Leadership may determine outcome of Germany vs. Spain

By ROB HUGHES
No team in the world has more skill right through its starting 11 than the Spaniards. None has a better recent record than Spain, which has lost only twice in its last 52 matches. And no one who saw the Spanish bewitch the Germans to win the Euro 2008 final in Vienna could doubt Spain's class.

But Germany has looked stronger, consistently, in this Cup. So what has changed as the two head into their semifinal in Cape Town on Wednesday? Three things lie in Germany's favor: Die Mannschaft has found newer, fresher, fitter players. Germany is always motivated when it comes to the World Cup. And after losing its captain, Michael Ballack, to injury, it has a dynamic new leader on the field.

That leader, Bastian Schweinsteiger, does not even wear the captain's armband. The defender Philipp Lahm does.

But if there is a better leader in the field than Schweinsteiger, he is yet to be seen. He has transformed himself from an enforcer to a man at the center of the action who, through example, energy and skill, makes others give that little bit extra.

It not only looks that way from the stands, it is confirmed by Sami Khedira, part of the new wave of German players who run alongside Schweinsteiger.

“Bastian is a true leader who does a lot of talking,” says Khedira. “He has a very positive influence on the players around him and is willing to take on the responsibility in critical situations. He always wants to have the ball, even during difficult phases. We complement each other very well on the pitch.” Khedira's definition of leadership belies his youth. He is 23 and has just 11 full caps to his name.

He speaks, Schweinsteiger acts and Germany plays a positive, determined way.

Their assertiveness might even spare Joachim Löw, their coach, from the unemployment line when this is over. At last count, 14 of the coaches whose teams are out of the Cup are already seeking new jobs. It is the regular response to World Cup reaction: The players lose and the coach takes the rap.

Whether his name be Diego or Dunga, the perception is the coach messed up, that he just didn't give the team what it needed.

But maybe it is the players who need to give themselves that chance. Having the talents, as Spain undoubtedly does, is of no value if the conviction is lacking. The coach can draw out character and conviction if it is present, but no coach can convince players to believe if, deep down, it isn't there.

In Green Point Stadium, Spain had better believe, because the Germans will.

Two years ago, the Spanish coach was Luis Aragonés.

Some people outside his camp described Aragonés as a loose cannon, but in his wise old head he knew who he wanted to play for him, and how to get them to express their talents.

Aragonés, for example, took infinite abuse from the Madrid media for not putting Raúl Gonzáles, the top goal scorer in Spain's history, on his squad.

The coach preferred David Villa and Fernando Torres, younger players, as his strike force. Two years later, Aragones's successor, Vicente Del Bosque, depends on the same duo, even though one of them, Torres, is struggling for match sharpness only two months after invasive knee surgery.

Del Bosque is a man whose nerve will not break because his team faces the Germans. But he is thought to be considering a change to his lineup. Cesc Fàbregas is battling a painful shoulder injury, but the coach is contemplating starting him for the first time at this World Cup.

Why? Leadership is one reason.
Spain's designated captain is its goalie, Iker Casillas. Casillas has more than 100 games of international experience, but from his position, he cannot inspire the men from midfield, where Spain's strength lies, to attack. Casillas can save a game, but he cannot lead the play or give it rhythm.

Several Spaniards can, or almost can. Carles Puyol, the Barcelona captain, takes responsibility for the back line. Xavi Hernández, the playmaker, can set a tempo with immaculate passes. Andrés Iniesta can turn a contest in an instant, and Villa can score at any moment.

But a true leader, one who can lift the spirits of a team trying to do what their countrymen have failed to do throughout history? Fàbregas is the one player who might want that role, and who might go toe to toe with Schweinsteiger in the heat of the midfield. He appears born to responsibility. His club coach, Arsène Wenger, thrust Fàbregas into Arsenal's midfield, in the physically ferocious English league, when he was 16. He made him captain at the age of 21.

When Fàbregas came up against his former Arsenal captain, Patrick Vieira, then playing for Juventus, in a Champions League match, Wenger was asked if he feared for his young players against the vastly more experienced — and more physically powerful — Vieira.

“No,” replied Wenger. “Because Cesc is a killer.” A killer not in the sense of foul play, but in possessing, and passing on, the winning mentality. A leader.