When it comes to national team stability in world football, two nations and managers stand tall. Not without challenges and hard times though, but to a large extent they represent success in all sense of it. The national teams of Uruguay and Germany as well as their managers; Oscar Tabarez and Joachim Low.
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez. The Uruguayan side is commonly referred to as La Celeste (The Sky Blue One) or Charrúas.
Uruguay are frequently South American champions, most recently having won the 2011 Copa América. Uruguay have won the Copa América a record 15 times. The team has twice won the FIFA World Cup, including the first World Cup in 1930 as hosts, defeating Argentina 4–2 in the final. They won their second title in 1950, upsetting hosts Brazil 2–1 in the final match, which received an attendance higher than any football match ever.
They have won the Gold Medals in football at the Summer Olympics twice, in 1924 and 1928, before the creation of the World Cup. Uruguay also won the 1980 Mundialito, a tournament among former World Cup champions. In total, Uruguay have won 20 official titles, a world record for the most international titles held by any country.
The Germany national football team (German: Die deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft) are the men's football team that have represented Germany in international competition since 1908. The team are governed by the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund), founded in 1900. Ever since the DFB was reinaugurated in 1949 the team have represented the Federal Republic of Germany. Under Allied occupation and division, two other separate national teams were also recognised by FIFA: the Saarland team representing the Saarland (1950–1956) and the East German team representing the German Democratic Republic (1952–1990). Both have been absorbed along with their records by the current national team. The official name and code "Germany FR (FRG)" was shortened to "Germany (GER)" following the reunification in 1990.
Germany is one of the most successful national teams in international competitions, having won a total of four World Cups (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) and three European Championships (1972, 1980, 1996). They have also been runners-up three times in the European Championships, four times in the World Cup, and have won a further four third places. East Germany won Olympic Gold in 1976. Germany is the only nation to have won both the men's and women's World Cups. At the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Germany earned the highest Elo rating of any national football team in history, with a record 2200 points. Germany is also the only European nation that has won a FIFA World Cup in the Americas. The current manager of the national team is Joachim Löw.
URUGUAY'S TESTIMONY
After their fourth-place finish in the 1954 World Cup, the team had mixed performances and after the fourth-place finish in 1970, their dominance, quality and performance dropped. They were no longer a world football power and failed to qualify for the World Cup on five occasions in the last nine competitions. They reached an all-time low and at one time ranked 76th in the FIFA World Rankings.
Óscar
Washington Tabárez Silva, born 3 March 1947 is known as
El Maestro (The Teacher), is a former footballer, who played as a defender and currently the manager of the Uruguay
national team.
After an
unassuming career as a player and after working as a primary school teacher,
Tabárez embarked on an extensive coaching career which has lasted more than 30
years and included coaching teams in Colombia, Argentina, Italy
and Spain. He managed the Uruguay
national football team from 1988 to 1990, returning to the job for a
second time in 2006. He led the team to fourth place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup,
and to victory in the 2011 Copa América.
With Tabárez, Uruguay qualified for three World Cups, reaching the round of 16 two times,
and the semi-finals once in 2010.
On 25 March
2016, Tabárez surpassed Francisco Maturana
for the head coach with most World Cup qualifying games in South America with
47, with the singularity that he has only managed Uruguay. Tabárez also is the
fifth-ranked manager with the most games at the Copa América with 23, participating in four
tournaments (1989, 2007, 2011 and 2015). He has the chance to reach the fourth
spot at Copa América
Centenario. Tábarez is
presently fifth on the list of football managers
with most games, and as of May 2016, he is very close to the record hold by
Sepp
Herberger (167) and Morten Olsen (166) as the national team manager with
the most games as national football manager with just one national team,
leading a selected group with 100 games or more. This list also includes such
names as Hugo
Meisl, Alf
Ramsey, Mario Zagallo, Helmut
Schön, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Joachim
Löw, Lars Lagerbäck, Bruce
Arena, Berti Vogts, Guillermo Stábile, Walter Winterbottom and Vicente del Bosque.
In 2006, after
Uruguay had failed to qualify for three out of the preceding four FIFA
World Cups, he took charge on 7 March of the national team, presenting the
"Proceso de Institucionalización de Selecciones y la Formación de sus
Fútbolistas", which stablished a proper way of work with the national
teams (under-15, -18 and -20 and the senior team), reintroducing the 4–3–3
formation and setting time for players in which they can study. With the
arrival of the Complejo Celeste, the work were facilitated upon the objectives
of the Proceso. On 29 March 2016, ten of the eleven-most capped players for
Uruguay have been part of the Proceso.
2007 Copa América
His first
tournament saw the side take fourth place in the 2007 Copa
América, in Venezuela.
2010 FIFA World Cup
After a
successful play-off against Costa Rica, Tabárez and the Charrúas
qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South
Africa, first winning group A (Uruguay did not win its group since 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland,
56 years prior). They tied with France (0-0), beat South Africa (3-0) and Mexico (1-0). In the round of 16
they beat South Korea (2-1). In the
Quarterfinals Uruguay faced Ghana and after a tied (1-1), they
went to extra time. In the last minute of extratime, a penalty kick was failed
by Asamoah Gyan, after a hand save by Luis Suarez. In South
Africa, the national team reached the semi-finals for the first time in 40
years, only conceding five goals in six matches until that point. Uruguay ended
the competition in fourth place, after a 2–3 defeat against Germany.
2011 Copa América
In the 2011 Copa América, Tabárez led Uruguay to its
15th victory in the tournament, with the national side winning three games and
drawing three in Argentina, and only conceding three goals. With these wins,
Uruguay became the country with the most wins in the history of the Copa
America.
In 2011 and 2012, under Tabárez's leadership, Uruguay remained
undefeated in 18 consecutive games (from June 2011 to August 2012), a national
team record previously set by Juan Carlos Corazzo.
2014 FIFA World Cup
Tabárez led
Uruguay in its qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, defeating Jordan in two play-off games, and
thus becoming the first Uruguayan manager to do so in two consecutive World
Cups. In Brazil, after an opening defeat to Costa Rica
(3–1), followed by two wins (2–1 against England, 1–0 against Italy), to finish its group stage,
Uruguay reached the round of 16, the third time for Tabárez with Uruguay at
the World Cup. This also marked the first time an Uruguayan team defeated a
European opponent in 44 years, the last time being a win against the Soviet Union during the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. Without
star striker Luis Suárez in the lineup, Uruguay lost to Colombia 0–2 in the round of 16.
2015 Copa América
On 19 June, the
Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol made a video tribute to celebrate Tabárez's 150
games at the helm of the Uruguayan national team. Uruguay played in a group
against Jamaica (victory 1-0), Argentina (defeat 1-0), and Paraguay (draw 1-1). Uruguay
qualified as the best third place, and met Chile in the next stage. In a game
marked with the controversy between Jara and Cavani, Uruguay lost its chance to
revalidate its title after losing (1-0). After the 2015 Copa América in Chile, Tabarez was suspended
for three official games for the incidents of the Chile-Uruguay match, in which
striker Edinson Cavani was also suspended for two games.
2016 Copa América Centenario
Uruguay Will
play in the Copa America Centenario, as part of the teams competing in Group C, which also include
Mexico, Jamaica and Venezuela.
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
With the help of Celso Otero assisting on the bench, Uruguay won its
first two games in the 2018 FIFA World Cup
qualification, the first time since the 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification, and winning
for the first time in La Paz against Bolivia. After the game against
Chile, a 3–0 victory, Tabárez equaled Francisco Maturana as the South American coach
with most games in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, with the distinction that Tabárez
has only represented one nation, Uruguay. The qualification continues in march
2016, with a draw at Brazil (2-2) and a home win against Peru (1-0).
GERMANY'S TESTIMONY
In Euro 1992, Germany reached the final, but lost 0–2 to Denmark. In the 1994 World Cup, they were upset 1–2 in the quarterfinals by Bulgaria. Reunified Germany won its first major international title at Euro 1996, becoming European champions for the third time. They defeated hosts England in the semifinals, and the Czech Republic 2–1 in the final on a golden goal in extra time.
However, in the 1998 World Cup, Germany were eliminated in the quarterfinals in a 0–3 defeat to Croatia, all goals being scored after defender Christian Wörns received a straight red card. Vogts stepped down afterwards and was replaced by Erich Ribbeck.
In Euro 2000, the team went out in the first round, drawing with Romania, then suffering a 1–0 defeat to England and were routed 3–0 by Portugal (which fielded their backup players, having already advanced). Ribbeck resigned, and was replaced by Rudi Völler.
Coming into the 2002 World Cup, expectations of the German team were low due to poor results in the qualifiers and not directly qualifying for the finals for the first time. The team advanced through group play, and in the knockout stages they produced three consecutive 1–0 wins against Paraguay, the United States, and co-hosts South Korea. Oliver Neuville scored two minutes from time against Paraguay and Michael Ballack scored both goals in the USA and South Korea games, although he picked up a second yellow card against South Korea for a tactical foul and was suspended for the subsequent match. This set up a final against Brazil, the first World Cup meeting between the two.
Germany lost 0–2 thanks to two Ronaldo goals. Nevertheless, German captain and goalkeeper Oliver Kahn won the Golden Ball, the first time in the World Cup that a goalkeeper was named the best player of the tournament.
Germany again exited in the first round of Euro 2004, drawing their first two matches and losing the third to the Czech Republic (who had fielded a second-string team). Völler resigned afterwards, and Jürgen Klinsmann was appointed head coach.
Klinsmann's main task was to lead the national team to a good showing at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Klinsmann relieved goalkeeper Kahn of the captaincy and announced that Kahn and longtime backup Jens Lehmann would be competing for the position of starting goaltender, a decision that angered Kahn and Lehmann eventually won that contest. Expectations for the team were low, which was not helped by veteran defender Christian Wörns being dropped (after Wörns criticized Klinsmann for designating him only as a backup player on the squad), a choice roundly panned in Germany. Italy routed Germany 4–1 in a March exhibition game, and Klinsmann bore the brunt of the criticism as the team was ranked only 22nd in the world entering the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
As World Cup hosts, Germany won all three group-stage matches to finish top of their group. The team defeated Sweden 2–0 in the round of 16. Germany faced Argentina in the quarter-finals. The match ended 1–1, and Germany won the penalty shootout 4–2. In the semi-final against Italy, the match was scoreless until near the end of extra time when Germany conceded two goals. In the third place match, Germany defeated Portugal 3–1. Miroslav Klose was awarded the Golden Boot for his tournament-leading five goals.
EURO 2008
FIFA WORLD CUP 2010
In the 2010 World Cup, Germany won the group and advanced to the knockout stage. In the round of 16, Germany defeated England 4–1.The game controversially had a valid goal by Frank Lampard disallowed. In the quarterfinals, Germany defeated Argentina 4–0, and Miroslav Klose tied German Gerd Müller's record of 14 World Cup goals. In the semi-final, Germany lost 1–0 to Spain. Germany defeated Uruguay 3–2 to take third place (their second third place after 2006). German Thomas Müller won the Golden Boot and the Best Young Player Award
EURO 2012
In the Euro 2012, Germany was placed in group B alongside Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark. Germany won all three group matches. Germany defeated Greece in the quarter-final and set a record of 15 consecutive wins in all competitive matches. In the Semi-final, Germany lost to Italy by 1-2.
2014 World cup victory
In their match with Ghana, they led the game with Götze's second half goal, but then conceded two consecutive goals, then at the 71st minute Klose scored a goal to help Germany to draw 2–2 with Ghana. With that goal, Klose also nudged home his 15th World Cup goal to join former Brazil striker Ronaldo at the pinnacle of World Cup Finals scorers. They then went on to defeat the United States team 1–0, securing them a spot in the round of sixteen against Algeria.
In the round of sixteen knockout match against Algeria, the match remained goalless after regulation time and resulted in extra time being played. In the 92nd minute, André Schürrle scored a goal from a pass from Thomas Müller, while Mesut Özil scored the second goal in the 120th minute. Although Algeria managed to score one goal in injury time it wasn't enough for them and the match ended 2–1 securing Germany a place in the quarter final, setting them up to play France.
In the quarter-final match against France, Mats Hummels scored in the 13th minute as Germany won the game 1–0 to advance to a record fourth consecutive semi-finals.
The semi-final win (7–1) against Brazil was a major accomplishment. Germany became the first team in history to score five goals in 18 minutes during the first half. They scored four goals in just 400 seconds and were 5–0 against Brazil by the end of the first half with goals from Thomas Müller, Miroslav Klose, Sami Khedira and two from Toni Kroos.
Klose's goal in the 23rd minute, his 16th World Cup goal, gave him sole possession of the record for most goals scored during World Cup Finals, dethroning former Brazilian national Ronaldo.
The World Cup Final was held at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on 13 July, and billed as the world's best player (Lionel Messi) versus the world's best team (Germany). Mario Götze's 113th-minute goal helped Germany beat Argentina 1–0, becoming the first-ever European team to win a FIFA World Cup in the Americas.
Euro 2016 and present
After several players retired from the team following the 2014 World Cup win, including Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose, the team had a disappointing start in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers. They defeated Scotland 2–1 at home, then suffered a 2–0 loss at Poland (the first in their history), a 1–1 draw against the Republic of Ireland, and a 4–0 win over Gibraltar. The year ended with an away 0–1 friendly win against Spain, the reigning European champions of 2008 and 2012.Throughout qualifying for the 2016 European Championship the German national team faced some difficulties, losing 2–0 against group rival Poland (defeating them on the return leg), and drawing at home, as well as losing away, to Ireland; the team also only narrowly defeated Scotland on two occasions, but handily won against Gibraltar (who competed for the first time). Eventually however topping their group and qualifying to the tournament through a 2–1 victory against Georgia on 11 October 2015 (having won the first match against them).
To the crux, what is synonymous to both nations is that the people at the helm of affairs decided to redirect their nations' football and appointed coaches with experience; Tabarez in the case of Uruguay who made a return to the team and Loew who had been assisting Klinsmann since 2004. Incidentally both coaches were appointed same year and are still leading their nations to the next continental championships in South America and Europe this year, a remarkable ten years of turnaround.
AKINFEGBE HABEEB
08060532466
morakinmoyo1@gmail.com
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