The secret of technology that helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup

Coach Joachim Low used a device called "Smart Coach" when Germany won the title in Brazil. Several Premier League clubs now use the device.

Low brought on Mario Gotze as a substitute in the 88th minute of the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina. The attacking midfielder scored the only goal of extra time in the 113th minute. So was the German coach's decision to work a stroke of genius, luck, or the help of a small piece of technology that players can carry around with them?

According to experts analyzing the activities of the German team's players, it was the professional data from a smart device called "miCoach" that influenced head coach Joachim Low's decision to adjust his team at the end of the final match.

Coach Low made the decision to bring Gotze onto the field at the end of the second half after consulting data from miCoach. Photo: Reuters.

Darcy Norman, Bayern and Germany's fitness and physiotherapist, recently revealed that all German players wore the "miCoach" device during training sessions before and during the World Cup in Brazil. The 22-year-old Gotze's stats, over weeks of training and matches, convinced coach Joachim Low when he saw Germany needed to strike a decisive blow.

The German players' heart rate, distance covered, speed, sprinting ability, and endurance were carefully examined by the coaching staff and technical team down to every detail before entering the final match at the Maracana stadium.

In the 88th minute, with the score still 0-0 and the game very tight, Coach Low turned to the bench, looked at the data that had been provided and chose to replace Gotze. The statistics on the winger's activity showed that he was more effective than other players in five-on-five situations or similar.

The German team's technical team is responsible for collecting player parameters through the "miCoach" device, then analyzing and providing the necessary indicators to the head coach, depending on each situation that may occur on the field.

Norman further explains the usefulness of professional sports teams using this technology: "We need to determine the number of training sessions that are enough to collect some standard information about the players. That will be the basis for technical members as well as coaches to discuss the cases in more detail."

The miCoach device consists of a CPU that collects data from the shirt and heart rate monitor the athlete carries, and a tablet that receives the data emitted by the CPU.

Many Premier League clubs now use similar assistive technology, produced by Prozone. Rugby teams and many other elite sports also rely on smart devices to measure and track individual player performance. These devices can identify any strikers who lack tackling ability, any defenders who are not as good in the air, and any midfielders who are passing the ball less accurately than expected.

“Technology isn’t everything in sports,” says Adidas product creative director Simon Drabble. “Every game, every competition, sees the hard work of the athletes, their desire, even their tears, sweat and blood. But we can’t deny the fact that there have been some great examples that have shown how technology can help exceptional individuals become the world’s best, even number one.”

What is the miCoach smart device?

They are small devices that can be worn on the body to track important activity metrics like distance, speed, and heart rate of those wearing them.

This is considered a personal trainer, which can track the user's 360-degree movements in sports such as athletics, tennis, football... The miCoach device can be connected to other devices such as tablets, smartphones, personal computers... to read data about the training process.

Germany thoroughly applied this support technology when winning the championship in Brazil.

Coaches will examine the data to analyze where players can or need to thrive, and where they need to improve.

What is Prozone technology like?

Developed since 1995, Prozone is a software that tracks players through analytical charts of each individual's movements on the field.

Using 10 cameras around the pitch, the system simulates everything on the pitch in 2D animations. It provides real-time parameters, allowing for post-match analysis and opponent activity. Most Premier League clubs now use the company's synthesis and analysis system.

According to VNE