The decline of England

For years it has been a beckoning question, ‘why does England keep underachieving at international level?’ As simple a question as this may be, the answer is a lot more complex and multifaceted, but the primary focus must be on youth development.

Philipp Lahm

As good as the EPL may be, technically gifted English players seem to be ebbing rather than flowing. Where countries like Brazil, Spain, Germany, Italy and Argentina could line 2 or 3 quality starting elevens, you would be hard pressed to name a quality second starting eleven of English players.

This is only so evident after England were conveniently beaten by a second string German outfit back in November.

England would be best using the methods that Germany adopted to produce the players of the calibre of Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Gotze, Reus, Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels and the list goes on. Not only does this list go on, it seems like the conveyor belt of talented German players being produced is endless.

So how did Germany do it?

Mesut Özil

In 2001 German football decided that it was time for a change in philosophy and a revamp in the structure of coaching after their many years of decline in continental and global tournaments.

This revamp mandated that all professional German teams have youth academies. Requirements for these academies were meticulously devised and included everything from coaching qualifications to the number of floodlights around the training pitches.

Initially, a burden with no immediate return, investment in youth has become more of a springboard for success in Germany.

Dortmund's training facilities were substandard in 2000 and the club was forced to build a new academy. Now instead of simply meeting the minimum standard, BVB are experimenting with new ideas. Their youth teams often train with first-team coach Jurgen Klopp, and the club commissioned the creation of the "footbonaut," a training facility designed to give a player as many touches of the ball in one session as he normally would have in a week of normal training.

Furthermore, the spread of talent in German clubs also means that young players will have opportunities to prove themselves in professional teams. 

Leon Goretzka

Leon Goretzka, for example, started nearly every game for Bochum in the 2. Bundesliga last season (2012/13)—he only turned 19 in February. Bochum may be a small club, but their youth program was strong enough to support Goretzka's talent: The Germany U19 international, who has been with his hometown club since age six, won the gold Fritz Walter Medal in 2012, honoring him as his country's best U17 player. Now, instead of playing with a bigger club's reserve team in the third or fourth tier, he plays in the second division.

Compare this to youth football development in England where, until recently, there was no structure or governance on how clubs or academies were ran.

Yes, England may have finally turned the corner with youth development. Whether they have turned the right corner is another question entirely. 
It took Germany nearly a decade and a half to finally start reaping the rewards of their revamped philosophy, the question is not if only England can do it quicker but if at all.

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