'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The first European champions on South American soil, Germany’s triumph in Brazil has been engineered through investments, youth development and most important of all, the complete transformation of the German league. As a country, they have consistently faced many adversities, read the World War and partition but they have always been an example for other developing countries. This is solely due to their ability to address their problems and find solutions to overcome them.
Germany was always very well known for two things - grinding out results on the football field and the best automobile engineering. Their automobiles have always been sleek and beautiful but their football till the early 2000s was functional; the only purpose was to win – the method did not matter. However, since 2004 they have developed a platform for their national team, which has helped remarkably improve their club football too. They are now the template for countries in Europe to follow, something which only Belgium in terms of their national team have come close to achieving and which at this stage the English can only dream of.
The Pre 2004 Era
1998 to 2004 were some of the darkest years in German football. They were eliminated by Croatia in the quarter finals of the 1998 World Cup and had a humiliating showing at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004. They did reach the finals of the 2002 World Cup, but that was primarily down to some tremendous performances by their mercurial goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, great defensive organisation and the ability to dominate set pieces.
Their club football was in decline, the attendance in the stadiums was falling, the quality of youth was unpromising and of course, the quality of football was not very impressive either. As a country that was football crazy, there wasn’t much for them to be happy about. However, credit to the DFB (German FA) here, as they went in for a complete overhaul, restructured and reconstructed a footballing platform that is thriving.
Just like the Germans, England too have had a pretty rough time in International football, and although clubs in England have had a good time in club football for some time, the last couple of years have been a clear indication that the talent among young players is stagnating, resulting in the poor performances of the national team. However, the English are still a long way from evaluating their league structure and youth development critically.
The DFB Blueprint and how different it is from the English FA
With Germany the hosts of the 2006 World Cup, major changes were needed at the grassroot level to ensure there would never be a repeat of 2000. The DFB created the DFL (German football league) to manage the top two tiers in Bundesliga. In Jurgen Klinsmann (played a key role in transformation) they hired someone who laid down the ethos for an attacking brand of football. Today, Germany’s possession based football is something that is admired by experts and opposition alike.
It has taken time to win over the neutral supporters but it is all due to the vision of DFB. All teams in the top two tiers required their academies to have a certain number of indoor training facilities, a certain number of pitches, massage rooms and physiotherapists. Also, in addition the clubs had to necessarily have coaching schools for the young talent coming in (all the different age groups).
The clubs that could not afford these facilities were provided assistance by the association. However, the condition even for these clubs remained the same i.e. at least 12 players must be groomed and be eligible to play for the national team (Reus, Goetze, Hummels, Muller are a few from this system). In 2003, there were 44% players from foreign countries in the Bundesliga, whereas now that number is only around 38% meaning that 62% are eligible for the national team.
This is a stark contrast to the English Premier league (EPL) where 60% of the players are foreign. The English FA has been unable to modify the youth structure in the country as they have no control on youth development with the power resting completely with the clubs (at this point the only exception is Southampton, who have been able to nurture and produce young British talents, with some examples like Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxdale Chamberlain, Callum Chambers and Luke Shaw to name a few).
The German system requires only around €80 million from the annual turnover of €2 billion whereas English clubs currently spend more than €95 million per season and yet have only 1% of the total boys who joined the academy being converted to professional footballers.
The ownership systems in Germany and England
The other reform that led to smooth functioning between the clubs and the DFB was the 50+1 rule that required 51% of the club to be owned and controlled by their members i.e. the local supporters. This removed the possibility of a millionaire taking over the club. The rule helped the clubs nurture new talent as it eradicated a businessman or a foreign owner who never would care for the national team. The Bundesliga struggled for a few years as the academies were developing and a lack of financial muscle as compared to the rest of Europe who were being flooded with foreign investment. However, the Bundesliga is right now the most profitable league in the world with plenty of funds and resources.
In contrast the EPL has most of its major clubs controlled by investors from all over the world: Russian oligarchs, billionaire Americans and Sheikhs from the Middle east to name a few. The owners are typical businessman who do not intend to groom or develop talented English talent but instead splash millions on expensive players who can get them readymade success which will ensure greater profits. The top English teams have very few English players which is a reason why the national team has been so sub-standard in major tournaments.
Also the foreign ownership has led to conflicts between the English FA, the Premier League and the Football League which resulted in the abandonment of the Game Youth Development Program which functioned only for a year between 2008 and 2009. Since then no single entity has had control over youth development, another reason for some of the woeful performances by the national team. England who thought they were in the same rebuilding stage as Germany have been content to just qualify for major tournaments, something that is in stark contrast to the German philosophy which is to be ruthless and win as many tournaments as possible.
Another thing that separates the English and German league is the premium that the supporters have to pay to watch matches. The tickets prices are exorbitantly high in England as the clubs look to increase their global fan base through television as they continue elevating prices of stadium tickets. The Bundesliga in contrast have lower ticket prices and have looked to continue with the ever popular, cheap standing areas in their stadiums. The results are there for everyone to see: Germany has the highest stadium attendance in Europe year on year while in England the problem of dwindling attendance at smaller clubs is a major issue.
Conclusion
Winning the elusive World Cup after 24 years is the reward for the strict and disciplined reforms that German football has gone through right from the DFB, to the clubs, the players and managers. Germany resorted to major revolution to excel on the world stage, something that England have not looked to in spite of not winning a major title since 1966. Money is needed to develop the game however; a lack of control over the revenues and profit motives tend to damage local talent. Is England really ready to address the symptoms of stagnation and get to the grassroots to cure the problem? If they need any evidence, all they need to look at is Germany’s envious record during the rebuilding stages which was final (2002), semi-finals (2006), final (2008), semi-finals (2010), semi-finals (2012) and Champions (2014).
