Germany’s Friendly: Any Lessons?

Okay. So you’ve seen or read about the beatdown that Germany gave to the USA ‘b-team’ in today’s friendly. What can Ecuador learn from this match concerning its Group A opponents Germany? Not much, I think.

The Germans were in as much of a must-win situation as a team can be in an otherwise meaningless friendly. They were coming off of the humiliating 1-4 loss to Italy, and California Surfergeck Coach Klinsmann was certainly on the hotseat. But the Germans had every conceivable advantage in this match. Home crowd, familiar surroundings, and a completely-depleted USA team.

The first half ended 0-0, with a chorus of boos and whistles from the partisan faithful. In the second half, for whatever reason, the USA defense implemented a controversial ‘no marking’ brand of defense practiced in many rec leagues around the world. This resulted in a flurry of four goals, and an awakening of the crowd. Klinsmann’ job was saved, and a second embarrassment was averted.

Here’s the lesson for Ecuador: Germany has enough talent that, when you’re playing them in Germany in front of tens of thousands of rabid Mannschaft fans, they are always good enough to eventually exploit your mistakes. The Germans had some terrible passing, and some awful finishing in the first half, but once the USA defense began to really break down, the Germans made sure to capitalize.

La Tri cannot afford to lose concentration for any meaningful stretches against Germany. Ecuador is probably not as good as the USA, but on the bright side they are certainly better than the team fielded by the USA today.