Euro 2012: Joachim Löw and Mesut Özil show Germany the light They sit deep with a solid 4-4-2, waiting for the moment to score on the counter-attack. It is a danger to attack England. In Euro 2012 it is England who are tolerating - ready to celebrate even - functional, predictable football while the Germans merrily pursue idealism. England will follow the academy blueprint Germany imposed following a dismal 2004, but Löw's seemingly effortless redefining of national identity still requires the validation of a trophy. Even in the aftermath of an exceptional performance against Greece there were challenges to his vision, a hint, possibly, of what England may confront if they try to radicalise their football culture. Mesut Özil, the emblem of Germany's dynamic youth policy, topped one illustrious vote following the emphatic 4-2 quarter-final victory but led another less favourable poll. Özil was named man of the match in the stadium, but perplexingly, German television viewers considered him the least effective player. It is tempting to view such dissent as a symbol of where Germany will remain until Löw's squad secures its first title. They are in that middle ground where conservative and progressive thinking collides. It is always the most precarious territory to overcome. England craves an Özil, but uncharitable assessments are not rare for the Real Madrid midfielder, 23. He divides opinion because many Germans are still struggling to adapt to the reality of a national team that wishes to charm rather than chisel its way to results. If Özil is not at his enchanting best, and he accepts he had not performed to Bernabeu and Bloemfontein heights until the quarter-final, his overall contribution is consistently re-evaluated. Löw believes the elevated expectations are based on standards Özil set at a tender age. The national coach promised on the eve of the meeting with Greece that Özil was ready for "an explosion like the one against England in the World Cup." The detonations stirred the soul of the spectators every time he touched the ball in the Gdansk arena. Özil is a different breed of playmaker in Germany, creating his own legacy rather than following the path of those who preceded him. Lothar Matthäus, Andreas Müller and Steffen Effenberg possessed so much strutting arrogance, the badge on their shirt incidental for anyone determining their nationality. Few Englishman will forget the image of Müller at Wembley in 1996, striking the winning penalty in the semi-final before stiffening his back, placing his hands on his hips and puffing out his chest. He couldn't have looked any more like the stereotypical German. Such conduct would never occur to the modest Özil or his peers, who favour artistry and humility. Löw has rarely singled out individuals for lavish praise during his media briefings, but Özil is an exception, as if his manager is ultra-protective of this slight non-conformist because of how deeply he represents his philosophy. Asked prior to the Greece game why Özil had not yet performed, Löw took sharp exception. "Maybe the coach sees what you do not see," he said. The problem is not Özil, it is that his team-mates need to make more varied runs to give him more passing options. This may explain why despite three wins in the group phase Löw still felt compelled to make three changes in the quarter-final, with those areas most dependant on Özil's creative eye refreshed. The striker and two wide men were replaced - the entire attacking thrust of the team altered. A risk? Two of the newcomers, Miloslav Klose and Marco Reus scored, and even against the retreating Greeks the interplay was sharp enough to create frequent opportunities. Özil was the key to justifying the changes, Löw correctly determining so long as the means of supply functioned the individuals on the receiving end would profit, regardless of their identities. "Özil completely deserved the man-of-the-match award," said Löw. He was always there - when we were on the attack, he was always in the game, always available, always on the move. He did a lot. He made the connection between the players at the back and the attackers, everything went through him. Reus and Schurrie are the latest graduates of the German youth centres from which 22 of Löw's squad emerged. The exception is Klose. The national team's general manager Olivier Bierhoff, says the striker is the last of his breed. "A career like Klose is not possible in Germany today," he said. Everyone must come through the youth centre. Whether it's the representation of a departed age in Klose, or the new generation in Reus and Schurrie, Özil is the on-field catalyst entrusted with bringing it all together. It is Löw's midfield champion who is easing along the final remnants of Germany's football past while ushering in the youthful exuberance of its future. Until England can develop such an array of talent, it is they who are destined to sit contemplatively in the darkness after each major tournament.