World Cup ’94 : WORLD CUP USA ’94 / GROUP C PREVIEW : Coming to Its Own Defense : Germany Has Been at or Near the Top in the Last Five World Cups and That Isn’t Expected to Change This Year

For the last quarter-century, Germany has been the dominant force in international soccer. No other nation has come close, not Brazil, not Argentina, not anyone.

Those wishing to contest that claim need only to look at the Germans’ record over the past two decades. To say it is impressive is a huge understatement. Consider:

Germany has won the World Cup twice in that time (1974 and 1990), finished second twice (1982 and 1986) and third once (1970).

Germany also has won the European Championship twice in that time (1972 and 1980), finished second twice (1976 and 1992) and third once (1988).

Brazil, previously the best team in the world, has stumbled badly over the past 20 years. Its high point was achieved in Mexico in 1970 when it won the World Cup for the third time.

Argentina, meanwhile, has been a formidable challenger, but even staunch Argentine supporters would have to admit their country’s record, while excellent, is not as good as Germany’s.

So what is the Germans’ secret? How does the country year after year manage to produce national teams that invariably are favored to win whatever tournament they enter?

Franz Beckenbauer, who led the Germans to their 1974 World Cup triumph as team captain and coached them to their 1990 victory, believes the answer lies in the national character.

The German players are not better than anyone else, Beckenbauer argues, but they have self-confidence and a never-give-up attitude that demonstrates itself time and again on the field.

Germany can be very dangerous when it is trailing. In perhaps the most famous example, it was down, 2-0, to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico City, but fought back to tie the score before eventually losing, 3-2.

Now, Beckenbauer’s successor, Berti Vogts, is preparing to take on the most difficult assignment in soccer: successfully defending the World Cup.

The feat has been achieved twice: by Italy, which won back-to-back titles in 1934 and 1938, and by Brazil, which matched that achievement in 1958 and 1962. But Vogts, a defender who was nicknamed “The Terrier” and who was a member of Germany’s 1974 World Cup winner, believes his team has the ability to retain its crown.

To begin with, much has happened since that hot night in 1990 when a penalty-kick goal by Andreas Brehme was all that separated Lothar Matthaeus’ Germany from Diego Maradona’s Argentina in Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

For one thing, Germany is reunited, East and West having come together politically and in a soccer sense three winters ago. That gives Vogts a bigger pool of players from which to choose, although only a few former East German players--notably Matthias Sammer--have successfully made the transition.

More important is the fact that many of the 1990 veterans are still on the team, including goalkeeper Bodo Illgner, defenders Guido Buchwald and Juergen Kohler, midfielders Thomas Haessler and Matthaeus and forwards Juergen Klinsmann, Karlheinz Riedle and, somewhat surprisingly, 34-year-old Rudi Voeller.

A new generation of stars also is coming into its own. Look for players such as Stefan Effenberg and Andreas Moeller to have considerable impact in the tournament.

Moeller inspired Germany to a 2-1 victory over Brazil in Cologne last year in a match that was not only Germany’s 600th international but also Matthaeus’ 104th, breaking Beckenbauer’s record.

Moeller, a creative midfielder who will be relied on to provide the ammunition for strikers Klinsmann and Riedle in the World Cup, scored the game-winner and turned in an excellent performance against an admittedly weak Brazilian team that lacked Bebeto and Romario.

Still, his performance encouraged Vogts, who has not been afraid to experiment with his lineup since a lackluster Germany finished second to Denmark in the 1992 European Championship in Sweden.

Germany’s defense has been Vogts’ main concern, especially with central defenders Buchwald and Koehler being older and less nimble. The latest adjustment the coach has tried is to move Matthaeus from midfield to sweeper, and the move seems to be working reasonably well.

Unlike other nations, which can afford to slip occasionally and not be too heavily criticized, Germany, as world champion, is expected to be perfect every time it takes the field. The German press is relentless in pointing out bad performances.

“The team is always under pressure,” Moeller said. “People expect first-class performances.”

The criticism of Germany has always been that it does not play attractive soccer. Effective, certainly, but not attractive.

The Germans rely on superb organization and tactical discipline, excellent physical condition and a fearless approach to the game. They are always a difficult team to beat, but they can also be a difficult team to watch, especially for those who prefer the fluid skills and unexpected improvisations of, say, Brazil or Colombia.

But Germany does have its skilled players. Haessler, who is blessed with an astonishing free kick, is but one example. Another is Klinsmann, whose speed and deadly shot make him Germany’s most dangerous forward.

But Germany has had trouble scoring goals over the past few months and Vogts has tried all sorts of combinations up front.

It’s not for want of trying, however. Anyone who has watched the team in practice knows how each German player loves firing the ball at the net with all the power he can muster.

Lately, however, not that many shots have gone in.

Losses to Argentina last December and to Ireland last month have Vogts alerted to the fact that all is not well, that the team still needs some fine-tuning. Even a 5-1 victory over Austria in the team’s final preparatory match before leaving Europe did not allay his fears.

“We will not have opponents (in the World Cup) who will give us a victory on a plate like today,” he said. “We will not be able to become world champions with a performance like this. We will have to perform much better.”

Wednesday, Germany scored a 2-0 victory over Canada in Toronto. Despite obvious superiority, Germany still failed to fire on all cylinders.

“We failed to take a lot of chances,” Vogts said. “We can’t do that against Bolivia (in Saturday’s opening match).”

Matthaeus was less worried.

“There is more in this team than we have shown,” he said. “It is important to take your chances, but the team has played fluidly. I’m still confident.

“It is not quite there yet, but we will be where we want to be for the World Cup.”

Brazil is the oddsmakers’ (and Vogts’) favorite to win the World Cup. But when the tournament starts, Germany will be right there.

If the past quarter-century has taught soccer fans anything, it’s that fact.