Euro Squad Nomination

Discussion in 'Germany: National Teams' started by HSV-Jung, Apr 24, 2012.

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  1. HSV-Jung Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 15, 2010
    Location:
    Frankfurt
    Club:
    Hamburger SV
    On May 7, Löw will announce the extended Euro squad of 27 to 28 players who will go to the training camp in Sardinia. Barring any serious injury during the training camp or the upcoming finals, he will have to axe a few of those before he announces his final squad of 23 to UEFA on May 29.
    http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...0/artikel_loew_kaderbekanntgabe-am-7-mai.html

    I picked up a copy of the DFB Stars Euro 2012 sticker album issued by Ferrero last week in order to coerce my wife into buying more chocolate over the next little bit, while the kids and I have some fun putting in the stickers. The album is presented by Kicker and they did something interesting this time: They included 28 players and gave the more certain ones two stickers, a portrait and an action sticker, while giving the more shaky candidates only a portrait sticker.
    http://www.team-sticker-2012.de/Pages/Shop.aspx#

    I think the assessment on which their selection was based makes a good start for a discussion. Here are their players:

    Neuer, Wiese, Zieler (Wiese and Zieler only one sticker)
    Boateng, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Lahm, Aogo, Höwedes, Hummels, Schmelzer, Träsch (Schmelzer and Träsch only one sticker);
    Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Müller, Özil, Podolski, Bender, Bender, Götze, Holtby, Kroos, Rolfes, Reus, Schürrle (Bender, Bender and Holtby only one sticker);
    Gomez, Klose, Cacau.

    So is this what we can expect and are the one-sticker-guys the one's most likely to lose out? Personally, I believe Schmelzer has a better chance right now than Aogo, although as a HSV supporter I hope Aogo gets to go (not sure if they have one extra spot in defense anyway because Mertesacker is not ready). Then I believe the Benders should be preferred over Rolfes and we could probably do without Cacau (I think he'll get to go even just to include a Stuttgart player). In terms of surprises I could imagine Schürrle staying and Grosskreutz coming for him. Grosskreutz has been doing great while Schürrle has stagnated.
    What do you think? Are Schmelzer, Träsch, the Benders and Holtby really the five to be cut? Could there even be a surprise with the goalies?
          
  2. Kirsten19 Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 1, 2008
    Location:
    Newport Beach, CA
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Prefer Helmes to Cacau.

    Helmes is amazingly clinical in front of goal. Can be a "joker"
  3. ForeverRed Moderator

    Member Since:
    Aug 18, 2005
    Location:
    NYC
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Country:
    Germany
    In other news, lots of uncertainty over Villa making Spain's squad, club doctors are afraid of a relapse. Could be huge.
  4. odd1234 Member

    Member Since:
    Mar 2, 2011
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    I prefer Helmes and kiessling to Cacau actually. Not sure why he gets nominated but there you have it.
  5. shap_half Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 17, 2010
    Location:
    New York
    Country:
    Germany
    I think Lars Bender should be a definite. He's been the singular decent thing about Leverkusen this season.

    Honestly, I'd rather see ter Stegen over Wiese, but if anything happens to Neuer, I may prefer someone with experience to step in. And even then, my pick won't be Wiese, but Adler never seems to be healthy. It would be nice to see ter Stegen get selected for the initial May 7th squad and spend time training with the NT, though. I'm indifferent to RRZ.

    I think Schmelzer has had a good second with BVB again. I would take him because if the right side of defense totally falls apart, I'd like to see Lahm moved over to make room for Schmelzer on the left.

    I may be the only one who feels this way, but I prefer Holtby to Sven Bender.
  6. SirManchester Member+

    Member Since:
    Apr 14, 2004
    Country:
    Germany
    You might be. What does the former offer to this side that already has Kroos in it to be that type of player?

    Bender is probably the best pure defensive midfielder option in the entire side and he is versatile enough to play in the backline and is further in his development and maturity as a player. Holtby has had a good Rueckrunde but is still settling in his central role. With him we would have four or five (depending on what Loew prefers) in the center. In attacking midfield he's have more competition.

    I just think Sven is the smarter option here.
  7. HSV-Jung Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 15, 2010
    Location:
    Frankfurt
    Club:
    Hamburger SV
    On a side note. I still think Kuranyi got the shaft in 2006. In my mind leaving Kuranyi at home and taking Odonkor was mostly a publicity stunt.

    Of course he did quite well as a sub and was well received by the fans. We'll never know if with Kuranyi we could have beaten the Italians or lost against Poland in the group stage. But it was pretty tough to see Kuranyi's face feature very prominently in so many ads and billboards (Nutella, Mercedes-Benz etc.) all over the place and him having to stay home. What a humiliation. In my mind he was ousted unfairly and his subsequent actions were punished overly harsh as well, especially once you compare him with Podolski, who seems to be able to do whatever he wants and play at any level and yet be guaranteed a starting spot. Kuranyi just got a raw deal.

    Of course the national team coach has to take the best players at the moment of nomination. That means finding the correct ratio between current form and merit. I enjoyed the Odonkor runs down the right side during the World Cup as much as anyone, he did good and was a deserved fan favorite also for his attitude, but his inclusion in the squad was still a great injustice.

    I guess the risk of that happening this year is a lot smaller. Thank goodness.
  8. shap_half Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 17, 2010
    Location:
    New York
    Country:
    Germany
    I'm almost certain Cacau will be headed to the Euros.
  9. HSV-Jung Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 15, 2010
    Location:
    Frankfurt
    Club:
    Hamburger SV
    Yes, undoubtedly. As I said in the opening post, he'll go just to include a Stuttgart player. The club has a lot of clout with DFB and I'm sure they'll get their due.

    Of course he's a nice guy and a decent striker, but I think his performance has been less than stellar of late.
  10. shap_half Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 17, 2010
    Location:
    New York
    Country:
    Germany
    Actually, now that I think about it, Cacau has made a couple of necessary goals in matches Klose or Gomez couldn't like against Poland and France. But I guess this will come at the expense of a Bender, and really, is Cacau more likely to score a desperate goal than say if we played with Muller or Schurrle up front?

    I can't believe Euros officially start for Germany on Monday when the pre-tournament team is selected. I feel like the World Cup just ended.
  11. Catfish Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 1, 2002
    Location:
    Jersey/NYC suburbs
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Country:
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    Just curious if you think Mertesacker and Podolski will get any starts during
    the Euros? I know Per is coming off an injury, don't know when he is expected
    to be fit except next season.

    Thanks.
  12. SirManchester Member+

    Member Since:
    Apr 14, 2004
    Country:
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    Mertesacker is uncertain. We don't really need him. Podolski on the other hand will start most matches I reckon.
  13. Catfish Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 1, 2002
    Location:
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    Arsenal FC
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    Thanks. So Gomez and Podolski up front 4-4-2 or supporting striker?
  14. Cris 09 Trololololo

    Member Since:
    Nov 30, 2004
    Location:
    Westfalenstadion
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Country:
    Germany

    It is a 4-2-3-1.

    -------------------------Klose/Gomez

    Poldi/Reus/Schurrle------Oezil/Goetze/Kroos-----------Mueller/Goetze

    --------------Khedira/Kroos------------Schweini

    Boateng----------Hummels-------------Bads----------------Lahm
  15. SirManchester Member+

    Member Since:
    Apr 14, 2004
    Country:
    Germany
    same 4-2-3-1 formation they've been playing for three years now.

    Klose more likely to start than Gomez.
  16. shap_half Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 17, 2010
    Location:
    New York
    Country:
    Germany
    If both are healthy and on form, I obviously prefer Klose, because of how he links with Ozil and Muller, but he hasn't been playing for a little too long now so I'm not really sure what will happen there.
  17. CanStriker Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 6, 2010
    I want to see how Miro looks in the friendlies before making a final decision. Hopefully Loew feels the same way.
  18. Dage Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 4, 2008
    Location:
    Berlin
    Club:
    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    Country:
    Germany
    Currently I think Gomez is the more likely striker. Klose's still injured and Löw already told the press that he's doubting seriously about Klose's recovering in time. Löw isn't famous for talking nonsense to the press.
  19. poorvi Member

    Member Since:
    Feb 5, 2006
    Location:
    Bombay
    Country:
    Germany
    Has Miro lost 5 kgs yet?
  20. shap_half Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 17, 2010
    Location:
    New York
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    Germany
    Ha! I'm sure he's well on his way. Yay!
  21. CanStriker Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 6, 2010
    I think this matter will be settled in the friendlies against the Swiss and Israel. If not, I see Loew starting Klose against Portugal and then assessing him based on that one game.
  22. Dage Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 4, 2008
    Location:
    Berlin
    Club:
    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    Country:
    Germany
    I don't think Löw will make decision out of one game. Those pre tourney friendlies are overrated. Main part is to not get injured.
  23. marakana11 Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 20, 2007
    Location:
    Cali
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
    Country:
    Serbia
    Well, even though losing Villa hurts, Spain do have Llorente and Soldado, who are coming off of record seasons, and Torres, who while has been under the kosh so to speak, has looked like himself a little more this past month, and will have the balls on the ground from Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, and Cazorla, which he rarely gets at Chelsea.

    As for Germany, I consider you one of the 4 favorites for the title. France, Italy, and Spain are the other 3. While Spain is still the favorite due to everything that has happened in the past 4 years... I feel like both Italy and France have caught up to Germany and Spain, to be, maybe, 1 level below...

    The thing which makes international football interesting, is that usually, the major countries install a coach and have a major project and let a coach do his thing for 1-2 tournaments before it all collapses a la Lippi with Italy, or a la Capello with England.

    France has had a resurgence, and have become very organized under Blanc. That much was evident when Germany played them in a friendly, albeit it wasn't Germany's best team. But from the World Cup to now, I don't think Blanc could have done a much better job considering what was said, and I consider them a dark horse. Organized teams are always dangerous... if football has taught me one thing during my young life, that is it.

    The same can be said of Italy... they appointed Prandelli after Lippi's refusal to change showed in South Africa. He has added youth, and certain elements which resulted in Italy beating my home country, Serbia, as well as Slovenia, who is a very tricky opponent. With the confidence/resurgence of Juventus with Chiellini, Bonucci, Pirlo, de Ceglie, Barzagli.. and the organized midfield of Pirlo, Motta, and de Rossi they are one of the favorites in my opinion, even though the past two tournaments don't seem to suggest that.

    As far as Germany is concerned... I expect this from Mr. Low:

    ------------------Neuer-------------------
    Lahm---Badstuber--Hummels---Boateng
    ---------Khedira-----Schweinsteiger-----
    Ozil--------------Kroos-------------Podolski
    -------------------Gomez-------------------

    The main problem with the other options is that they have not been consistent enough this season. Klose looked great at Lazio for the first half season, but has been out since early in 2012, and will not feature for the rest of the Calcio season. The same could be said of Gotze, who has been a large portion of this season with injury. And Mr. Muller has to decide if his heart is really in football. He has the skill, in my opinion, to be one of the best players in the world, but not the work ethic of such a talent. The only question mark is maybe.... does Reus or Schurrle deserve a starting spot? However, knowing Low, he will opt for his favored left hand operator Poldi just as he did at the World Cup. I expect Ozil to start on the right as he has been at Real Madrid, but coming inside A LOT to confuse defenses constantly. Khedira has been good at Real, and Kroos has been consistent and come of age in the Bayern side this season, pushing Muller out of the starting line up in the away leg at the Bernabeu. Maybe that's another potential toss up.
    scorpio81, odd1234 and poorvi repped this.
  24. odd1234 Member

    Member Since:
    Mar 2, 2011
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    I think Spain, Holland and Germany all have a shot. My top 3 for sure.

    I don't think Boateng will feature on the left, I'd be pretty surprised considering how Schmelzer has been solid this season and Boateng has always looked out of place in that position.

    You're forgetting Reus, who has been an outstanding forward all season and really fits the counterattack mode. Mueller always performs for Germany. Podolski will start because of his experience. Kroos might start with Schweini, while Gotze/Reus/Klose/Bender will start from the bench.
  25. Dage Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 4, 2008
    Location:
    Berlin
    Club:
    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    Country:
    Germany
    Löw watched the Gladbach match live. I wonder if he doesn't nominate Jantschke. Imo he's better than schmelzer all season, although I'm a Gladbach fan B)
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