If recent (and not so recent) history is anything to go by, there is very little that speaks for the idea that the German national team returns home victorious from its first international match in 2013 – France vs. Germany in Paris on Wednesday, 6th February, with kick-off at 9:00 pm local time (live on ARD). It's not just that Germany have been without a win against the French since 1987; there also seems to be some jinx preventing them from succeeding in their first match in a year as the last win in a February match dates back to 2008, a 3-0 victory away to Austria.
Fortunately, though, statistics aren't the end-all and be-all, records are there to be broken, and every series will come to an end. Which is why France national team coach Didier Deschamps will not be drawn into dwelling on the past. Instead, he is full of appreciation for a German team that, he says in a recent interview with Kicker sport magazine, "plays some outstanding football. I've closely studied their last few matches and was impressed with the quality they bring to the game."
The international friendly match in Paris is something that the 1998 FIFA World Cup winner is especially looking forward to. Why? "Because Germany are always a challenging opponent." Why? "Because the team is one of the strongest in international football." Why? "Well, not least thanks to the excellent youth development scheme that consistently brings through new talent." Who exactly? "Oh, just think of Mario Götze and Marco Reus, both of them super-fast players gifted with a great touch who add class to any side."
Creative mix
That German football has developed in leaps and bounds in recent years has not escaped the Equipe Tricolore's coach's attention. Germany's game has come a long way since the early 2000s when Deschamps and his team-mates were the measure of all things in world football.
Since then, the 44-year-old former France midfielder (103 caps, 4 goals) feels, the way Germany play is "a creative mix with the most varied influences. While still a pretty athletic side, today's Germany are a far cry from the rather stereotypical set-up of the past. Now, it's all about technical skills, not stamina. If you look at the young players and add the more experienced ones, such as Klose or even Müller and Özil, you get an idea of how strong this team is."
"German team dominates play"
In addition to individual quality, the French national team coach is greatly impressed by the fluent passing game and variability in attack. "The German team dominates play, with players demanding the ball and keeping possession," says Deschamps. "They usually play in a 4-2-3-1 formation with strong forwards – that's one of their key strengths." The German players, he says, are "very agile and quick on the move, some of them comparatively short but with excellent ball skills who really make a difference."
As far as his own team is concerned, he looks forward to "just the kind of challenge we need to get into our stride for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign," with reaching the final round in Brazil considered an absolute must by fans in both countries. Statistically, things look good for either of the two opponents next Wednesday – Germany are on top of Group C, with France sharing the pole position with World and European title winners Spain in Group I.
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If recent (and not so recent) history is anything to go by, there is very little that speaks for the idea that the German national team returns home victorious from its first international match in 2013 – France vs. Germany in Paris on Wednesday, 6th February, with kick-off at 9:00 pm local time (live on ARD). It's not just that Germany have been without a win against the French since 1987; there also seems to be some jinx preventing them from succeeding in their first match in a year as the last win in a February match dates back to 2008, a 3-0 victory away to Austria.
Fortunately, though, statistics aren't the end-all and be-all, records are there to be broken, and every series will come to an end. Which is why France national team coach Didier Deschamps will not be drawn into dwelling on the past. Instead, he is full of appreciation for a German team that, he says in a recent interview with Kicker sport magazine, "plays some outstanding football. I've closely studied their last few matches and was impressed with the quality they bring to the game."
The international friendly match in Paris is something that the 1998 FIFA World Cup winner is especially looking forward to. Why? "Because Germany are always a challenging opponent." Why? "Because the team is one of the strongest in international football." Why? "Well, not least thanks to the excellent youth development scheme that consistently brings through new talent." Who exactly? "Oh, just think of Mario Götze and Marco Reus, both of them super-fast players gifted with a great touch who add class to any side."
Creative mix
That German football has developed in leaps and bounds in recent years has not escaped the Equipe Tricolore's coach's attention. Germany's game has come a long way since the early 2000s when Deschamps and his team-mates were the measure of all things in world football.
Since then, the 44-year-old former France midfielder (103 caps, 4 goals) feels, the way Germany play is "a creative mix with the most varied influences. While still a pretty athletic side, today's Germany are a far cry from the rather stereotypical set-up of the past. Now, it's all about technical skills, not stamina. If you look at the young players and add the more experienced ones, such as Klose or even Müller and Özil, you get an idea of how strong this team is."
[bild2]
"German team dominates play"
In addition to individual quality, the French national team coach is greatly impressed by the fluent passing game and variability in attack. "The German team dominates play, with players demanding the ball and keeping possession," says Deschamps. "They usually play in a 4-2-3-1 formation with strong forwards – that's one of their key strengths." The German players, he says, are "very agile and quick on the move, some of them comparatively short but with excellent ball skills who really make a difference."
As far as his own team is concerned, he looks forward to "just the kind of challenge we need to get into our stride for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign," with reaching the final round in Brazil considered an absolute must by fans in both countries. Statistically, things look good for either of the two opponents next Wednesday – Germany are on top of Group C, with France sharing the pole position with World and European title winners Spain in Group I.
