German Football Association (DFB) technical director Matthias Sammer watched Germany's run to the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship and although pleased with their progress, he says there is still work to do.
Semi-finalists
The 39-year-old former German international, who won 51 caps, has overseen the national youth teams since being appointed in April 2006. He has subsequently seen two sides reach the last four of tournaments, with this year's U19s emulating the achievement of the U17s in Luxembourg in 2006. But, following the 3-2 defeat of Frank Engel's team by Greece in Austria, Sammer says the country's young footballers need to find more of a winning mentality.
Progress made
"We have done a lot of work and we are moving in the right direction," he told uefa.com. "German football was at a low ebb at youth level. But we've qualified for all the youth tournaments – this event, the European U17 Championship and the [FIFA] U-17 World Cup – so things are improving. But we've not come far enough that we can solve difficult situations to our advantage. We're playing better but we still need German victories."
Back luck
For Sammer, whose role at the DFB also includes bringing the latest developments in sports science into the association's training programme, German teams have not been blessed with the best fortune in recent competitions – continuing in Austria where they conceded a last-minute goal in the semi-final defeat by ten-man Greece. "I think we've had enough bad luck over the last few youth tournaments. All the German sides have been eliminated relatively early," he said.
Good prospects
The man who was part of the Germany side that won EURO 96™ has seen positive signs for the future, however, after Engel's team topped their group with two victories and a draw. "In defence we have a tough player in Benedikt Höwedes. Jerome Boateng always plays very strong as does Manuel Konrad, and up front we're always strong with guys like Änis Ben-Hatira and Mesut Özil. We have good players but we always have to prove ourselves."
Individual focus
Originally from East Germany, like U19 coach Engel, Sammer says youth policies within the DFB have evolved over the last 15 months with the focus more on helping individuals to improve their game than ever before. "I think it's become more professional," he explained. "Everything is at a higher level and the work has become very individualised. We approach individual players and try to support them. Back in my day all the focus was on the team."
Seeds sown
Germany were seconds from taking their U19 semi-final to extra time and, had they kept out Andreas Lampropoulos's header, they might have been gracing their first final since 2002 – against Spain in Linz. History, however, will record them as beaten semi-finalists, even if the seeds have been sown for Germany to become a force at this level in years to come.
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