'Injured' Germany look to leaders to deliver response

On another blazing hot morning in Sochi, assistant coach Miroslav Klose used the German word "Achse" to describe the core group of players this Germany team is built around. His boss, head coach Joachim Löw has used the German term for "framework" to describe the same group, but right now Klose's words appear most apt. Everything about this Germany team turns upon its axis, including its World Cup fate.

"This core has to lead," Klose told reporters before training on Thursday. "They have more experience and they know exactly what to do in such situations."

Mats Hummels and Sami Khedira are certainly two of those players, although their performances against Mexico were not exemplary. Both were criticized, and the last breaths of frustration hung in the air Thursday morning.

"You can write as much and as harshly as you like. I can live with it," a stony-faced Khedira said in response to criticism of his performance. "But you have to report honestly on the team because it doesn't correspond with the reality of what is happening... and that annoys me."

Quality not an issue

Hummels cut a similar figure. The Bayern Munich defender said that there were two or three basics that Germany needed to execute to be more stable. When asked whether he could elaborate, Hummels's refused to do so before eventually saying: "I can’t be bothered when such innocuous things are criticized."

Internally though, this group has moved on from reflection and is now ready to respond.

"It's a bit like after an injury, when you're really down for the first few days, but then you start to concentrate on coming back," Hummels said. "The first day or two [after losing to Mexico] we were in a funk, but now we all know everything is possible."

Germany know there can only be one result on Saturday, if their tournament is to continue as long as desired. There have been plenty of calls for change, with Marco Reus seemingly destined to start. Other positions are equally under consideration, but how much Löw can and will change in just five days is unclear.

"I don't think it has anything to do with quality but rather awareness," Mario Gomez said. "I don’t think we need to change the identity of this team."

Löw and his team have almost run out of time to find out how good they really are. The core group of Hummels, Khedira, Jerome Boateng, Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller and captain Manuel Neuer all need to seize control, and the rest must follow.

"I’m not a fan of excuses," Klose said. "The grass is too high, the ref is bad, the sun is too low. I’m not the type."

The fact Germany are even in danger of being that type of team is telling. The time for talking is done. It's time to perform. 

"That's the beauty of football: You have to deliver," Klose said. On Saturday against Sweden, Germany must do just that.