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

Oh jeez, apologies. That should have been posted in the other teams thread.

 

hope Podolski will be "rested" but knowing Löw's affection for him ... and it will be his 100st game for Germany I think.. makes it even more unlikely Löw won't give it to him

 

Let's do this!

 

Denmark are decent, but we have found our legs and should win this one by a 2-0 score or so. Hopefully Bender does a good job replacing Boateng, else the Danes may actually sneak one past us. They have been solid on the wings this tournament, unlike us.

Funny how you seem unable to give Podolski any credit. His defensive game is one thing that he has brought for Germany the last two matches and it has been very good, but you downplay that and focus on his lack of offense so far. How typical of you.

By the way, nobody not named Gomez has managed to score for us as of yet. Im hoping that changes against Denmark.

 

I think that Jogi is correct to put defensive organization on a pedestal. It is the most important component of winning championships.

One of my favorite quotes is Hitzfeld when asked who he thinks will win the Bundesliga - "The team with the best organization in defense." Bayern won that year and set a record for least goals conceded.

That being said, I think we will need some more firepower and attacking prowess to actually win this thing. If we try to put up a defensive wall against Spain like we did in the 2nd half against Holland things could turn out very badly.

 

How much tracking back does one have to do when playing ahead of Lahm , the best LB/RB on the planet, much less against the Danes.

He's a striker playing on the wing to track back on defense. Got it.

 

My only and I mean only complaint regarding the match against Holland was that after going up two goals the German team lacked the desire to score a third goal, dispite controlling most if not all the possesion between about the 55th to 65th minutes of the match. Possesion was all Germany and Holland looked beaten. instead of pressing for a 3rd goal during those long periods of possesion Germany was too content to ping the ball around the mid field in hopes off killing of the match.

 

I'm sorry but any other player can contribute "defensively" in this setup. That's not all our wingers are there for even in this adjusted system. It's time to accept the fact that Podolski is not useful or contributing to this squad anymore. He hasn't for two years now. The fact that he is still in there is inexcusable for our standards and with our depth. Plain and simple.

 

In terms of sheer cruelty, it would be if Holland beat the Portugal 4-1 or by some such margin and Germany are leading Denmark by 1-0 and concede a goal in the last second of injury time.

 

When you have guys like Reus, Schurrle, and Gotze that can play wide, it is inexcusable that Podolski has played 180 minutes more than those 3 combined so far

 

I don't expect Gotze to feature that much, except if we are winning 3-0 and in the 70th minute he replaces Oezil or something. Schuerrle I want to see, because we know what he's capable of and can score, his form has been superb of late and this can carry on into the tournament.

However, looking forward to seeing Bender as a right back. No reason why he can't do a fantastic job, if he can do more than boateng offensively while being as reliable at the back - no reason why we cant finally have competition for that spot.

 

Don't rest Gomez, he needs to maintain that rhythm. Podolski needs to get dropped. Kroos could start, he has that element of brilliance thats so young and vital to our squad.

 

Agreed 100%. Podolski has lost the ball so many times, I've grown tired of his game. His direct style only works when Oezil is at his brilliant best, and by the same argument schuerrle can replicate his form.

 

Anything then a win would be dissapointing IMO. Im expecting Bender to start for Jerome and Jogi probably even resting Schweini for Kroos. I really hope Jogi finally realises, that Podolski is nowhere near his best at this EC...he HAS to go, ASAP. I´d even say, we should also replace Müller for this one, just to see how it´ll work out with an Schürrle/Reus Axe.

 

----------------------Neuer
Bender----Hummels----Badstuber----Lahm
------------Schweini-----Guendogan
Mueller-------------Oezil-------------Reus
------------------Gomez/Klose

Goetze on maybe as early as half time for Oezil - quite experimental and very attacking; the team needs the practise.

 

I think it would be a stretch if he makes much changes but maybe something like this.

Bender-hummels-badstuber-Lahm
-----------kroos-----khadira----------
Reus---------Ozil--------------schurrle
----------------Gomez------------------

*sub Ozil for gotze 60+
*klose for Gomez 70+
*badstuber for X (yellow card)

I would hope a group like this can ATLEAST get a tie..

 

I want a draw. It would guarantee us first place, and knock Holland out at the same time. It really cant get better than this.

 

meh, Denmark advancing from our group would give Spain an easier route to the final (assuming Russia, Germany, Spain and France top their groups). England/Sweden/Ukraine in the quarters, Russia/Denmark in the semis. Portugal would be a tougher opponent for Spain than those teams imo, they gave them a good fight two years ago and beat a full strength Spain team 4-0 in a friendly.

 

I have to say that I enjoy watching you carry the torch for Toni. I can't keep it up, but you keep on keepin on!
It's been "reported" by Goal.com that he is unsatisfied with his benchwarming position. But yes, if there's going to be some changes made to this team I would like to see Kroos and Schurrle on. I know people have been less than thrilled with Muller, but I think we'll start to see him play himself to form. I just hope it's not too late.

 

Mueller's movement with and without the ball is integral to our success. The first goal came from a brilliant run by Mueller into the space created by Oezil. He made then found Schweini in an unmarked position with a smart pass into the center.

 

I've come to the conclusion that Podolski is the equivalent of Löw's lucky socks. He's not going to change for fear of losing his mojo.

It's also a great analogy because Podolski is starting to show more holes and has been smelling things up a bit more with each game.

 

I think Löw had a lucky sweater in 2010 - not sure how bad that smelled by the end of the tournament, but it didn't get us the title, that's for sure. All the more reason to bench Poldi, I think.

 

Gomez cannot be rested now because he is a confidence and rhythm player. He could well score another couple on Sunday. As for Podolski, he just needs one more match to reach a hundred caps - and this one will be a far better option than a pressure quarter-final or beyond. If he flops again, it should be a hundred and out.

I will admit to being slightly terrified when Löw mentioned Schmelzer... I'd rather stick Poldi at LB than that clown - particularly with Poldi's defensive abilities being praised. It has to be Bender or Höwedes at RB.

I'd basically play the same team but with Bender at RB. In terms of subs we need to see Schürrle, Reus and maybe someone like Gündogan get a little playing time. I'd look at Götze, but I get the idea that he is seen as more fat than fit at the moment.

 

After not having seen Götze in action for over half a year (the cameos in the last 2 league games and the experimental Switzerland role aside), I watched a video of his "Best Skillz of 2011/12" or something along those lines on youtube yesterday, with a few dozen scenes of Götze dribbling easily past defenders, playing perfect passes, scoring Messi-like goals and what not.

All previously seen footage, but it reminded me of how I would give DerChef's right hand without hesitation to see some of that at the Euro '12. I hope Götze gets at least 1 extended chance and isn't too muscular to showcase his talents.