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U.S. Program Can Take Heart in Germany’s Triumph U.S. Program Can Take Heart in Germany’s Win
(about 7 hours later)
The stunning performance by Germany on Tuesday was a long time coming. Fourteen years would be the best figure.The stunning performance by Germany on Tuesday was a long time coming. Fourteen years would be the best figure.
This 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the World Cup semifinal shocked Brazilian fans to tears, demoralized Brazilian players on the field and amazed a worldwide audience with alert, precise and engaging team play. This 7-1 demolition of Brazil in a World Cup semifinal shocked Brazilian fans to tears, demoralized Brazilian players on the field and amazed a worldwide audience with alert, precise and engaging team play.
Did the Brazilian players quit? That is between them and the deity of jogo bonito. But clearly they were playing without the injured Neymar, without the suspended Thiago Silva and without heart to activate their legs.Did the Brazilian players quit? That is between them and the deity of jogo bonito. But clearly they were playing without the injured Neymar, without the suspended Thiago Silva and without heart to activate their legs.
The score was stunning, but Germany was no surprise, having built toward this excellence since 2000, when it could not advance from the group stage in the European tournament. In some nations, this would cause mere futile angst, but in Germany it produced a development plan, identifying and training athletic youngsters in 366 districts — made easier in a relatively compact country. The score was stunning, but Germany was no surprise, having built toward this excellence since 2000, when it could not advance from the group stage in the European Championship. In some nations, this would cause mere futile angst, but in Germany it produced a development plan, identifying and training athletic youngsters in 366 districts — made easier in a relatively compact country.
The program produced the wave of players in their mid-20s who could not help themselves from scoring goals Tuesday, tapering down to reserved celebrations as they realized what they were accomplishing.The program produced the wave of players in their mid-20s who could not help themselves from scoring goals Tuesday, tapering down to reserved celebrations as they realized what they were accomplishing.
For the growing swarm of American soccer fans, there are implications to this lambasting. On one level, this was one of those sporting events when everything went right for one team and everything went wrong for another — comparable to the 73-0 victory by the Chicago Bears over Washington in the National Football League championship in 1940. For the growing swarm of American soccer fans, there are implications to this lambasting. On one level, this was one of those sporting events in which everything went right for one team and everything went wrong for another — comparable to the 73-0 victory by the Chicago Bears over Washington in the National Football League championship game in 1940.
Early in that game, Chicago took a 7-0 lead and Sammy Baugh’s apparent touchdown pass was dropped by his receiver. When asked what the result might have been if Washington had scored then, Baugh replied: 73-7. He understood. It was the Bears’ afternoon. They were a great team, riding their explosive T-formation. They had a system.Early in that game, Chicago took a 7-0 lead and Sammy Baugh’s apparent touchdown pass was dropped by his receiver. When asked what the result might have been if Washington had scored then, Baugh replied: 73-7. He understood. It was the Bears’ afternoon. They were a great team, riding their explosive T-formation. They had a system.
There is a direct line from the development system of the German federation, the D.F.B., to the celebrity coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, currently dashing up and down the sideline for the United States, smiling at opponents, exhorting his own players. There is a direct line from the development system of the German federation, the D.F.B., to the celebrity coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, currently dashing up and down the sideline for the United States, smiling at opponents, exhorting his players.
Germany rarely needs a renewal, not with three World Cups won (as West Germany) and four other times a finalist. That does not mean Germany will automatically win the final Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. It merely means Germany is just about always there. Germany rarely needs a renewal, not with three World Cups won (as West Germany) and four other times a finalist. That does not mean Germany will automatically win the final against Argentina on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. It merely means Germany is almost always there.
The most apt words ever spoken about the German team were uttered by Gary Lineker, the English captain, after a shootout loss to West Germany in the 1990 semifinal: The most apt words ever spoken about the German team were uttered by Gary Lineker, the English striker and later the captain, after a shootout loss to West Germany in a 1990 semifinal:
“Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”“Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”
Maybe not always. Maybe not in Estádio do Maracanã on Sunday. And not in Yokohama, Japan, in 2002, when Germany lost the final to Brazil, with all that talent. (American fans will recall that Germany beat the United States, 1-0, in the quarterfinals when a defender, Torsten Frings, just happened to have his left arm extended at a rakish angle on the goal line to deflect a rebound shot by the United States.)Maybe not always. Maybe not in Estádio do Maracanã on Sunday. And not in Yokohama, Japan, in 2002, when Germany lost the final to Brazil, with all that talent. (American fans will recall that Germany beat the United States, 1-0, in the quarterfinals when a defender, Torsten Frings, just happened to have his left arm extended at a rakish angle on the goal line to deflect a rebound shot by the United States.)
“Germany loses the final — and they double down on their development plan,” Sunil Gulati, the president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, recalled in a telephone interview from Brazil on Wednesday. He is impressed with Germany’s continuing development system. “Germany loses the final — and they double down on their development plan,” Sunil Gulati, the president of the United States Soccer Federation, recalled in a telephone interview from Brazil on Wednesday. He is impressed with Germany’s continuing development system.
“They have academies funded in part by the Bundesliga,” he said, referring to the wealthy German professional system.“They have academies funded in part by the Bundesliga,” he said, referring to the wealthy German professional system.
Four years later as host, Germany was supposedly in a rebuilding phase, under the coaching of Klinsmann, the former striker, backed up by his assistant, Joachim Löw, who was rumored to contain the big picture under his Ringo-esque mop. Klinsmann, who had settled in California, was thought to be somewhat of a Left Coast flake by old-guard German fans, at least before the surprising run to third place. Four years later as host in 2006, Germany was supposedly in a rebuilding phase, under the coaching of Klinsmann, the former striker, backed by his assistant, Joachim Löw, who was rumored to contain the big picture under his Ringo-esque mop. Klinsmann, who had settled in California, was thought to be somewhat of a Left Coast flake by old-guard German fans, at least before the surprising run to third place.
This was a light, airy, positive time for Germany. The German people, still unsure how much to enjoy themselves in public, waved flags and chanted and packed public squares to cheer the Mannschaft as it lost to Italy in the semifinals. This was a light, airy, positive time for Germany. The German people, still unsure how much to enjoy themselves in public, waved flags and chanted and packed public squares to cheer Die Mannschaft as it lost to Italy in the semifinals.
This appealing and talented team continued to surge when Löw replaced his friend Klinsmann. In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Germany ran into Spain in the middle of an unprecedented run of the 2008 Euros, the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Euros. After Carles Puyol, the defender with the ringlets, leapt for the header that beat Germany, 1-0, Löw praised Spain as the great team of its time.This appealing and talented team continued to surge when Löw replaced his friend Klinsmann. In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Germany ran into Spain in the middle of an unprecedented run of the 2008 Euros, the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Euros. After Carles Puyol, the defender with the ringlets, leapt for the header that beat Germany, 1-0, Löw praised Spain as the great team of its time.
Now that Spain has apparently fallen apart from athletic old age, Germany surges, taking its core from the D.F.B. program. The Bundesliga is challenging the Spanish, English and Italian leagues as the best in the world, using imports from Africa and Latin America and Europe, but good German players do not rust away at home.Now that Spain has apparently fallen apart from athletic old age, Germany surges, taking its core from the D.F.B. program. The Bundesliga is challenging the Spanish, English and Italian leagues as the best in the world, using imports from Africa and Latin America and Europe, but good German players do not rust away at home.
Many American players — Paul Caligiuri, Claudio Reyna, Eric Wynalda, Kasey Keller, Tony Sanneh, Michael Bradley and Steve Cherundolo, just a partial list — have sought the income and challenge of Germany. In 1998, before the opening World Cup match with Germany in Paris, Reyna talked with pride about surviving harsh winters and impersonal coaches and midweek practices against teammates fighting to suit up on Saturday. In the first five minutes, Jens Jeremies of Germany hammered Reyna in the kidneys. Klinsmann, a star striker on that German team, acknowledges to this day that blasting Reyna was part of the game plan.Many American players — Paul Caligiuri, Claudio Reyna, Eric Wynalda, Kasey Keller, Tony Sanneh, Michael Bradley and Steve Cherundolo, just a partial list — have sought the income and challenge of Germany. In 1998, before the opening World Cup match with Germany in Paris, Reyna talked with pride about surviving harsh winters and impersonal coaches and midweek practices against teammates fighting to suit up on Saturday. In the first five minutes, Jens Jeremies of Germany hammered Reyna in the kidneys. Klinsmann, a star striker on that German team, acknowledges to this day that blasting Reyna was part of the game plan.
The Brazilians knew all about Germany on Tuesday, and vice versa. The Brazilians had been leading the World Cup in fouls per match, the definition of a dog defending its manger. But once Germany scored, Brazil could hardly get close enough to foul.The Brazilians knew all about Germany on Tuesday, and vice versa. The Brazilians had been leading the World Cup in fouls per match, the definition of a dog defending its manger. But once Germany scored, Brazil could hardly get close enough to foul.
One goal begot six more goals. It was fascinating to watch — bringing home the reality of just how skillful world-level players are. If they are playing a squad having a horrible day, they can exploit and dominate. One goal begot six more. It was fascinating to watch — bringing home the reality of just how skillful world-level players are. If they are playing a squad having a horrible day, they can exploit and dominate.
Be bold. Move forward. This is the urging of Klinsmann, who is regarded as an Old World cutthroat meanie by some American fans because he smilingly dispatched Landon Donovan from the squad while signing up five German players who held United States passports. Yes, the striker who benefited from Jeremies in 1998 sent broad-shouldered Jermaine Jones out to be his hard man in the 2014 World Cup.Be bold. Move forward. This is the urging of Klinsmann, who is regarded as an Old World cutthroat meanie by some American fans because he smilingly dispatched Landon Donovan from the squad while signing up five German players who held United States passports. Yes, the striker who benefited from Jeremies in 1998 sent broad-shouldered Jermaine Jones out to be his hard man in the 2014 World Cup.
The United States, with its own federation, its own development plans, its own Major League Soccer, is doing fine, and it has maintained its longtime admiration of German soccer, Gulati noted. With the D.F.B. plan producing at full tilt, not everybody can make the German team. In the meantime, Klinsmann has a large supply of phone numbers and email addresses and passport statuses of German players with legitimate ties to the United States. And he has four more years on his contract. The United States, with its own federation, its own development plans, its own Major League Soccer, is doing fine, and it has maintained its longtime admiration of German soccer, Gulati noted. With the D.F.B. plan producing at full tilt, not everybody can make the German team. In the meantime, Klinsmann has a large supply of phone numbers and email addresses and passport statuses of German players with ties to the United States. And he has four more years on his contract.