There was a strong sense of deja-vu about Germany's 2-1 win over Mexico in Montpellier yesterday. The oldest cliche in soccer states that Germany are a side that never lies down and dies. Anyone familiar with German ways but who did not see yesterday's game might be tempted to conclude that Germany had winged it yesterday, making the best of their luck to come from 1-0 behind with 15 minutes to go.
This is simply not the case. Germany are NOT a lucky side. The Germans were deserving winners yesterday, as on many other occasions, when their sheer professionalism, their determination and mental toughness pulled them back into the game when other sides would simply throw in the towel.
Even if millions of neutral fans all round the world were holding their breath in expectation of an upset even bigger than Denmark's 4-1 rout of Nigeria on Sunday night, it was never really on. In truth, Luis Hernandez's well taken 47th minute goal for Mexico had gone against the run of most first half play and the Germans could argue that they should have gone in 1-0 up at half time, especially after Oliver Bierhoff's header crashed against the crossbar with Mexican goalkeeper, Jorge Campos, well beaten.
The obvious turning point in the game came when, with the score 1-0 in Mexico's favour, German goalkeeper Andreas Kopke turned an attempted clearance from Lothar Matthaus onto the post before getting to his feet and making a good save from Hernandez. Once the Mexicans failed to take that chance, one had the sense that it was merely a question of time. In the end, despite the heat and their ageing legs, it was the Germans who finished the fresher. Germany deserved to win yesterday but they do look a beatable side. If they come up against a team that is not frightened of them or their reputation - Argentina, Italy, England etc - then I can see them going out.
Apart from the age factor, they continue to have problems in midfield where Thomas Hassler, for all that he is useful in getting wide to send in crosses, still found himself being substituted yesterday by Andreas Moller who looks desperately off form. I remain convinced that there is too little quality in this German side for them, even them, to go all the way this time.
Quality, however, is something not lacking in the current Dutch team. I was delighted to see them go through in their last gasp 2-1 win over Yugoslavia, for the simple reason that they are a side who always go out to play attacking soccer. In contrast, the Yugoslavs last night seemed sadly shackled by some ultra-defensive plan of their coach, Slobodan Santrac.
You might argue that the Dutch made heavy weather of beating Yugoslavia and that they were also totally let off the hook when Pedrag Mijatovic missed a penalty. True enough, but they still kept taking the game back to the Yugoslavs and players like Marc Overmars in attack and Clarence Seedorf and Edgar Davids in midfield were outstanding.
I think this Dutch side is well balanced in midfield and defence but I would be tempted to change their front line, in particular Dennis Bergkamp's position. For their next match, I would bring back a central striker like Patrick Kluivert or Pierre Van Hooijdonk to allow Bergkamp to play just behind the front line, rather than alone in attack.
(In an interview with Paddy Agnew)
