Euro Squad Nomination

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?

Prefer Helmes to Cacau.

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

I prefer Helmes and kiessling to Cacau actually. Not sure why he gets nominated but there you have it.

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.

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.

I'm almost certain Cacau will be headed to the Euros.

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.

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.

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.

Thanks. So Gomez and Podolski up front 4-4-2 or supporting striker?

It is a 4-2-3-1.

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

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

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

Boateng----------Hummels-------------Bads----------------Lahm

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.

I want to see how Miro looks in the friendlies before making a final decision. Hopefully Loew feels the same way.

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.

Has Miro lost 5 kgs yet?

Ha! I'm sure he's well on his way. Yay!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)