SoccerNews Issue # 07, July 10th 2014 Continental/Division Tires Alexander Bahlmann Phone: +49 511 938 2615 Head of Media & Public Relations PLT E-Mail: [email protected] Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover www.contisoccerworld.de SoccerNews # 07/2014 2 World Cup insight German team watched the match at their base camp in South Bahia, where they had been celebrated by the locals upon their return. (Video-Link Süddeutsche Zeitung: Final countdown http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/herzlicher- empfang-trotz-1.2037941). The 23 players and is running for the the coaching staff headed by Joachim Loew watched how two-time World Cup champions Argentina positively toiled to reach the final. DFB team The match in no way reached the level of the semi-final in Belo Horizonte on the previous After the magical night with the historic 7-1 evening, acclaimed around the globe, when triumph over Brazil, Argentina is the last ob- the German national team achieved a sen- stacle on the road to the fourth World Cup sational, unique triumph over the World Cup title for the German national team. In the hosts. Brazil and the Netherlands will meet in disappointingly colourless second semi-final the “small final” for third place in the capital of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, the Argentinians Brasilia (22:00hrs CSET), a fixture won by The national team and captain Philipp Lahm after the historic triumph against Brazil defeated the Netherlands 4-2 in a penalty the DFB team in 2006 (against Portugal) and shoot-out after 120 goalless minutes in Sao 2010 (against Uruguay). Paulo. Germany and Argentina will now meet the world for their almost perfect perfor- Tactical planning and fixing the best strategy for the third time in a World Cup final in Rio The countdown for the eighth participation mance, by both the international media as for the final began when Argentina had been de Janeiro on Sunday (21:00hrs CEST). In in a World Cup final started for the German well as experts. Former German national determined as the opponents. The entire 1986 in Mexico City the South Americans with national team upon their return to Campo coach Juergen Klinsmann, who had lost 1-0 team, but also every first eleven player in Diego Maradona won 3-2, four years later the Bahia. The basis of the preparations was the to Germany with his US team, praised to the individual sessions, are being prepared for German Football Association (DFB) selection mental approach, not to react euphorically on skies his former team: “The best ever German Argentina with many short video sequences triumphed 1-0 in Rome. the historic semi-final victory and to remain appearance at a World Cup final! Simply showing not only the strong points and weak- well grounded. This edict had been circulated fantastic! Now go and get the title, Jogi and nesses of individual Argentine players but also “We will give it our best. Who doesn’t want after the match in the dressing room at the team!“ their tactical team patterns. Set-piece situa- to win in the final? It will be the most impor- Stadium Mineiro in Belo Horizonte, and was tions (free-kicks and corner-kicks in attacking tant match in our careers, for all of us”, said immediately taken in by the players. “No one The 54-year-old Loew can discard the feeling situations as well as defence), which have Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano, look- should feel invincible”, Loew said. “Our joy is of “incompletion” on Sunday. It is the fourth been very successful so far, will again be prac- ing ahead to the encounter in the Maracana not too ebullient”. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer time the coach, born in the Black Forest, has ticed in training from Thursday until Saturday. Stadium. “Germany are great rivals, they play sketched the kind of thinking prevailing with led Germany in a major tournament since tak- In addition, they continue to work on the pre- very well. We will have to attune ourselves all players, despite the fantastic 7-1 against the ing over the helm in August 2006. In 2008 cision of passing. to a tough match”, said goalkeeper Sergio record-winning World Cup champions: “It was the DFB selection lost the European Champi- Romero, who became the match winner by outstanding, but we have to be attentive and onship final to Spain (1-0) under his direction, Mats Hummels, who had been substituted saving penalties from Ron Vlaar and Wesley not be dazzled by the result. We still have that in 2010 the World Cup semi-final again to against Brazil at half-time due to an irritated Sneijder. Arjen Robben is certain of what his one match to play, and we have to win it”. Spain (1-0), and in 2012 the European Cham- sinew problem, will very possibly be fit to play seven team-mates from Bayern Munich will pionship semis to Italy (2-1). Now the former against Argentina. It may be assumed that experience on Sunday: “Germany will become Loew ready to discard his incomplete status second division striker with SC Freiburg could Loew will once again decide to send on the World Cup champions. I’m convinced of that. win the fourth World Cup title with the German same starting eleven as against France and The Argentinians will have no chance“. The The German team were applauded around team after 1954, 1974 and 1990. Brazil. SoccerNews # 07/2014 3 nents, journalists or other critics of his work. accept the decision without complaint and Sabella appears as nondescript as a civil ser- remain a stout pillar in the Gauchos’ defence. vant from Buenos Aires. His gaze seems to be With Sabella peace has returned to the na- sometimes overstrained and helpless when tional team. He appears to have the right he stands at the sideline. When he speaks touch, perhaps he intuitively makes the right about his tactics, it is often not very convincing. decisions. Nobody really knows. When he de- But Argentina have reached a final of a FIFA cided to change his defensive tactics for the World Cup™ for the first time in 24 years. opening match against Bosnia-Herzegovina upon pressure by Messi and the other players, Despite Sabella or because of Sabella? That’s it was considered a weakness. But the success the question that triggers a wide range of speaks for itself. The players praise him for opinions. But the 59-year-old has led the two- his cooperation. Another advantage was to time FIFA World Cup champions into the final leave extrovert striker Carlos Tevez at home. again and has outdone their great rivals Brazil. It would hardly have been peaceful if the very It has been accepted by the very emotional popular striker of Juventus Turin had been on Argentine fans that the “Albiceleste” have jittered the bench in Brazil. “Football isn’t just math- their way through one round to the next un- ematics. The character of a team is decisive. der Sabella. Even the 1-0 win over Iran in the The balance must be right“, Sabella discloses. first round was a battle. He once got the nickname “el mago” (the magi- Sabella about Messi: “He is the water in the cian) at home, but it is probably his tactical skills desert” that have led to the few successes during his still short career as head coach. However, Cesar Alejandro Sabella, head coach of the national team of Argentina. Photo: Firo / Augenklick Sabellas merits lie deeper. He is the first Luis Menotti, the 1978 World Cup champion Argentine coach to allow the star of genius coach, opposes Sabello. “I don’t know why World Cup insight Lionel Messi to shine in the national colours, they chose him. I can’t detect his philosophy without expense to the team. This task has and I don’t like how his teams play”. Maradona stuck with him for almost three years since also rather likes to belly-ache about his suc- taking over the job in July 2011. His philosophy cessor’s tactics. Argentina coach Sabella: is that “if Messi feels well, Argentina feel well”, and consequently he hardly misses any op- Now Sabella is awaiting the highlight with the Contrasting regime to Maradona portunity to praise to the skies the midfield FC World Cup final against Germany. The coach Barcelona star. “He is the water in the desert. once disclosed that he had been a fan of the Four years ago at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Argentina were still closely linked to the name He finds solutions where there are none“, says German team since Beckenbauer’s time. He of their coach, Diego Maradona, who acted like a madman at the side of the pitch, held great Sabella. will have to think up something before Sunday speeches and palmed himself off as the ultimate inventor of all footballing tactics. Prior to the if Argentina are to conquer that obstacle too. 4-0 defeat by Germany in the quarter-finals in Cape Town he took the liberty of making some One of his first acts at the helm was to catch If he achieves that, even the Menottis and threats towards the German team. A contrasting programme prevails in the coaching set-up a flight to Barcelona to announce Messi as Maradonas can no longer beef. with Germany’s opponents Argentina in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™. his new captain and explain the change to the reigning incumbent, Javier Mascherano, Alejandro Sabella is the complete opposite to former football idol Maradona.