Pre-match: (EURO 2012 - Group Stage - Match 3) Denmark vs. Germany 06.17.2012 [R]

Rest Schweinsteiger, Gomez and Podolski, and still get a 2-0 win.

 

Maybe if the game is settled we can finally give reus and schurrle some match action?

And maybe we can rest piggy? Or someone who needs it.

 

I think the Danes are NOT to be underestimated. They beat the Dutch, they could've easily tied the Portuguese who wre up by 2-0 for crying out loud.

They are disciplined, hungry and passionate. It's not going to be a walk in the park I think, because they are looking to win this game.

I also can see why Loew doesn't want to make any major changes or subs. This group is so tight and so close. I mean the difference between 1st and elimination is as thin as red C hair
He doesn't want to risk it and be knocked out of the group all together, but on the other hand we have to get our rising stars match experience.

I hoping we sub some players next game and get our squad more involved.

 

First and foremost, I hope we "rest" Podolski. I also think we should rest him a couple of games after that, as well.

Other than that, I hope Löw doesn't make too many major changes - the Danes are playing well and we need at least a draw to guarantee top spot, I don't think we can go into this one with the B-team.

 

I agree we should "rest" Podolski.

Other than that Bender to replace the suspended Boateng and leave everything else the same.

 

I certainly hope Carballo's been told to reign it in a bit - I definitely don't want to see another Spanish ref almost ruin our tournament. On the other hand, we have played in a fairly clean manner thus far (both Portugal and Holland committed more fouls in our games than us), so if we continue like that, we may not have much to worry about either way.

 

It's always better to be cautious and respect your opponent, then thinking we can beat them easily.

Every game and team we play, we have to play as if they can beat us. That way we play our hardest for 9mins and concentrate fully.

If you see the previous big wins we had, our guys played their heart out, with full concentration and discipline.

 

Well, the Danes are 9th in the FIFA world ranking (ok, it is the FIFA world ranking where in the past even "football dyslexic" teams have been in the top 10), but still our team must work to get a good result.

 

I'll expect lots of yellow cards from that ref and one of them will bite us in the arse in the quarter final when important player XY receives another yellow and gets suspended for the game vs Spain/Italy/France.

 

Podolski

 

That would require to show up on the field and actually attempt a tackle.

 

This pattern of the past 3 tournaments is getting quite old. Luckily we have more talent this time, but a loss of Hummels or Badstuber for a match against Spain/Italy/France would be massive.

 

I said important.

 

How can the UEFA give this idiot a second match? For his performance at Poland - Greece he got the worst possible mark by international sport press.

 

http://www.bundesliga.de/en/em2012/news/214608.php

 

That bastard I hate him, he needs to be fired!!

Something like that

 

I agree with Löw, for the most part - especially about not making too many changes. I heartily disagree about Poldi, though, but we all know he loves Poldi and is loathe to bench him. Hope he's at least ready to sub the Prinz if he doesn't perform for the third game in a row...

 

As I said before, that is the reason Podolski plays ahead of Schurrle/Reus. He tracks back a lot. He is very very underrated in that aspect. Before he wasnt good defensively but he's improved in the last 2-3 years.

 

The Danes will be up for this. They troubled both Portugal and Netherlands so we need to be cautious. I think we have the quality to punish them but it won't be as easy as it's suspected on 'paper'

Think we will miss Boateng. He's been one of the best players in the tournament. It will depend how Loew lines up. I think he will line up cautiously but I would still like us to take some risks late on and bring in Reus or Schuerrle.

 

First of all, that's overstated. The game was largely won in midfield so there was less emphasis on the flanks. That gave Podolski more time to come back instead of go forward, which he didn't do well when asked of him. Moreover he doesn't do this consistently AT ALL. I don't know where this myth comes from. Running is not the same as knowing when to track back, making the right tackles and easing transitions, all of which he has shown to be poor at on this stage over 20 matches now.

Still, I think it speaks volumes that the manager 'praised' his defensive game, saying nothing about the rest of it, simply because it hasn't been there. Loew isn't stupid. He is aware of Podolski's shortcomings. He isn't saying anything out of line or praising his attacking game or intelligence because it's not there. Simply put, his drone role is what Loew is comfortable with and is simply not willing to take the necessary risks until it is exposed in a major way. I for one hope that doesn't come.

 

"Two top scorers are Mario but neither of them are Italian. Why always me?" - Mario Balotelli