World Cup Betting: Fitter, happier and more productive

120 Team England / Ben Lyttleton / 28 June 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Mesut Ozil outpaces Ashley Cole

Rather than just reflecting on England's disastrous performance on Sunday, Ben Lyttleton has been talking to key figures about what we could learn from the Germans.

"The key difference between the two nations on Sunday was their relationship between their national federation and their clubs."

The year has changed, the continent is different, but the story is exactly the same: England's foreign coach explains away another disappointing World Cup exit by insisting that his players are tired. It's exactly what Sven-Goran Eriksson did in 2002 after England were beaten by Brazil and yesterday, in Rustenburg, a shell-shocked Fabio Capello did the same. "The players weren't very fresh and a winter break would do them good," he said.

Compared to their opponents Germany, England looked heavy-legged and sluggish as the Germans repeatedly counter-attacked to devastating effect.
And yet this German side, five of whom played for double-winners and Champions League finalists Bayern Munich, had three players, Phillip Lahm, Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger who have all played over 60 games this season. England only had one player, Frank Lampard, who has hit the 60-game mark.

Some England players were injured mid-season and the time off to recover was expected to help them in South Africa: but Glen Johnson, Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard looked no fresher than anyone else. Compare this to the fates of Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose, who scored just five Bundesliga goals between them in over 50 appearances last season, yet both netted in Germany's 4-0 win over Australia in their opening game, and again in the win over England. Klose won the Golden Boot in 2006 and he is [25.0] to win it again. Podolski is [50.0].

While the recriminations on England's demise will no doubt run throughout the summer, Germany's captain Lahm gave a clue about the diffrence between the sides when he said: "We have good fitness coaches who have prepared us, not for three games, but for the whole tournament."

What he didn¹t say is that those coaches have worked with the Germany players throughout the season ­and the key difference between the two nations on Sunday was their relationship between their national federation and their clubs. Germany's backroom staff in South Africa currently has three Americans in the camp who work for Athletes Performance, the company that was ridiculed in 2006 when their methods included archery, watch-making and tractor-pulling.

Back then, each player was given an individualised training programme for two years, designed to peak during the tournament, and it paid off: Germany made more tackles than any other team, sustained fewer injuries, and scored late goals in important wins against Poland and Argentina.

Germany coach Jogi Löw has increased the Athletes Performance influence this time around: Shad Forsythe, performance manager, lives full-time in Germany and liaises with every player and club throughout the season; Benjamin Kugel, also Werder Bremen's fitness coach, is in South Africa to coax the best out of playmaker Mesut Özil, who was outstanding against England; and Masa Sakihana is a fitness analyst who has been working with Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, both of whom scored against England.

"Traditionally there is tension between national teams and club teams because the goals are not aligned, but we have created a culture for all Bundesliga clubs to work together to evolve and support the players," Athletes Performance founder Mark Verstegen told betting.betfair.com.

"Shad lives in Germany to work and interact with each club so there is a more seamless transition working in the players' best interest. One of the things we identified early, in this logic chain of sustainable performance, is in order to have the players at their peak for the national team, they needed optimal environments and communication at the club where they spend the majority of their time. Even the biggest names have said their careers have been changed by us."

Germany are [3.45] to beat Argentina, who are [2.42], but keep an eye on the Method of Victory Market, where Germany to win after extra-time is [11.0]. Germany have the youngest team in their World Cup history since 1934, but the fitness of their older players also seems superior at the moment.

Tags: England, football betting, Germany, Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil, Miroslav Klose, world Cup betting