe-less Portuguese were cut to ribbons, but by the time Germany rumbled past France in the last eight the iconic image was not a sweeping counter ending in a Thomas Müller finish, but a set-piece on to the head of Hummels, who manhandled his defender to where he wanted him before glancing a header to the far post.
Hummels trotted back to the other end of the field and began playing with the kind of earnest muscularity that had demoralised generations of opponents before the advent of Klinsmann and Löw. The French limped off, their own flair and promise relegated to a footnote.Hummels trotted back to the other end of the field and began playing with the kind of earnest muscularity that had demoralised generations of opponents before the advent of Klinsmann and Löw. The French limped off, their own flair and promise relegated to a footnote.
Now Löw's team face Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Brazil, whose own mix of physicality and magic lost the magic with the departure of Neymar. There is a fair argument that of two teams who have abandoned their historical principles, the Germans are closer to coming full-circle.Now Löw's team face Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Brazil, whose own mix of physicality and magic lost the magic with the departure of Neymar. There is a fair argument that of two teams who have abandoned their historical principles, the Germans are closer to coming full-circle.
And yet, the Klinsmann/Löw project has created an expectation among a younger global audience that somewhere in the next two games we will see some flair from the Germans. Just as Louis van Gaal could win with Holland but not escape the legacy of Total Football if his side did not thrill, Löw and his one-time mentor have created a set of ideals that German football never knew it wanted.And yet, the Klinsmann/Löw project has created an expectation among a younger global audience that somewhere in the next two games we will see some flair from the Germans. Just as Louis van Gaal could win with Holland but not escape the legacy of Total Football if his side did not thrill, Löw and his one-time mentor have created a set of ideals that German football never knew it wanted.
USA: rope-a-dope… without the dope?USA: rope-a-dope… without the dope?
There is a subplot to all this of course, which is the expectation of progress against which USA fans have been measuring Klinsmann’s reign this past week.There is a subplot to all this of course, which is the expectation of progress against which USA fans have been measuring Klinsmann’s reign this past week.
When Klinsmann was brought into the USA job, he promised a more attacking style. That promise has been under scrutiny since the defeat by Belgium.When Klinsmann was brought into the USA job, he promised a more attacking style. That promise has been under scrutiny since the defeat by Belgium.
For long stretches of the USA’s World Cup, their tactics looked like rope-a-dope – without the dope. The defence conceded width and gambled on a resolute ability to defend crosses – Ghana and Belgium racked up record tallies of crosses and shots, and Tim Howard flung himself around like a force of nature to stop them.For long stretches of the USA’s World Cup, their tactics looked like rope-a-dope – without the dope. The defence conceded width and gambled on a resolute ability to defend crosses – Ghana and Belgium racked up record tallies of crosses and shots, and Tim Howard flung himself around like a force of nature to stop them.
Add to that the timidity shown against Germany, bar one injury time surge, and we’re left with minutes five through 95 against Portugal and minutes 115 to 130 against Belgium as the periods to which Klinsmann can point if he wants to display something resembling the loose adaptation of his German model he wanted when he started the job.Add to that the timidity shown against Germany, bar one injury time surge, and we’re left with minutes five through 95 against Portugal and minutes 115 to 130 against Belgium as the periods to which Klinsmann can point if he wants to display something resembling the loose adaptation of his German model he wanted when he started the job.
Needless to say, critics have been quick to point to this and the fact that USA fell behind at exactly the same stage in two consecutive World Cups (a third-minute goal in second-round extra-time) as evidence that no progress has been made. This seems a particularly fatuous argument, but it does show that Klinsmann the moderniser is on a short leash.Needless to say, critics have been quick to point to this and the fact that USA fell behind at exactly the same stage in two consecutive World Cups (a third-minute goal in second-round extra-time) as evidence that no progress has been made. This seems a particularly fatuous argument, but it does show that Klinsmann the moderniser is on a short leash.
Klinsmann will point to his time in the Germany job and in particular his experience at Bayern Munich, shrug, and say “What’s new?” He will also point, as will US Soccer president Sunil Gulati, to progress made on the technical development side of the job – progress which was the basis, Gulati claims, of Klinsmann’s contract being renewed early this spring.Klinsmann will point to his time in the Germany job and in particular his experience at Bayern Munich, shrug, and say “What’s new?” He will also point, as will US Soccer president Sunil Gulati, to progress made on the technical development side of the job – progress which was the basis, Gulati claims, of Klinsmann’s contract being renewed early this spring.
This progress is visible not so much in player production but in building paths and monitoring systems by and through which young players will pass if one of the most diffuse and challenging national systems on the planet ever coheres into more than the sum of its many parts.This progress is visible not so much in player production but in building paths and monitoring systems by and through which young players will pass if one of the most diffuse and challenging national systems on the planet ever coheres into more than the sum of its many parts.
One component of that system will involve finding players among the estimated 3 million expat Americans around the world, among whom Klinsmann has already successfully sourced players – including a number of children of American servicemen in Germany who have been plucked from a system he knows so well.One component of that system will involve finding players among the estimated 3 million expat Americans around the world, among whom Klinsmann has already successfully sourced players – including a number of children of American servicemen in Germany who have been plucked from a system he knows so well.
John Brooks (born in Berlin), Julian Green (born in Tampa, raised in Germany) and Jermaine Jones (born in Frankfurt) were all wooed to declare for the USA and all scored in the World Cup. The right-back Fabian Johnson (born in Munich) was arguably the USA’s most exciting player. Also arguably, given Jozy Altidore’s injury, the biggest absence from the roster was not Landon Donovan but another big forward, the Bremen-born Terrence Boyd. John Brooks (born in Berlin), Julian Green (born in Tampa, raised in Germany) and Jermaine Jones (born in Frankfurt) were all wooed to declare for the USA and all scored in the World Cup. The right-back Fabian Johnson (born in Munich) was arguably the USA’s most exciting player. Also arguably, given Jozy Altidore’s injury, the biggest absence from the roster was not Landon Donovan but another big forward, the Bremen-born Terrence Boyd.
Klinsmann seems to have become more ambitious about the players he approaches, with Green the latest and, being on Bayern Munich’s books, arguably the biggest coup of the lot. There could even be a bigger swoop to come, however, if the Berlin-born Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem declares for the USA – as he has suggested he will.Klinsmann seems to have become more ambitious about the players he approaches, with Green the latest and, being on Bayern Munich’s books, arguably the biggest coup of the lot. There could even be a bigger swoop to come, however, if the Berlin-born Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem declares for the USA – as he has suggested he will.
In matters of talent and style, Klinsmann is evidently still looking to Germany – even if Germany is looking less and less to him.In matters of talent and style, Klinsmann is evidently still looking to Germany – even if Germany is looking less and less to him.