The next generation of young German talent has not broken through in the same way that Khedira, Ozil, Neuer and Jerome Boateng did at the 2010 World Cup, having also won the Under 21s Euros the year previously. Yet none of them were present in Russia this summer, and that is telling. You might remember too, however, that Germany's U21s won the European Championship last summer. Seven of the starting XI against South Korea on Wednesday did not feature in Russia last year, for instance. Winning the Confederations Cup last year told of Germany's apparent strength in depth. What stays in the memory instead is Germany's 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the semi-final. When a team wins a tournament, such moments of doubt get left behind. This is not to say Germany were lucky, more that the margins between success and failure can be incredibly fine. Even in the final, had Gonzalo Higuain taken his one-on-one chance it could have been Argentina's name on the trophy. Then there was the last 16 against Algeria in which Manuel Neuer saved Germany on several occasions. Take their 4-0 opening game victory when Portugal had a two-on-two with the game goalless. It was a sliding doors moment but there were plenty even in their 2014 triumph. Instead, it hit his shoulder, bouncing out - just as Germany were about to. "If I head the ball in in the 86th minute, safe to say it's a case of 'how awesome, we're through.'" Those selections all added up to another incoherent team performance with numerous chances for South Korea - but, as defender Mats Hummels pointed out, Germany had their opportunities too, the best falling to Hummels six yards out. Given how frequently he lost the ball, he will not challenge Muller for a slot at the German champions but that's because Goretzka usually plays in the centre of midfield or at number 10, not as a winger. Playing new Bayern team-mate Leon Goretzka in his stead did not. That was controversial but it looked the right call given his form. That he's a key dressing room figure should not be underestimated but within 40 seconds he set the tone for another poor display on the pitch when caught in possession.Īnother of those changes was taking out Germany's top scorer at their past two World Cups in Thomas Muller. When the five changes to face South Korea were announced, the strangest was Khedira's return. It had made sense that he was dropped for Sebastian Rudy against Sweden, having not been quick enough in body or in mind against Mexico. Individual selections can be questioned, none more so than that of Sami Khedira. When going forward, they generally lacked both the speed and the precision to break down their opponents. The lack of balance in the side was stark as Germany were continually caught on the counter throughout the tournament. He did admit: "I had the feeling that there was perhaps a certain arrogance before the Mexico game - like we would be able to react at the touch of a button when it all starts." Selection problems The warm-up games against Austria and Saudi Arabia hadn't been good but they had talked things through. Still, Low told German public broadcaster ZDF that he had been happy with their preparations. And, as in the build-up to Russia 2018, there were injury worries to key players as well. Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Ozil having photographs taken with controversial Turkish president Recepp Tayyip Erdogan in May dominated the agenda - but, then, off-field issues had been present going into the 2014 tournament too. The lead-up to this tournament, on the other hand, might not have helped. It contributed to the feeling that German football was on the up. By then, they also had the momentum of a win in the all-German Champions League final at Wembley in 2013. The 2012 Champions League final defeat by Chelsea was burnt into the memories of the six Bayern players who would start the World Cup final. The build-up to the last tournament in Brazil for some players shouldn't be ignored either. Lahm's successor Bastian Schweinsteiger followed suit in 2016. After the 2014 World Cup, captain Philipp Lahm, top scorer in World Cup history Miroslav Klose and key dressing room figure Per Mertesacker all retired.
The loss of leaders, or 'Fuhrungsspieler' as they say in Germany, was a factor. More importantly, this was not down to the absence of any single player. And we have an all-new worst performance of the World Cup list
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