Germany 3 -0 Holland
Hamburg
Goals: Klose (15'), Müller (26') and Özil (66') for Germany
In preparation for the Euro 2012, Germany and Holland offered us a prestige friendly game, accompanied by the longtime rivalry between both sides. If the final score-line was undecided on paper at the start of the game, it remained only that. The Germans came out on top by a large margin, placing themselves as a serious contender for the European trophy. Holland on the other hand, even amidst the notable absences and a palpable quality, seems to be reaching the end of a cycle.
Playing in Hamburg, it only took Germany 15 minutes to take the advantage in a nervy game. Toni Kroos’ cross found Miroslav Klose who laid off the ball to an on-rushing Thomas Müller who made no mistake. With a strong domination, Germany doubled their lead after Dirk Kuyt had missed the target receiving the ball from a corner kick. Müller and Özil combined on the right side of the pitch, the latter delivering a pinpoint perfect one-touch cross onto Klose’s head, beating Maarten Stekelenburg on the near post. A comfortable lead after 26 minutes of play, then. Holland replied timidly in the game but strongly on the physical level. The first half ended with Klose’s missed opportunity to take a 3-0 lead. The second half was a slight variation of the first. Germany dominated over a tame Dutch team who relied mostly on individual exploits for chances. Efforts from Sneijder (54’) and Babel (59’) were far too predictable to worry Neuer. The score was finally sealed after Germany’s golden trio Müller-Özil-Klose combined yet again to score a wonderful goal on the 66th minute. The game then lost considerable pace with each coach undertaking at least four changes.
A formality-win then for Germany, showing its muscles. On a stable (very) high level for the past 5 years, the Mannschaft used its well-known strengths: a well-oiled collective, youth and a relentless search for direct attacking football. The quality of the German players is not a secret anymore and tonight all of their players performed at their best, with, of course, a special mention to Özil, Müller and Klose. All the players seem most comfortable in and with each other’s roles within the national team. As an example one can simply look at the goals, where Özil and Müller swap position with a bewildering facility. In this sense, it seems Germany have become a very complete team, able to play possession, as it did in the early part of the first half, or counter attack, as it did in the second, with the same ease. Germany were in control of the game whether with or without the ball. Another testament to Germany’s quality is the fact that the absence of two of the most capped players, Schweinsteiger and Lahm, went unnoticed tonight. Löwe’s constant influx of younger talents has allowed him to have easily replaceable and equally performing parts. Toni Kroos doesn't just look like Scweini, he also plays like him (at least, with the national team).
The same cannot be said about Van Merwijk’s Holland. If the quality of the players is also undeniable (maybe less so for the back four), the automatisms seem at this point galvanized. The game was overly systematic: the good short ground passes are overly directed at Sneijder who in turns puts the wingers on orbit. If the midfield can rely on a guarantee such as Van Bommel, Holland’s plan B is on the other hand much less seductive. Babel offered much but alternated between the good and the less so; Strootman showed a good complicity with Van Boom Boom, but also a lack of the necessary experience to excel at international level (you do have to start somewhere); the masked Huntelaar although valiant in effort did not have the stature to carry the Dutch team forward. These three were not the worst Dutch players on the pitch tonight, far from it, yet they were all substitutes nominations. Van Der Vaart, Robben and Van Persie sure made their absence felt. Against an all around complete team like Germany, Holland could only rely on moments of grace and glory from individual players, and if these almost happened, it was not from the substitutes. Van Merwijk is not succeeding in supporting his talented starting line-up. On another note, the defense also seemed slightly under par, the complicity between the experience Mathijsen and Heitinga could not make up for the approximations of the wingbacks, notably from Braaheid on the first goal. Leaving that much space to a striker like Klose is treacherous.
If the Euro Cup is still far away and all prognoses must remain cautious, Germany’s sure on the right path to entering the competition strongly. Holland on the other hand will hope to have a complete squad for the Euro, because if they do, their side could reveal itself one of the deadliest as it did not only during the South African World Cup but also during the Euro 2008.
TFO
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