‘Well, they’re not in decline anyway’

Martin O’Neill now knows that Ireland’s European Championship qualifying group will contain the reigning world champions, after Germany’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the Maracana on Sunday.

‘Well, they’re not in decline anyway’

The Ireland manager was in Brazil doing analysis for ITV and, on the eve of the final in Rio de Janeiro, took time out to reflect on the tournament and the lessons he will take away as he prepares for the start of the Euros campaign in September.

“I think it’s been a great competition, really fantastic, although I don’t think there was an outstanding team in it,” he said. “On Germany, (I’d think) all the things you would expect. They won their first game convincingly and then they had a tough game against Ghana. You obviously expected them to come through, which they did. They had a tough enough game against the USA. Then Algeria gave them some really tough moments. I thought they looked a wee bit tired against France, nothing really happened in the match. I think as the competition wore on they tried to tighten up defensively; Lahm went to right-back, although unwillingly, I think he sees himself as a midfield player, but they had to do that. Germany were holding a high line with maybe not the quickest defence at the time and I think they learned from that.

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