Feature: Germany still has long way to happiness

Joachim Loew called it a start into the unknown to play the first match in a major tournament.

After a 2-0 win over Ukraine, the 56-year-old German head coach can be sure he was dead right.

It might be fact that most of the favorites in France have had their problems of performing well in their opening games, but things might change when teams such as Germany step up a gear.

It will be a long way for the 2014 world champion to win the Euro 2016 tournament.

Loew chose the expected first eleven and made no surprises in a 4-2-3-1 system.

Loew counted on having as much experience as he could by nominating a defense of Benedikt Hoewedes, Jerome Boateng, Shkodran Mustafi and Jonas Hector.

With a quality midfield of Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira, there was experience up front too with Thomas Mueller, Julian Draxler and Mesut Oezil behind spearhead Mario Goetze.

Goetze was mostly out of the game and Oezil had the same problem. While Kroos obviously was the German boss propelling the game forwards more or less on his own, Oezil was not so effective despite playing in his favorite position right behind the front attackers.

Germany managed to create several dangerous moments, but, despite Mustafi' s headed goal in the 19th minute and Khedira' s near miss in the 29th, there were no big changes until Schweinsteiger struck seconds before the final whistle.

Though Germany had over 70 per cent of possessions, what Loew called "the game into the depth" was not effective and lacked pace.

The Germans had their biggest problems in their defense, while right and left-back Hoewedes and Hector were often involved in the attacking game down the flanks. When Ukraine was counter-attacking, they found big gaps in the German back-line.

Lowe does not plan to finish the 2016 tournament with the same starting eleven. He has nominated players like Joshua Kimmich, Hoewedes and Mustafi to have more options. All three are versatile and can play both in defense and defensive midfield.

Goetze, Draxler and Leroy Sane can change job' s up front, while central defender Mats Hummels and Mario Gomez are needed up front.

It seems like Loew' s work is not finished when it comes to shaping a new hierarchy within his squad after Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose and Per Mertesacker retired after the 2014 World Cup.

Players like Mueller, Boateng, Neuer, and Khedira had to take over the job as team-builders and teachers for younger players.

After a two year long re-adjustment period in which they were not exactly convincing - including an inconsistent Euro 2016 qualification campaign, Loew for good reason avoided talking about his team as "World Champions" .

Loew knew he could rely on high quality, but at the same time, the high standard would not guarantee further success without new effort.

Loew is demanding flexibility, which is not an easy task. He tried a five-man defense and four and three-man defenses and expected his team to change within a game calling the new flexibility a "step forward" . There is still work to do.

Other things Loew has not changed, as he regards them as being vital for a successful team, are team-spirit and an atmosphere of respect and trust. Ten years after he took over the job from Juergen Klinsmann after the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Loew has cemented his reputation as a coach with a "golden hand" .

It is part of his conviction that a team of 23 individuals needs guiding figures like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski, despite the fact that they still need time to recover full from injuries or are accused of being over the hill.

Loew seems to be at one with himself as he expressed his faith in his own ability to deliver and not listen to advice or comments from outside during a tournament.

For now Loew will have to look for the positive things and encourage his young squad to concentrate on the next game and rely on the plan to get better every game. Endit