Commentary: Germany's national team has learned its lesson

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By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The latest results suggest that recovery of German football is progressing from its low ebb last year.

Looking at the team's devastating state in 2018, four years after the glorious victory in Brazil, a turnaround has been initiated, just in time as it seems.

The shock-like group exit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, caused by squad lacking team-spirit and determination and a national coach such as Joachim Loew negligently ignoring all alarming signs of a collapsing team, has been handled.

Loew's attempt to rebuild his overaged and saturated team came late, some still claim too late. Having beaten football-underdogs like Belarus and Estonia wasn't what you call a prove of world class as the opponents were not more than sparring partners.

In contrast, the 3-2 victory three months ago in the Netherlands is telling the story of a young and emerging team heading to new shores with serious Euro qualifiers such as against the Netherlands and Norther Ireland waiting in September.

But excitement and fun have returned. Team and supporters have overcome their relationship crisis. To talk about a possible success at the 2020 European Championship doesn't sound presumptuous anymore.

Despite European rivals like England or France being still a step ahead in their development the young German challengers such as Leroy Sane (Manchester City), Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Suele, Leon Goretzka (all Bayern Munich) proved determination aside of experienced forces such as team captain Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Ilkay Guendogan (Manchester City) and Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund).

Not to forget about midfielder Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) who missed the recent games due to an injury.

Defenders such as Thilo Kehrer (Paris St Germain), Nico Schulz (Dortmund) and Suele might still lack international robustness, but the squad seems to have understood only an entire squad can talk about future achievements.

Others might already be talking about winners and losers from the team's renovation.

Forwards such as Sane, Gnabry and Reus seem current ahead of Julian Brandt (Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) or Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) as much as the midfielders Guendogan, Kimmich, and Goretzka took the advantage to deliver a convincing performance.

But most understand that the new German team's invaluable advantage is its variability. The newly promoted youngsters, all part of prominent clubs, stand for curiosity, team spirit, enthusiasm, and passion. They seem aware of their chance to build a new era in German football.

The total loss suffered at the 2018 World Cup seems forgotten as new tires have been mounted and a new lacquer has been attached. The first steps have been done despite the team's new hierarchy still in progress. Tactical variety has still to be pushed, and game speed must be seen as a natural standard.

The changes initiated by Loew (to omit established performers like Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, and Thomas Mueller) might still be discussed, but can hardly be seen as anything else but the right steps into a better future.

German football seems to have learned its lesson. Enditem

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