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5 Reasons Germany are always World Cup favourites

By Thomas Bradley Alderman

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Mesut Oezil of Germany raises the World Cup trophy with teammates Kevin Grosskreutz, Roman Weidenfeller, Shkodran Mustafi and Erik Durm after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Mesut Oezil of Germany raises the World Cup trophy with teammates Kevin Grosskreutz, Roman Weidenfeller, Shkodran Mustafi and Erik Durm after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) /
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JULY 13: Mesut Oezil of Germany raises the World Cup trophy with teammates Kevin Grosskreutz, Roman Weidenfeller, Shkodran Mustafi and Erik Durm after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JULY 13: Mesut Oezil of Germany raises the World Cup trophy with teammates Kevin Grosskreutz, Roman Weidenfeller, Shkodran Mustafi and Erik Durm after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) /

There are five key elements to Germany’s success at major tournaments. It is providence rather than fluke which leads to being perennial favourites to succeed.

There is a saying in Germany: ‘A bad German team goes to the World Cup final, a good German side wins it.’ Well factually that statement is almost indisputable. They have won it four times, while being runner-up on four occasions. With five, only Brazil have lifted the trophy more times.

During their history, Germany have won the European Championships three times and finished in second place three times. Hopefully I’ll provide an explanation to this seemingly incomprehensible achievement.

Not to mention how they are the only European team to win a World Cup on a foreign continent. Before dismantling Brazil on their own soil in World Cup 2014, manager Joachim Low repeated a doctrine to his players.

Telling his squad: to trust their strengths and know what they were capable of. Have no fear of the crowd nor opposition. After winning the ball attack swiftly, create fast chances.

Lifting the cup against Argentina was not inevitable, yet a feeling of invincibility took over leading to Germany’s fourth triumph.

In their most recent friendly, Nationalelf (National Eleven), as they are known, beat neighbours Austria 1-0. Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil applying the early finish. A final warm-up game against Saudi Arabia will take place on June 8.

Renovations

In their most needed period of redevelopment at the turn of this last century, they still went on to create winners. It is no coincidence that they were able to apply the five components to future squads, even without the usual great contenders to select.

Youth investment along with cultivation of young teams is the ethos. Because Young boys meet as friends at soccer schools, graduating to win major honours together. Auxiliary team members and starlets similarly adhere to efficiency and work rate regimes.

Click ‘next’ below to see the key elements.

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