World Cup 2018: 5 Things Germany Could Have Done Differently to Escape Humiliation

#3 The Midfielders could have played more responsibly

Sami Khedira

Khedira partnered Kroos in Central midfield against Korea and Mexico, with Rudy starting against Sweden. Though Khedira is a good player technically, he wasn’t able to play the holding midfielder role to perfection. Khedira primarily functioned as a midfielder who wanted to make the forward runs more than tracking back. With the Full Backs already high up the pitch, it left Kroos and the Central Defenders hopelessly exposed.

Rudy got his chance in the game against Sweden. The signs were promising until an unfortunate injury brought his game to a grinding halt. Kroos and Rudy had started the game well, with Rudy just sitting in front of the back four and providing the ‘screen’. Sweden did not get much joy till he was on the pitch. But once he was replaced by Gundogan, the same deficiencies that surfaced against Mexico came back to haunt them.

While Gundogan and Khedira are superb box to box midfielders, they failed to carry out their defensive duties with aplomb. The story would have been much different for Germany had these midfielders played more responsibly. In Germany’s system, the role of the holding midfielder is paramount since the Full Backs play high and wide. Germany will get exposed time and again if their midfielders fail to carry out their defensive duties.

If they harbor any hopes of winning the Euros, they need to sort out this conundrum quickly.