http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...yers-cope.html
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Germany used to be the great reliables in competition football but the defeat to Italy in the Euros hinted at a weakness in this generation. Maybe to do with the goalscoring in their two main club sides being heavily reliant on foreigners and Guardiola messing around with Bayern's system but they haven't delivered on the potential of 4 years ago. However, it seems like Hummels will be fit and, if he is, I'd be very surprised if they can't take care of France.
Before the tournament I had the semi-finals as Brazil/Germany and Chile/Argentina. Had Chile beaten Netherlands in the group I'd still probably go with that so I'm just replacing Chile with Netherlands.
Never understood the Germany being winners thing, any other country would see them as bottlers. They've lost more finals and big games than any other country in the history of football. Maybe it's the fact that they get there that's impressive but they always lose.
In the 15 competitions since (West) Germany were allowed back into the tournament after the war, they have been first 3 times (Brazil 5 times), second 4 (1), third 3 (1) and fourth 1 (1). That's 11 out of 15 in the semis. Pretty reliable, which was the word I used, and it is getting through to the semis that we're talking about here rather than winning.
What nonesense. Germany have won 3 Euros and finished runner up in three others. They've won three WC's and finished runner up in four others. So much for they always lose. Every other football nation would kill for those numbers. Every tournament they go too they have the rightful ambition to win. Other countries (unnamed) go there with an entitlement mentality and never produce squat.
They've also lost 3 of their last 4 Euro finals too.
You're right about the reliability. It's just the comments people come out with like "never back against Germany" or "22 men and a ball and Germany always win", it's just not true. I love opposing Germany, it's just about picking the right times, because they aren't winners.
They've also never won the World Cup as a unified country, which is a nice stick to beat them with. :ninja:
Likewise, Wales would have won more if we actually managed to qualify. We have two of the best players in the world with Bale and Ramsey and the best Manager in world football with Coleman.
They are all lucky that we get the worst qualifying groups coz we'd kick ass over there.
Any way we can sneak into the Bangladesh or China qualifying zones?
Any German team/formation news? (ie, has anyone here managed to get a message to Yogi?)
He's said Lahm will play midfield I saw this morning.
Hummels and Podolski both back in full training.
Yogi is getting some serious heat for a few very testy press conferences these last two days and for stubbornly sticking to his formation. People are not happy and word is that they might try to save face by using some injury issues to put Lahm back in as a fullback. Nothing official but the rumor mill is definitely cranking in high gear
Where are you seeing all this Brendan? Barney Ronay is his webchat today seems to think Lahm stays in midfield...
Pretty definitive http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3841/...against-france
I live in Germany and speak and read fluent German and follow several different avenues. Your link sounds definitive but the unrest in the background is growing. Several prominent German managers have come out publicly stating that Lahm belongs on the backline. If Germany go out against France there will be a shitstorm of such proportions that will make anything that has happened in say England over the last 40 years look like a fart in a hurricane.
Interesting, thanks. They are a bet at 4/5 for me to qualify but how much depends on the team selection.
Any other thoughts on them? Will it be Schweini or Khedira if Lahm stays in midfield. Can the German media see how bad Howedes is at full back (not his fault)?
Khedira looked OK when he came on last time (after contributing precisely zero in the Group games, imo) but Schweinsteiger is infinitely more dangerous, and deserves the call.
80 million Germans minus one can see it. :lol:
Löw has so many more possibilities with Lahm in the back. It would bring Schürrle into the mix who works very well with Müller. No other team in this tournament is so deep in midfield yet here they are playing one of the world's best fullbacks in midfield (I suppose he thinks what's good for Pep is good for him) but fails to see that Bayern has a markedly different makeup to start with.
Be a very big (negative) surprise if he goes with Khedira to start. I'm pretty sure Schweini is set.
Hasn't ze German camp got flu?
Belgium and Nibali ew singles and double-12/1 & 10/1