World Cup 2018: 5 reasons for Germany’s exit

#2 Vulnerability to Counter-Attacks

Sami Khedira

It has always been Germany’s major weakness. The team’s tendency to attack relentlessly the focus on technical (rather than physical) ability in midfield has left them vulnerable to counter-attacks. The lowest moments of Low’s tenure came in Euro 2012 and Euro 2016 when losses against Italy and France respectively were sealed after opposition counter-attacks.

There was perhaps no better team to exploit this than Mexico. El Tri had one of the world’s most promising wingers in Hirving Lozano who terrorized the attack-manded Kimmich on the German right. They also had Javier Hernandez- one of the world’s most potent strikers on the counter along with Carlos Vela, a threatening winger in his own right. Low did not help matters by playing an extra attacking midfielder in Draxler- thus relying solely on Sami Khedira in defensive midfield. The Juventus midfielder is a shadow of his former self and this was ruthlessly exposed by Mexico. On countless occasions in the first half, Lozano and Hernandez combined to create chances for each other. It was no surprise really when Lozano finally converted one of those chances.

After the game, Germany seemed to have realize how vulnerable they were to counter-attacks. Khedira was quickly jettisoned in favor of a more mobile defensive midfielder in Sebastian Rudy. Yet that approach only lasted half a hour as Rudy went off with an injury- within minutes, Germany conceded due to a quasi counter-attack after a Kroos error. This continued against South Korea (as Khedira started) where Germany were exposed on multiple occasions on the counter as they looked for an all-important winner. In fact, a team with more quality than Korea may have scored much before the 90th minute. This was the tournament in which Germany’s only (and relatively minor) tactical flaw turned out to be its biggest one.