Only three goals in three matches, but Germany’s title aspirations remain as strong as ever

At the ongoing Euro 2016, Germany have scored three goals in three matches. At the World Cup in 2014, which they ultimately went on to win, they scored three goals within the first half of their first group match, that too against a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal.

The triumph at that World Cup was supposed to be the starting point of prolonged success after a title drought that lasted 18 years. Yet, right now, that feels like a lodestone. The Germans are supposed to play in a style befitting the world champions’ tag, which implies attacking for the whole of 90 minutes and scoring a bundle of goals against even the heavyweights. Such presumptions at work can perhaps explain the tepid reactions of fans and pundits to Germany’s performances in the group stages of Euro 2016.

Super Mario

Germany have not got everything worked out. Three goals in three matches is not a pleasant statistic for any self-respecting football nation, let alone the world champions. Only one recognised goal scorer has delivered the goods, and for most people, that was the wrong Mario.

Mario Gotze personifies the weight of Germany’s 2014 win because of the exquisite nature of his title clincher. That he has been nowhere close to producing finishes of that kind since then makes the team look less credible in turn.

Joachim Loew doesn’t have too many like-for-like replacements on the striking front either. His three options for the goal-scoring front are Thomas Muller and the two Marios – Gomez and Gotze. Due to his lack of clear options, team selection for the pre-quarter match against Slovakia on Sunday is likely to revolve around a combination of this set-up. The factor that varies can only be the position, not the player.

However, against a spirited Northern Ireland team, their attacking play was good, a much-needed boost after a flaccid performance against Poland. Better finishing from Poland’s Arkadiusz Milik on that day might even have left Germany pole-axed.

The lack of attacking thrust has, thus, not been a problem restricted to only the Germans. Goals have been hard to come by for everyone in this tournament, except if your name is Gareth Bale. The only way that can change is by creating chances and Germany did that quite a few times against Northern Ireland. With the ante raised in the knock-out stages, such an effort is likely to be decisive henceforth.

The defence has stepped up

For all the attacking flair associated with Germany, defensive reliability has not been considered as a strength for Die Mannschaft. Yet, the fact that they conceded only four goals in the World Cup goes unnoticed at times. No goals have been conceded in this tournament till now as well. In their last 10 major tournament matches, they have only let in four goals. That is a remarkable record regardless of the quality of the opposition.

The combination of Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng has provided reassurance, even when the going has looked tough on the other end of the pitch. The defence has chipped in with a goal or two to provide further relief. Shkodran Mustafi netted the ball in against Ukraine and Hummels scored a couple in the previous tournament.

There might be well directed jabs at malfunctioning traditional number nines and false number nines, but this team has potential goal-scorers from everywhere. Even goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, besides being a part-time sweeper, can shoot a penalty if required. Opposing teams have a dilemma as to who to mark. The three goals in France have been scored by three players associated with different duties on the pitch – the centre-back Mustafi, the defensive midfielder in the form of Bastian Schweinsteiger and the forward Mario Gomez.

The business end of the tournament awaits. With players like Joshua Kimmich being handed out a second international start in their third group stage match, the line-up is not predictable. But Lukas Podolski and Schweinsteiger might very well make the first team soon. Again, that depends on the performance of the younger brigade. Such a situation can be deliciously irksome or irritatingly brilliant. It depends on the state of the scoreline. And for now, that is the main goal.