Euro 2008

Germany’s Michael Ballack celebrates with Per Mertesacker as Germany beat Portugal 3-2

After they were beaten 2-1 by Croatia, many thought Germany lacked the ingredients to challenge for the tournament. Yet now, after their hard-fought but fully deserved victory over Portugal, the tantalising prospect of a rematch with Croatia awaits.

Few people would suggest this is anything like a vintage Germany side. Like so many of its predecessors, however, it is tournament savvy. Germany know better than anyone how to progress through tournaments, peak in the knockout stages and win without necessarily playing at their best. Above all, they are remarkably proficient in maximising the side’s talent and ruthlessly exploiting enemies’ weaknesses. That much was in evidence against Portugal.

Before the game many, including Portugal coach Luis Scolari, had voiced their concern that Germany’s height superiority would be telling at set-pieces. Scolari was emphatically proved right.

Twice Germany scored from apparently routine set-pieces. In a game boasting so many wonderful players, it bordered on the farcical that Germany’s victory owed so much to set-plays that international defences should have little trouble coping with. Yet it was testament to Germany’s ability to spot and exploit enemies weaknesses. Why bother to score goals of the quality of Bastian Schweinsteiger’s opener when ultimately you can score in such a seemingly facile way? Why indeed.

So having been utterly uninspiring in the group stages, Germany, with an air of inevitability, rose superbly to the quarter-final challenge of Portugal. Suddenly, they are just two games away from the title, and a chance to avenge the twin humiliations of 2000 and 2004, when they failed to win a single game in the European Championships.

If they are to be successful, much will depend on Michael Ballack. Criticised so much in his first season-and-a-half at Chelsea, Ballack performed exceptionally in the latter stages of last season, reveling in the increased responsbility in Frank Lampard’s absence to score, create and fundamentally command games in the manner that has created his reputation. In the last two games, Ballack has scored the key goals, testament to his ability to deliver when needed most. Cruelly, he was denied the chance to play in the 2002 World Cup final. Captaining his country to this European Championship will be the perfect way to right that wrong.

Ballack cannot do it all on his own of course. He is aided by a series of unobtrusive and industrious team-mates comfortable in their roles and consistently calm under pressure. Providing the firepower is Lukas Podolski, who has already scored three times this tournament. He did not add to that tally against Portugal but, running purposefully, controlling the ball skillfully and trickily and shooting with panache, Podolski made it clear he will have a major role to play in the destination of this trophy.

Germany are not a team brimful of superstars. But they do not need to be - they are gaining momentum and their phenomenal history in tournaments serves to simultaneously galvanise them whilst creating fear in the opposition. Others may have been flustered by the absence of a coach on the touchline; not this side. Any German victory in the knockout stages, regardless of the opposition, comes with a nagging sense of inevitability, such is their record of success. There is much work to be done yet in this tournament, and they will certainly not benefit from the opposition having such palpable and inherent weaknesses as Portugal’s against set-plays. But with Ballack providing inspiring leadership, Germany look truly formidable opponents.

Tags: Euro 2008, Germany, Joachim Loew, Lukas Podolski, Michael Ballack, Portugal

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