体坛英语新闻：New problems for Germany as Loew desperately looks for a leader and pace setter

BERLIN, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Finding the right team for the 2018 World Cup might turn out to be much harder than expected for the coach of the German national team Joachim Loew.

Beating the Czech Republic away 2-1 and keeping their 100 percent record after seven games speaks of exceptional quality. But the game showed that Loew faces a lot of work trying to combine the established 2014 World Cup winners and the young challengers who won the 2017 Confederations Cup.

"I haven't seen so many lost balls in ten years. It's not the football we normally produce," German defender Mats Hummels commented. While Loew used the game in Prague for new experiments, the 57-year-old created new problems and new discussions revolving around the Bayern Munich striker Thomas Mueller and his tactical approach.

"I wanted to operate with a high offense and create as many chances as possible. But we couldn't gain space in the opponent's half," Loew admitted. Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) and Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) scored the German goals.

Loew's attempt failed, and Germany also faces a leadership problem as they lacked a pivot midfielder.

2017 Champions League winner Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) was overburdened, trying to structure the game in both defense and offense as he was alone in defensive midfield. Striker Mueller, placed right behind the attacking line, could not inspire the attacking game. He was supposed to supply passes for the spearheads Werner and Lars Stindl (Borussia Moenchengladbach) or teammates along the flanks.

Kroos had to operate in front of a four-man defense that for the majority of the time became a back-row of two as right back Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) and left back Jonas Hector (FC Cologne) moved up to midfield along the flanks. Mesut Oezil (Arsenal), Mueller and Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen) formed a midfield chain near the opponent's box but were unable to create enough speed to open up the clever Czech defense block.

Mueller in particular was too far away from the Czech goal to take advantage of his special abilities finding spaces to foray into the opponent's defense. Loew was reminded of the problems a player like Mueller can create for a coach. The player has recently not been selected by his club coach Carlo Ancelotti, as the 27-year-old does not fit into his tactical system. Mueller is regarded to be an uNPRedictable factor that is difficult to build a reliable game strategy around.

Mueller is one of the established German forces that Loew has to fit together with the emerging German youngsters. Next Monday, when Germany can book its 2018 World Cup ticket by beating Norway in Stuttgart, Loew will change his lineup and get back to midfield with two in front of the back line. Bayern Munich's Sebastian Rudy and Schalke's Leon Goretzka are potential candidates.

2014 world champion Sami Khedira (Juventus Turin) was missing due to injury and lacks, even when fully fit, the required speed, but delivers the needed experience. Other established team members like Ilkay Guendogan (Manchester City) or Mario Goetze (Dortmund) are not yet match fit and it is uncertain whether they can return in time.

Dortmund striker Andre Schuerrle was also not included. Julian Draxler (Paris St Germain) might not get enough playing time at his French club as the side recently signed Brazil star Neymar Junior and top French talent Kylian Mbappe.

For Loew, the situation is far from comfortable. The German coach is trying to implement new tactical options as he expects future opponents to play a defensive game. His biggest task though is to combine two generations and create more speed. Germany's latest match indicated that it will not be easy for a team and their coach to make their dream come true of successfully defending their World Cup title.