Germany have been eliminated early from a World Cup for the third time in a row.
The problem is not a lack of talent or the coach's name, but the team's failure to define how they want to play.
Philipp Lahm, the former Germany captain, wrote in a column that the national team has lacked continuity for a decade.
He said German football has not decided on a playing style, with constant new ideas and players in new positions.
Lack of Clear Concept
Lahm pointed out that Germany have always been successful when player roles were clearly defined and the team had a clear concept for attack and defense.
That conviction was missing at this World Cup.
The team did not look as if they had undergone the necessary process.
There was a lack of control in building play from the back through midfield and into attack, and in keeping possession in the opponent's half.
Germany used to be known as a “tournament team,” finding their rhythm as the tournament progressed. Those days are gone.
This time, the team got worse from game to game because promising approaches were abandoned even when they worked.
Nagelsmann's Experimentation
Lahm criticized coach Julian Nagelsmann for experimenting too much.
He said great teams like Spain or France always play according to the same pattern, while Nagelsmann changes systems and formations frequently.
Lahm gave examples: Joshua Kimmich should play in midfield for the national team as he does for Bayern Munich.
Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz should be used consistently in their best positions.
He also questioned Nagelsmann's decision to use a different formation against Ecuador in a meaningless group match compared to the Paraguay game in the last 16.
Every change sends a message to the team, and that message was not clear.
Despite the disappointment, Lahm saw hope in the team's unity. Players defended each other publicly, and he believes the squad has the right attitude.
He defended the current generation against accusations of lacking character.
Lahm noted that the generation after his needs a fair chance, but coaches keep falling back on 2014 World Cup winners like Manuel Neuer.
That signals a lack of faith in the younger players.
He concluded that German football needs to decide how it wants to play. “Are we Spain?
Are we Argentina? Are we France?
No, we are Germany. We have our own culture, our own brand of football.
We should reconnect with our identity.”
