German Efficiency Pays Dividends

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Bundesliga: Bayern Munich - VfL Bochum (firo)

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This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to cover two similarly outstanding matches: Bayern vs Bochum (Saturday) and Schalke vs Wolfsburg (Sunday).  These matches saw heavily favoured home teams Bayern Munich and Schalke play dominant football, only to leave the pitch with 3-3 and 2-2 draws, respectively.   

At the Allianz Arena, Bayern ended their match having won 69% of possession to Bochum’s 31%—an advantage greater than 2:1—but somehow saw a 3-1 lead erased in the final minutes.  In Gelsenkirchen, after striking first on twenty minutes, Schalke conceded two goals in the second half, and only scored the equalizer in the closing seconds of injury time.  The bizarre truth is that Schalke nearly lost despite having won possession 73% to Wolfsburg’s 27%, a margin of nearly 3:1!   

In their teams’ disappointing draws, coaches Jürgen Klinsmann of Bayern and Fred Rutten of Schalke made the same tactical error: they both underestimated their opponents’ efficiency and desire to earn points.  As counterintuitive as it may sound, playing with the intent to dominate a German team is rarely an effective game plan in and of itself.  

Make no mistake; there is no doubt that winning the majority of possession is a good strategy in football.  After all, the less time the opposing side has on the ball, the less time they can use to create opportunities and score.   

However, when effectively employed, this strategy has one glaring flaw: it can easily lure a dominant team into a false sense of security.  After all, if a team is ahead by 3-1 with six minutes left to play, and they have appreciated a 3:1 ratio of possession until that point, what threat does the opposition pose?  In the minds of players on the dominant team, their opponents are benign.  But, to borrow an age-old adage, it only takes a second to score a goal, and this is where efficiency and determination come into play.  

The national teams of Portugal and Turkey both have fresh memories of bitter defeats to a Germany side that, in both matches, was well contained.  In the Euro 2008 quarterfinals against Portugal, the Portuguese only won possession by 53-47%, but took 21 shots (10 on target) to Germany’s 10 (5 on target).  The Germans only had three good opportunities in that match, but scored on each: one on the break, and two on headers following set pieces.  A remarkably efficient Germany advanced to the Euro semifinals with a 3-2 victory over a stunned Portugal side. 

Days later against Turkey, the Germans were again outplayed, taking just 9 shots (5 on target) to Turkey’s 22 shots (15 on target).  And yet, it was the Germans who advanced to the finals following Philipp Lahm’s late winner that put Germany ahead 3-2.  

I need not to look only at recent record; efficiency and determination have been hallmarks of German football for decades.  Historical records show that, in their seven penalty shoot-outs in international competition, the Germans (West and reunified) have had a combined success rate of 28 goals in 33 attempts (85%).  Among major European and South American competition, the Germans’ penalty record is only rivaled by France, who are 26 for 31 (84%) in penalty shots.  

Another classic example of German efficiency and tenacity is the great striker Gerd Müller—a man whose prolificacy is only rivaled by Josef Bican, Romario and Pele.  Müller was short, stout, and not very fast, but had an incredible eye for goal.  In his day, Müller was known for his ability to, after being contained for 80 or more minutes, score a sudden, late match-winner.  

What’s more, Müller scored in matches that mattered most: his combined record for scoring in World Cup and European Cup (now Champions League) finals is a remarkable six goals in six matches.  Although Müller lacked the flamboyance of many of his South American counterparts, he won tournaments by doing what he was paid to do: score goals.  

This past weekend served as a reminder of why I love German football.  Even against the greatest competition, a less talented but resolute German team will always put forth phenomenal effort and, occasionally, will win.   

This year’s Bundesliga Cinderella story is that of newly promoted TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.  After seven league matches—more than 20% of the season—, the home club of a village of just 3200 inhabitants sits in second place in the Bundesliga.  Bayern, Werder Bremen and Schalke, last year’s top three, are now placed 11th, 7th and 5th, respectively.   

The spread between 2nd and 8th place in the Bundesliga is just one point.  Once again, fans will be witnesses to an incredible season of competition in the Bundesliga.

Clark Whitney