Team Focus: Lahm Return to Right-Back Would Restore Germany's Balance
As Brazil could tell you, favouritism creates a certain type of accelerated expectation. Ostensibly, it seems misleading to call Germany’s struggles against Algeria a close shave. They were never behind in the game, and had a competition-high 28 shots at goal. Yet it wasn’t comfortable at all. Post-match, Per Mertesacker and coach Joachim Löw both fought a rearguard action against what they felt was excessive criticism of Die Nationalmannschaft’s performance.
This is a huge tournament for Germany. Having reached three semi-finals and a final in the last four major championships, the quality is not in doubt. In terms of pushing promise over the line, however, there is plenty to prove. The Euro 2012 semi defeat to Italy cut deep, and it is natural that there is a little tension in the air.
That has only been heightened by the difficulties experienced against Algeria, considered by many as the weakest team in the last 16, despite their entertaining contributions to the summer’s festivities. Given Löw and company’s demolition of Diego Maradona’s Argentina in 2010’s quarter-finals, you’d have thought Germany would be aware of the potential problems of entering big matches with four specialist centre-backs. Yet here Löw is, subscribing to exactly that model.
Shkodran Mustafi, a solid performer for Sampdoria in the centre this season, was the occupant of the right-back spot in Porto Alegre, with Mats Hummels absent and Jerome Boateng moving into the middle to take his place. He found it tough going until he succumbed to a thigh injury in the second half, an ailment that will keep him out of the remainder of the tournament.
41% of Algeria’s attacks came down Germany’s right side, where Napoli full-back Faouzi Ghoulam was prominent. It’s food for thought ahead of Friday’s last eight clash with France. For all his defensive caprices, Patrice Evra still contributes well to attacks and is likely to be paired with Antoine Griezmann on Friday, after the Real Sociedad man’s excellent impact against Nigeria. As opposed to Karim Benzema (who will probably be redeployed in the centre), Griezmann is a touchline hugger, albeit one who can drop inside to score goals. He can stretch the game, so right-back is a position that Löw really needs to get right against France.
It is clear that ideally Löw would like to be able to recoup the injured Hummels for Friday, and restore the Dortmund man to the centre of defence, moving Boateng to right-back in a reprise of the defence that began the tournament against Portugal – and again, a quartet of specialist central defenders.
Boateng was excellent in the Group G opener against Portugal, making a team-high 6 tackles and doing much to shackle Cristiano Ronaldo. There, Boateng’s positioning made sense in a horses-for-courses sense. An untypical winger with considerable physical strength required an unorthodox full-back to fight fire with fire. It worked out well for Germany.
That is where that tactic should be left. Philipp Lahm’s move to right-back against Algeria was logical, and did much to quicken Germany’s move towards victory – especially as it precipitated Sami Khedira’s inclusion in midfield. The Real Madrid man had been made to pay for a poor performance against Ghana, being dropped for the final group game against the United States. Having played well against Portugal – his 92% pass success rate was useful, especially in the lunchtime heat of Salvador – Khedira might have retained his spot as he strives to regain rhythm after serious injury. He again looked composed in his 50 minutes against Vahid Halihodzic’s side, completing 90% of passes, including 3 key passes. That sang froid could be very useful in what is sure to be another test of endurance in Friday’s early afternoon in Rio de Janeiro.
If Lahm is to be comfortably released from his duties in the middle of the park, substituting his control will be key.
There is an argument that Lahm will be missed in the middle. The 30-year-old skipper made a team-high 4 tackles against Algeria, and he has taken his Bayern form into the national squad with him. Having completed 91.7% of passes in the Bundesliga this season, Lahm has managed 91.8% in the four World Cup games to date.
A switch may seem unlikely, but would not be entirely without precedent. As recently as last October, Löw shunned the idea he would start Lahm in midfield, despite seeing “where (Pep Guardiola) is coming from” by stationing centrally for Bayern.
How Benedikt Höwedes might hold up on the other side, especially against the fleet-footed Mathieu Valbuena (France’s third-best performer to date with a 7.98 average rating, and who was badly missed against Ecuador), is another question. Yet France’s slightly surprising ability to play expansively means that Germany must defend properly in the Maracana. Who better to set the tone, and balance the team, than their ever-reliable captain?
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