IT MIGHT have been a defeat of historic proportions for the hosts in Dublin but the Germans greeted their 6-1 win as a soothing return to normalcy.
A fraught build-up beset with whispers about internal rifts, public criticism of Joachim Löw’s management style and the manager’s clumsy comments about Dortmund left-back Marcel Schmelzer (“there aren’t any alternatives,” he had said) had put extra pressure on the “Nationalmannschaft” to perform – probably to the detriment of Trapattoni’s men.
“It was obvious before that the Irish, a humble team made up from Premier League mid-table and reserve players, would be inferior against the luxuriously equipped (visitors),” wrote Süddeutsche Zeitung. “But they were also unlucky to meet a Germany who wanted to show themselves, their critics and the rest of the universe they were once again aware of their duties as a reputable top team. After a while, the Irish were reduced to chasing shadows”.
Frankurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), furthermore, seemed genuinely shocked by an Ireland “who were even more light-weight than anticipated”.
Even if the opponents’ desperate lack of quality made general manager Oliver Bierhoff’s warning words (“we shouldn’t be euphoric and forget about everything else”) quite unnecessary, an “air of liberation” (FAZ) did accompany the squad on their flight back to Germany.
The post-Euro ghosts were at least partially chased away in the Aviva Stadium: for the first time since their traumatic semi-final defeat by Italy, Löw’s men can stop looking back over their shoulders and concentrate on future challenges.
Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger summed up that sense of relief when he drew a comparison that would have been seen as fairly preposterous a few days earlier. “In order to beat the great Spanish, we need to make the extra step and get every little detail right,” said the 28-year-old.
The mood in the camp has improved immeasurably ahead of the home game against Sweden tonight. Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira and Jérôme Boateng went to see a Jennifer Lopez concert in Berlin, and a return to the Schlosshotel, Germany’s team base during the 2006 World Cup, has brought back happy memories for a number of players.
Löw has recovered from a cold, too, even if he appears still irritated by some of the doubts that had gained currency. “My motivation is as strong as ever,” insisted the 52-year-old. “We have nine points, have won 13 qualifiers in a row and are ranked second in the world. Why I should be despondent or different in any way?”
Löw admitted Sweden will pose an altogether different challenge.
“That game (in Dublin) can’t be the benchmark,” he said. “The Swedes function as a team and always make it difficult to score against.”
While the returning captain Philipp Lahm and the German media singled out the threat of Zlatan Ibrahimovic (“he’s unpredictable and able to find unexpected solutions,” said the Bayern full back), the perhaps bigger worries pertain to the fate of Giovanni Trapattoni to night.
The Italian is a tremendously popular figure in Germany after his two stints with Bayern in the 1990s and his troubles have not been lost on the reporters. “It’s quite possible the windy Faroe Islands will see the sad end of a legendary coaching career,” wrote Süddeutsche, with genuine sorrow.
