Germany will endeavour tonight to do what I hoped England would try in the quarter-finals: to set too hot a pace for the Italians, to run them, in effect, off their feet.
How vain the very notion seemed in Kiev as England were left to gape at the majestic passing of Andrea Pirlo.
But, for the Germans under Joachim Low, tempo is not so much a tactic as what they do. So they should succeed where England failed.
Low’s Germans have the benefit of a winter break — the case for England’s Premier League following the Bundesliga in this respect is now unanswerable — and, even more significant, a group of well schooled young players who want to run for each other because they have grown accustomed to it and know it works.
They also play — through Mesut Ozil, the prince who would take Pirlo’s crown — football easier on the eye than any in Europe except that of the champions who lie in wait having qualified for the final with victory on penalties over Portugal.
The Bayern contingent, watching after their training session in Warsaw’s National Stadium, would have encountered mixed feelings. But at least their season continues; John Terry and Ashley Cole have gone home.
It will be quite a surprise if Germany go out, for the schedule has given them six days to rest and get ready for the semi-final, to Italy’s four after a prolonged match. They will be aware, however, of the advisability of winning in 90 minutes because otherwise they would be at a full day’s disadvantage to Spain when beginning the final.
A dream final it would be, because the European Championship seldom features two truly great teams at the same time. Low’s Germans are a great team in the making — it may take years, or days — and Spain, holders of both this title and the World Cup, can prove themselves the greatest ever in Kiev on Sunday.
The Spaniards under Vicente del Bosque — who, with characteristic dignity, keeps expressing gratitude for his inheritance from Luis Aragones — have been criticised for their performances apart from the annihilation of Ireland, since which Fernando Torres has been sacrificed on the altar of the “false No9” or whatever it is called when the central striker lurks in advanced midfield, a ploy devised at Barcelona for Lionel Messi and, on occasion, Cesc Fabregas, Spain’s choice in the role.
I am not sure what there is to criticise about Spain except their shooting (even against Ireland they might have doubled their four goals). Their workrate has been ferocious: a credit to Barcelona players, led by Xavi, who fell short of coveted prizes this spring. And they played some beautiful stuff, as usual, against Portugal, with Andres Iniesta to the fore. But they might need a centre-forward to beat Germany and anything less than their best might leave Europe with new champions.
