By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Due to 14 injury-losses, German national team coach Joachim Loew can't analyse the friendly against Argentina (2-2) under usual circumstances. Nevertheless, the 59-year-old gained valuable conclusions on the way to the 2020 European Championships.
A new era in German football is recognizable as, for the first time since the 2014 World Cup triumph, no world champion stood in the team. The German side had an age average of 24.36 years and was the youngest since the Confederations Cup in 2017.
Having to fill the gaps against the South Americans with promising youngsters such as Robin Koch (23), Luka Waldschmidt (23/both SC Freiburg), Nadiem Amiri (21/Bayer Leverkusen) and Suat Serdar (21/Schalke 04) is widening the coaches' options and increasing internal competition.
But since rejuvenating his side after a disastrous group exit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, challenges remain for Loew trying to lead Germany back to a top level.
LOEW'S TIME PROBLEM
With only eight months to go, Loew is complaining about increasing time pressure as "we don't have enough time to set up a well-functioning team." Loew has to update its preparation patterns and is forced to rely on ambitious but inexperienced new-comers.
Only two internationals against Belarus and Northern-Ireland in November and the pre-tournament training camp remain to get things into place with a hopefully fully equipped squad. Circumstances are far from ideal, Loew emphasized, admitting he is forced to count on an undisturbed preparation-stage next June.
DEPENDENCY ON SHOOTING STARS GNABRY AND SANE
Trying to increase game-speed and fast-forwarding counter-attacks, the German coach has to rely on front-runners such as Serge Gnabry (Bayern) and Leroy Sane (Manchester City) to reach the semifinal or final.
Sane's return to best shape after a knee-injury remains uncertain things worked out remarkably well with Gnabry having scored 10 goals in 11 games. Loew still has to design his front-line when Marco Reus (Dortmund) and Timo Werner (Leipzig) report for duty. Both lately lacked the best shape.
GET BACK-ROW AND MIDFIELD TO ONE PIECE
With Julian Brandt (Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Leverkusen), Ilkay Guendogan (City), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), and Joshua Kimmich (Bayern) around, Loew is spoiled for choice with too many options at the line.
Only two of the quartet might be needed when the forward-bound Marcel Halstenberg and Lukas Klostermann cover the right- and left-back positions. Kimmich seems on the good side as his fighting spirit is inevitable to secure the pacemakers' actions in the center.
The flanks seem in safe hands with Gnabry and Sane, with Werner, Brandt, or Reus as replacements.
Depending on the quality of the opponent team, Loew is counting on two tactical systems.
INSTALL TWO TACTICAL SYSTEMS
It is either a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3 for the four-times world champions (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) as the flanks and the spearhead position remains set.
MODERATELY DELICATE CASES
Loew solved his goal-keeper luxury problem by appointing Barcelona's Marc-Andre Ter Stegen against Argentina but declaring Bayern goalie Manuel Nuer as his No. 1. Neuer will return for the Euro qualifier against Estonia this Sunday.
Despite the latest verbal clash with Ter Stegen claiming to be the No. 1 and Neuer striking back having to keep Havertz, Brandt, Guendogan in midfield and choosing the best back-row happy seems far more delicate. In the case of defeats, Loew will have to face new debates about excluding the old hands Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng.
