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Low’s mastery of decision-making won Germany the Cup

Life is full of choices, and so are World Cups.

Low had a big part to play in Germany’s triumph. Photo: AP

Low had a big part to play in Germany’s triumph. Photo: AP

Life is full of choices, and so are World Cups.

We’ve barely taken any notice but players have been constantly deciding when to pass, shoot, tackle, run and stand still. A coach’s mind never stops racing too. Who should I pick or drop or put in, and when’s best to change it?

Decisions, decisions, decisions. The stream is never ending.

While talent and teamwork get the credit for being the difference between winning and losing, opting to do the right thing at the right time (or vice-versa) is often the most decisive attribute. That’s where the 20th World Cup final was won and lost.

Joachim Low had three big calls to make at the Maracana and, thankfully for Germany, he got all spot on.

Discovering Sami Khedira was injured just minutes before kick-off, the easiest way out would be to get Per Mertesacker ready for action. Instead, he plumped for Christoph Kramer, a player yet to make his competitive debut for his country. But Kramer for Khedira would cause the least disruption to his tactical plan.

When a concussed Kramer left the field after half an hour, and with Germany struggling to control the game, Low again resisted the urge to bring Mertesacker on.

Instead, on came Andre Schurrle down the left, freeing Mesut Ozil of his defensive shackles to float around in a No 10 role. In one smart move, Germany’s boss had added pace, width, defensive stability and creativity. It was an instant upgrade. There was nothing pre-planned about it. He simply reacted to what he saw.

Low’s final, most pivotal call was of course, the game changer: Who should replace the tiring Miroslav Klose? Mario Gotze would add a welcome touch of springiness to his side’s attack at just the time when Argentina were beginning to tire.

In the opposite dugout, Alejandro Sabella wasn’t quite as astute.

Leaving the half-fit Sergio Aguero on the bench was a brave but correct call and with his replacement, Ezequiel Lavezzi, being Argentina’s best player in the first period, it was paying off. So why did he replace Lavezzi with Aguero at half-time?

Losing a man who was rattling the German back four with forceful and direct running, Sabella gained nothing aside from the Manchester City star’s favour by making the change.

Removing Higuain, a world-class finisher, for the rat-tailed Rodrigo Palacio 12 minutes from time was another bad call by Sabella. While it hadn’t been a great evening for the Napoli hit man, he was only ever one more chance away from redemption for his awful first-half miss. Weakening his hand by substituting the best chance taker he had was a fatal error.

Although Low had more options up his sleeve than Sabella, it still takes skill and nerve to make the right decisions at the right time.

The history books will say Mario Gotze won Germany the 2014 World Cup, but the part his manager played should never be forgotten.

Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of English football. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for publications around the world. Follow him on Twitter @adrianjclarke

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