Germanys chief gameplan involves dominating the ball. Look in the squad and Germany are possessed of an embarrassment of riches. This squad contains, perhaps, the strongest line-up of attacking talent ever sent by a German team to a World Cup. The Germans scored 36 times in 10 undefeated qualification matches. The German attack is multifaceted, experienced and capable. Lukas Podolski and Andre Schurrle made their cases for starting berths thanks to their second-half showing against Cameroon in Monchengladbach last week. Thomas Muller, four years on from winning the Golden Boot in South Africa, is older and wiser. Mario Gotze is developing well and is a favourite of Low who likes to use the Bayern Munich playmaker in a withdrawn striker role. Stitching it all together is Mesut Ozil who, after an indifferent season at Arsenal, is aiming to impress in South America. If Plan A is not working for Low, he can go to B, C or D. No nation heading to Brazil can match their strength in depth up top. Strength in depth in other areas of the field is enviable too and necessarily so. Germany have been hit by an injury crisis at the worst possible time, the latest being the ankle injury suffered on Friday night by Marco Reus. However, just as Rene Adler and Michael Ballacks injuries on the eve of World Cup 2010 opened the door to Manuel Neuer and Sami Khedira, there is a new, eager bunch ready to seize their chances. In the place of Reus could come Julian Draxler, who is ready to come of age. German preparations for the tournament have been forensic. The German football association, the DFB, commissioned their custom-built, €30 million Campo Bahia base 30km north of Porto Seguro on the Bahia coast immediately after the draw. It boasts 60 rooms in 14 accommodation blocks, a training pitch, a pool and a fitness centre among other amenities. It is located in the same climactic zones as all three of German host cities in the group stage. Crucially, it leaves the Germans within a short trip to the airport and a subsequent two-hour flight for their games in Salvador, Fortaleza and Recife. Rest and recovery in such exacting conditions will be vital and the Germans have left nothing to chance. - goal
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 09:57:29 +0000
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