Werder Bremen winger Mesut Ozil has been lighting up the Bundesliga for a couple of seasons now, but he exploded onto the international stage on Sunday with a virtuoso performance for Germany in their 4-0 annihilation of Australia. Ozil has been on the radar of the top European clubs for some time and was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona last summer. On the evidence of this first match, Werder coach Thomas Schaaf is going to have a real fight on his hands trying to keep his key man in Bremen ahead of the 2010/11 season.
With his sublime left foot, his speed and his daring dribbling style, Ozil is set apart from the typical mechanical efficiency associated with most German players. With his stunning inaugural World Cup appearance he has set himself up for a starring role in this year's tournament, with the team as a whole likely to progress far if they can re-produce this kind of performance in every game.
With his sublime left foot, his speed and his daring dribbling style, Ozil is set apart from the typical mechanical efficiency associated with most German players. With his stunning inaugural World Cup appearance he has set himself up for a starring role in this year's tournament, with the team as a whole likely to progress far if they can re-produce this kind of performance in every game.
Yet, while the Three Lion's give the ball away constantly and stutter to results based on individual moments of magic, the Germans possess the ability to sweep teams aside with superlative attacking displays in which they dominate possession of the ball and push forward without compromising their defensive priorities.
Hitler wouldn't have liked this German team, that's for sure. Led by the dynamo Mesut Ozil (Turkish), Low's side went ahead against Australia through Lukas Podolski (Polish), before Miroslav Klose (Polish) and Thomas Muller (born and bred) got in on the action. Finally, Cacau (Brazilian) came off the bench to complete the rout. It is a cosmopolitan German side made up of nationalised citizens and who would put a cap on their potential now that they can add Brazilian flair, Polish grit and a bit or Turkish delight to their own native efficiency.
Germans experienced in the Eurocup how effective a Spanish style football could be and have started copying.
ReplyDeleteI think the post is nice, but Hitler's reference is a little bit unfortunate...
I think Germany's ability to perform on the big stage is intrinsic, unlike Spain's current form, which is based on both an incredibly talented generation of individuals, and a group that has developed an understanding together over several years.
ReplyDeleteI stand by the Hitler comment, though, Joan. It is in no way pejorative. On the contrary, the article highlights the cosmopolitan nature of modern Germany. I personally don't think the mere mention of his name is offensive.
It's like saying Franco didn't like Catalonia representing itself as an international team which, of course, he didn't.
Now I've either proved my point or potentially alienated Spanish as well as German readers. I hope no one finds the Franco reference unfortunate.
Ya te dije que Alemania tenia un grupo de jugadores muy bueno que rinden mucho más en la selección que en sus clubes. Ozil hizo un gran partido, pero yo vi a una Australia bastante floja. Vale que Ozil es un gran jugador (para mi lo es), pero ha destacado mucho por el pobre nivel exhibido por los equipos que han jugado hasta ahora en el mundial. Por eso lo estan exhagerando (ya lo comparan con Zidane, como aquel que dice)Veremos que passa con Alemania el dia que juegue contra un equipo que no le deje el balón, como España. No tendrán sufiente con Khedira.
ReplyDeleteSin ir más lejos creo que Marin tiene tanta calidad como Ozil. Lo que pasa es que la gente no los conoce hasta que juegan el mundial y entonces se sorprenden como si se tratara del gran descubriento. Ozil ya brilló con la sub 21 y antes. El pròximo dia pondran de titular a Marin y ya le compararan con Messi.
Klose isnt really Polish though. He has a German father and is from Silesia....
ReplyDeleteGood point, although, I mean, Silesia is in Poland... He was born in Poland and his mother is Polish.
ReplyDeleteNice post. Good on them for choosing nationalised players. It's worked for the England cricket team, if they see themselves as Germans and wear the shirt with pride then fair enough.
ReplyDeleteThe Hitler comment was completely fair, but maybe unnecessary.
You're right again, Germany have always managed to do well on the big stage, just look at their record, it's incredible. You only have to look back a couple of tournaments when everyone has written them off and they go on to reach the final or latter stages to appreciate the abundant threat the possess. That's why it's crucial we see off Slovenia and Algeria in style to win the group so that we have time to improve and maybe scrape a result against Serbia/Ghana rather than having to dispatch Germany after a torrid group stage.
Ozil was born in Germany and all the rest with the exception of Cacau have german roots.
ReplyDeleteIt is just unfortunate that if you want to highlight Germany's cosmopolitan nature, you do it by comparing it to Hitler's period. I guess it is an easy thing to do.
Would you do the same with Italy and Mussolini? USA (slavery period) and black people? I guess we would need some time before these references are not so frequent.
Probably not. Although to be fair, Hitler was a biggy. Mussolini was a pussycat and everybody's had slaves. We can't only tar America with the slavery brush. No pun intended.
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