Updated July 8, 2014 12:56 p.m. ET
The Germany defense shuts down Karim Benzema during the FIFA World Cup quarter final match between France and Germany. European Pressphoto Agency
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Over the past eight years, the German national team has reached four straight major-tournament semifinals while playing some of the most entertaining soccer on the planet.
With a cast of speedy, technically skilled players and a touch-and-move attack that created goals in an instant, Die Nationalmannschaft dazzled fans and shook its reputation for playing a mechanical, disciplined and downright boring style.
There was just one problem: Germany stopped winning trophies.
Now, as it prepares to face Brazil here Tuesday in the 2014 World Cup semifinals, the team is attempting to end an 18-year wait for a major championship by reverting to what it knows best. Something more efficient, less freewheeling and—let's be honest—more German.
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"What do you want?" defender Per Mertesacker asked after Germany ground out an uninspiring 2-1 extra-time win over Algeria in the round of 16. "Should we have a successful World Cup or should we play beautifully and be eliminated again?"
Germany opened its World Cup campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of Portugal. But since then, head coach Joachim Löw has prioritized ruthless control over creativity. The Germans have won each of their past three matches by a single goal and shown a coldblooded knack for shutting down opponents and closing out games.
In its quarterfinal against France, Germany suffocated one of the tournament's most dangerous attacks so comprehensively that from the moment Mats Hummels scored 13 minutes in, the outcome seemed inevitable. "We didn't permit many goal-scoring opportunities," Löw said. "That was the key."
Mesut Özil and Germany are attempting to end an 18-year wait foramajor championship. DPA/Zuma Press
All of this is a far cry from the 2010 World Cup, when Germany thrilled fans with a buccaneering style that saw players attacking seemingly from every direction.
The Germans scored 16 goals by eight different players in South Africa but came unstuck in the semifinals against a Spanish team whose controlled, short-passing game was accused of being boring. Euro 2012 saw history repeat itself as Germany top-scored with 10 goals in five games but lost out to Italy in the final four.
Determined not to let it happen again, Löw realized his team's wide-open style had to change. Germany needed to remember how to win ugly.
The numbers show that Germany has abandoned its dynamic, fast-break offense at this tournament, reverting to a controlled, short-passing game that is expressly designed to hog possession and frustrate opponents.
In 2010, Germany's warp-speed attack scored six goals on fast breaks and peppered the opposing goal with shots, averaging just 54.1 passes for every one shot from inside the penalty area, according to Opta Sports.
Here in Brazil, they've put the handbrake on. Germany has scored just twice on fast breaks and now makes 72.6 passes before taking a shot inside the penalty area, or an increase of 34%.
In place of its lightning counterattacks, Germany has focused on a patient, possession-oriented approach to keep the ball away from opponents. The Germans held the ball for an average of 22.9 seconds per possession during the group stage, longer than any other team at the tournament.
And while the rest of the world came to Brazil with attacking lineups built for free-flowing, end-to-end soccer, Germany has been a blast of icy water. Despite a collection of world-class, offensive-minded fullbacks at home, Germany has often deployed a defensive line with four centerbacks to bully opposing forwards.
Going back to a more conservative style of play likely won't earn Germany many admirers. But the evidence suggests it has made them harder to beat.
Four years ago, Germany's wide-open attacking soccer allowed its opponents to take 108 shots, or 15.4 a game. In contrast, Germany has faced just 58 shots, or 11.6 a game, during this tournament. And even when teams have broken through, they've run into the most dynamic goalkeeper at the World Cup, Manuel Neuer.
Against a Brazil team missing its leading scorer, Germany's more pragmatic approach could be enough to spoil the home side's party and end its streak of semifinal heartbreak.
"Every team who comes up against us has to swallow hard," said striker Thomas Müller. "That is our aim—we want to be uncomfortable opponents."
Write to Jonathan Clegg at jonathan.clegg@wsj.com and Joshua Robinson at joshua.robinson@wsj.com
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