This is a World Cup match and will be taken very serious, no doubt about that. But if you don't expect a win vs Australia, who are a decent team though, then you aren't a contender for the whole thing. This isn't cookiness at all, fact.
What cockiness? Why don't you read what others write rather than just come in here and put completely baseless accusations? Australia when playing vs big teams has played defensive counter-attacking football, and they will do the same vs Germany. If they try to play attacking football, it won't end well. Very likely.
Whats with the pesimism? I predict a 4:0 victory for us. Goal scorers: Ozil, Cacau, Muller and Podolski.
It really depends...if Germany scores an early goal, we could see an all out goal fest. The longer it's 0-0 though, the tougher it will be.
Probably not. Confed cup is not taken that much seriously and especially at 2005 Klinsmann was experimenting with the team for the upcoming world cup. Now it's a different case and the main focus will be on getting the result, so don't expect too much.
Loew said in an interview today that he expects a very difficult opponent. They've analyzed every Australia game in the last five years and he expects a team with good fighting spirit and a well organized defense, a team without fear that won't back down.
That is the main reason I think it will be one hell of a match. BOTH TEAMS will be focused on getting the result, not just one. A scrappy team with some talent can give Germany trouble. And that is exactly what Australia is.
sure if you already sh yt in your pants because of australia (!) why bother with the wc at all? i expect a clear win with min 3 goals difference
at least somebody is reasonable here i mean with all due respect to australia they just do not remotley have the "spielermaterial" the pessimism bef any major tournament is typical german though
Speaking of German cockiness: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/794893/ce/uk/?cc=5739&ver=global But I have to say, I saw the press conference and the Article does somewhat misrepresent what was said and doesn't take into account who was talking there. I mean we Germans know that Podolski will speak his mind without thinking much about it. What he said is basically the unfiltered truth without taking any sensibilities into account. I mean during the very same press conference, he told a Mexican reporter that he hopes that Mexico will lose against South Africa, because that would be good for the atmosphere in the country. While many people probably share his opinion, most of them would have taken a more diplomatic approach.
I tend to agree with you. Of course you could say it in a more diplomatic way. But it's right. If we don't even expect to beat Australia then we shouldn't have entered the tournament in the first place. The article is very misleading. If Neill's goal was to instil overconfidence in Germany's young team, he could consider his job done after winger Marko Marin insisted Germany would "tear apart" the Socceroos' defence with an avalanche of crosses and Lukas Podolski said Germany's only challenge would be picking apart Australia's stacked defence. And later they give you the actual quotes: Marin had said earlier: "I think the play from the wings will be dead important, that is our game. The Australians will be playing deep and it will be important to 'tear them apart', so to speak, by putting balls in from the wing. It is no problem having a lone striker up front, we just have to make sure he is well fed with possession." For me there is a difference between saying "we will tear them apart" and "we need to tear them apart". And in Podolski's case: Podolski added: "I am very optimistic that we will win the game and we will pick up momentum for the rest of the tournament. Of course there is some kind of pressure as we go into this game as favourites, but we will go in with confidence into our three group games and we really, really want to win the opening game. We know that Australia will be defence minded and we will just have to try and find the gaps. We will just have to use our strikers and find a way through." You see Podolski never said "picking apart Australia's stacked defense" would be the only challenge.
diplomatic? hey its football the complete opposite lineup according to kicker: Neuer (1) - Lahm (16), Mertesacker (17), A. Friedrich (3), Badstuber (14) - Khedira (6), Schweinsteiger (7) - Trochowski (15), Özil (8), Podolski (10) - Klose (11) Trainer: Löw Schwarzer (1) - Wilkshire (8), C. Moore (3), Neill (2), Chipperfield (11) - Grella (13), Culina (5) - Emerton (7), T. Cahill (4), Kewell (10) - Kennedy (9) Trainer: Verbeek I cant belive he still wants to play trochowski and whats it with the nibelungentreue to klose?
I agree with Lusankya, it's pretty bad journalism in intentionally misquoting the players to stir up some controversy. Wow, Trochowski. Imo he shouldn't even be on the roster. *sigh*
I don't think that Trochowski will start. Klose will probably get another chance. Let's wait and see...
I agree with F96, he should of not even made the squad. I really hope he doesn't start, he honestly offers absolutely nothing. If it's just because of his long range shots & set-pieces, we can put Kroos at RW since he's better than him at both things. Please no Trochowski!
why you people have such problems, this has nothing to do with arrogance, but Germany wants to be WORLD CHAMPION, or at least reach the final, as in every world cup, because germany is a football nation and australia is what? their goal is to reach round of sixteen and that's it? sorry but germany will win this. we are not honduras or south korea or something. we are three times world champion and wanna have a fourth star. 2:0 for germany!
I think Jansen should start over Troch. Marin deserves to start there more than anyone but he would be perfect as a super sub coming on at ~65-70 mins when the opponents are getting tired.
Also my opinion. If Jogi really starts with Trochowski again I would seriously have to question, if he really wants us to win the match... Last chance for Klose is a bit far stretched already, but something which can at least be justified by his former NT performances. If at half time Klose is still beyond good and evil, then he definitely has to bring Cacau. Plus points for Löw to have taken out Tasci of the team though. P.S.White/Blue_since1860: Who is the guy under Schweinsteiger? He looks more like a Rugby player.