3) Die Mannschaft vulnerable at the back
Loew’s charges are unlikely to exit the tournament for want of better passing and creativity, but. along with some wayward shooting, their shaky defending could come back to haunt them against a superior attack.
As pointed out, Ukraine are strongest when they're catapulting out after halting an opponent’s attack, but they didn't only cause problems for Loew’s troops with that approach, and they were sometimes handed chances on a plate by some Nationalelf slip-ups at the back. In fact, it’s arguable that bar Boateng, their defence was suspect whenever they were tested.
The pairing of Mustafi and Jonas Hector was got at easily by Ukraine at times and if it had not been for Germany's monopoly on possession, they would have come under fire much more regularly.
There were a few examples of poor communication at the back where confusion reigned, and the snapshot that stuck out most of all was when Mustafi almost put into his own goal with a headed back-pass to Manuel Neuer that had the custodian back-pedaling.
There is only so much that can be done on the training pitch and German fans will hope they find a better combination for their rearguard because it just looks too unsure of itself right now.
