WHEN the 22 players representing Germany and Argentina step out onto the Maracana pitch for tomorrow’s World Cup final, roughly half will be fulfilling prophecies made in the previous decade.
From Argentina captain Lionel Messi to Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the team-sheets will reflect the fact that glory for both teams has long been in the pipeline.
The backbone of the Germany team who eviscerated hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals was drawn from the U21 side that triumphed at the European Championship in 2009.
The source of Argentina’s achievements in Brazil can be traced back further, to the World Youth Championship – later re-christened the U20 World Cup – in the Netherlands in 2005.
Of the current Argentina squad, six players featured for the team that overcame Nigeria 2-1 in Utrecht in the final.
Pablo Zabaleta, Ezequiel Garay, Fernando Gago and Messi all started, while Lucas Biglia and Sergio Aguero came on as second-half substitutes.
Messi decided the game with a brace of penalties, earning him the Golden Boot and also sparking a run of success that established his team-mates as the most talented group of Argentine players to have emerged in a generation.
In 2007, with Aguero the star, Argentina successfully defended their title, claiming a fifth U20 crown in seven attempts.
A year later, a side also featuring Ezequiel Lavezzi, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Romero triumphed in the Olympic football tournament in Beijing, with Nigeria again the fall guys in the final.
Six years on in Rio de Janeiro, the 2005 generation continue to carry their nation’s hopes.
Zabaleta, Garay, Biglia and Messi will all start against Germany.
On the other side of the halfway line, Germany coach Joachim Loew could align six members of the team that crushed England 4-0 in the U21 Euro 2009 final in Malmo, Sweden.
Having progressed together through the youth ranks, Neuer, Benedikt Hoewedes, Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Mats Hummels embody the staggering progress made by German football since 2000.
Germany’s group-phase exit at Euro 2000 prompted a profound rethink of the country’s approach to youth coaching, involving the establishment of new football schools and the subsidising of professional clubs’ youth academies.
The results have been remarkable and close to instantaneous, with Germany reaching at least the semi-finals of every major tournament since the 2006 World Cup.
But although the seeds of success for both Germany and Argentina were sown in youth football, the two squads collide at very different stages of their development.
While the average age of Germany’s players is a youthful 25.7, Argentina’s average age is 28.4, making them the oldest squad in the competition.
All six members of the 2005 generation will be 30 or over by the 2018 World Cup in Russia and as Mascherano has admitted, this may be their last chance to fulfil the promise first glimpsed in Holland nine years ago.
“I have spent a lot of time waiting for this moment,” said the Barcelona midfielder.
“This is my third World Cup. Maybe it will be my last one.” — AFP
Fulfilment of a dream
From Argentina captain Lionel Messi to Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the team-sheets will reflect the fact that glory for both teams has long been in the pipeline.
The backbone of the Germany team who eviscerated hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals was drawn from the U21 side that triumphed at the European Championship in 2009.
The source of Argentina’s achievements in Brazil can be traced back further, to the World Youth Championship – later re-christened the U20 World Cup – in the Netherlands in 2005.
Of the current Argentina squad, six players featured for the team that overcame Nigeria 2-1 in Utrecht in the final.
Pablo Zabaleta, Ezequiel Garay, Fernando Gago and Messi all started, while Lucas Biglia and Sergio Aguero came on as second-half substitutes.
Messi decided the game with a brace of penalties, earning him the Golden Boot and also sparking a run of success that established his team-mates as the most talented group of Argentine players to have emerged in a generation.
In 2007, with Aguero the star, Argentina successfully defended their title, claiming a fifth U20 crown in seven attempts.
A year later, a side also featuring Ezequiel Lavezzi, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Romero triumphed in the Olympic football tournament in Beijing, with Nigeria again the fall guys in the final.
Six years on in Rio de Janeiro, the 2005 generation continue to carry their nation’s hopes.
Zabaleta, Garay, Biglia and Messi will all start against Germany.
On the other side of the halfway line, Germany coach Joachim Loew could align six members of the team that crushed England 4-0 in the U21 Euro 2009 final in Malmo, Sweden.
Having progressed together through the youth ranks, Neuer, Benedikt Hoewedes, Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Mats Hummels embody the staggering progress made by German football since 2000.
Germany’s group-phase exit at Euro 2000 prompted a profound rethink of the country’s approach to youth coaching, involving the establishment of new football schools and the subsidising of professional clubs’ youth academies.
The results have been remarkable and close to instantaneous, with Germany reaching at least the semi-finals of every major tournament since the 2006 World Cup.
But although the seeds of success for both Germany and Argentina were sown in youth football, the two squads collide at very different stages of their development.
While the average age of Germany’s players is a youthful 25.7, Argentina’s average age is 28.4, making them the oldest squad in the competition.
All six members of the 2005 generation will be 30 or over by the 2018 World Cup in Russia and as Mascherano has admitted, this may be their last chance to fulfil the promise first glimpsed in Holland nine years ago.
“I have spent a lot of time waiting for this moment,” said the Barcelona midfielder.
“This is my third World Cup. Maybe it will be my last one.” — AFP
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos