The German backline continues to give Joachim Low a massive selection headache before the European championship starts in Poland and Ukraine.
The past few weeks have been quite rough for Joachim Low’s men. First Bayern Munich were frustrated by Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League final and then the German team lost a string of matches they intended to win. Defeats to France and Switzerland in international friendlies revealed the side’s defensive vulnerabilities.
The rearguard is the only department of the team that hasn’t earned rave reviews. Performances of Per Mertesacker and Mats Hummels in particular were alarming. Mertesacker, who is the most experienced defender in the German setup, was at the heart of most of the defensive lapses in previous matches.
Mertesacker, who possesses bags of experience, is often criticized for his inability to adapt to a high backline. He has had similar problems in his debut season at Arsenal where he was brought in to stabilize the London side’s shaky defense. He was criticized heavily for his lack of immobility and inability to adapt to the fast paced English game and was soon replaced by Laurent Koscielny.
When playing against tricky strikers, Mertesacker is always tipped to drop a clanger or two. He is more suited to a low defensive backline setup, where the team is less vulnerable to a counter attack from an aerial ball.
The problem with the German international is not technical, it is more tactical i.e. it can be resolved by a little tweak in tactics from the manager.
Marcel Schmelzer, who was deputizing for Philipp Lahm, had somewhat a game to forget against Switzerland, as he was tormented several times by the tricky Tranquillo Barnetta. On the other hand Benedikt Howedes, the Schalke 04 youngster although a natural centre half, played at right back in the Switzerland game and showed glimpses of talent.
In Howedes, Germany have a good reserve centre-back with bags of talent who would not be fazed by the big stage if Joachim Low decides to put him in the starting line-up.
On the other hand, Holger Badstuber looks certain to start for Germany against Portugal in their opening match of the Euro 2012. The Bayern Munich defender started almost every game for the Bavarian giants and has been one of the few positives for Jupp Heynckes in the season ended.
Badstuber was instrumental in Bayern’s run to the final, and is now emerging as an integral part of the German squad.
Joachim Low faces a tough task of picking the backline as recent poor performances of Mertesacker casts a doubt on his inclusion, as Mats Hummels and Howedes wait on the fringes to take his spot. Hummels and Howedes both are exceptional talents but their inexperience in terms of big tournaments give the Arsenal man the edge.
The former Werder Bremen centre-half would only get the nod if Joachim Low decides to change the system from a high back line. Otherwise Mats Hummels seems a likely option as he has had a terrific season with Borussia Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal.
Mats Hummels is more suited to the current attacking setup of the German side, where full-backs run up and down the flanks, and are often exposed by a counter attack.
The Borussian’s mobility and familiarity with the high defensive back line system, which was being used at Borussia Dortmund, makes him the most appropriate candidate to start at the heart of the German Defense alongside Badstuber.
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