World Cup 2014: Germany have problems at either end of the pitch

Dubai: A team boasting attacking talents such as Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil, Mario Goetze, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos, among many others, should be looking forward to this summer’s World Cup with confidence.

Yet this Germany squad bears an uncharacteristically fragile look, with the pressure of not having won a Fifa showpiece since 1990 starting to weigh heavy on a gifted squad.

As if playing so far away from home in Brazil wasn’t worrying enough, coach Joachim Loew also has to find a way around a trio of concerns that could prove costly — the centre of defence, the disappointing form of playmaker Ozil and the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer.

In defence, contenders Mats Hummels, Per Mertesacker and Jerome Boateng have all displayed weaknesses this season, while at least in midfield Loew has plenty of potential replacements for Ozil. Up front, however, it will either be Miroslav Klose — who has 14 World Cup goals to his name but turns 36 next week and will surely only be a backup in Brazil — or talented youngster Goetze, who is brilliant as an attacking midfielder but will be somewhat wasted as the attacking spearhead.

At least Loew can count on top-class keeper Manuel Neuer and ultra-reliable captain Philipp Lahm at the back, plus Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira — if fully fit — and Bayern Munich’s Schweinsteiger as a formidable central barrier, while Mueller enters the tournament as reigning Golden Boot winner following his exploits in South Africa in 2010.

The Germans have been placed in a tricky Group G alongside Portugal, USA and Ghana, but they should have enough to top the pool and earn a favourable second round draw, meaning the quarter-finals is a minimum objective. Whether or not they can go on and reach the business end of the tournament depends on whether Loew can find solutions to the pressing problems at either end of the pitch.

Germany

Group G
Fifa ranking: 2

Top man

Thomas Mueller
Date of birth: September 13, 1989 (age 24)
Place of birth: Weilheim
Height: 1.86m
Weight: 74kg
Playing position: Forward
International caps: 48. Goals: 17
Club: Bayern Munich 

Coach

Joachim Loew
Date of birth: February 3, 1960 (age 54)
Place of birth: Schonau
Manager since: July 2006
Record: P104 W70 D19 L15 – 67% win ratio 

Best 11 (4-2-3-1)

Neuer; Lahm, Hummels, Mertesacker, Boateng; Khedira, Schweinsteiger; Kroos, Ozil, Mueller; Goetze

Squad

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover 96)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio)

Group opponents

USA
Ghana
Portugal

Qualifying campaign

Topped Uefa Group C with 28 points from a possible 30 — their only blip being a 4-4 draw at home to runners-up Sweden.

World Cup history

First tournament: 1934 (in Italy)
Appearances (before 2014): 17
Best finish: Winners (1954, 74, 1990)

Pros

• Boast an enviable crop of attacking midfielders, with classy performers such as Marco Reus and Andre Shuerrle struggling to make it into Joachim Loew’s starting XI.
• Squad has the perfect blend of youth and experience, with many stars at their peak for this tournament.
• Backbone of the team built around Bayern Munich players, who have enjoyed huge success in last two seasons.

Cons

• The centre of defensive has looked vulnerable at times, with all candidates for that position possessing flaws that could be exploited.
• Asides from joint-record goalscorer Miroslav Klose, who will be 36 when the tournament starts, Germany lack an out-and-out striker and may have to play attcking midfielder Mario Goetze up front.
• The fact they have not won the World Cup since 1990 is starting to hang heavy on the German players and coach.