Umm. Isn't a thread about the foreign press reports precisely one about the German POV? I mean he is pointing out that the 2012 group was seen as a GOD. This one is viewed as easier. Seems right on point to me
Well, the last time Germany failed to make it out of the group was the last WC in South America: Argentina 1978. The Austrians are still referring these days to "The disgrace of Cordoba".
Frankly, four teams that advanced in 2010 is vastly more relevant than teams whose ancestors were great in the 1950s or 60s. I mean who fears Hungary these days?
Agreed. Germany not advancing is a monumental thing. But I think this is the only group where that scenario is mathematically possible.
I've always thought that saying to be a great example of European ignorance, arrogance and parochialism. There are good teams from all kinds of countries Europeans have barely ever heard of and assume must be far beneath them. Truth is the euros are just the big five with a few generic cannon fodder teams thrown in
Highly doubt this. Anyone one of these teams can beat germany if they take the match lightly. They will need to be at their best to get out of the group.
It is a heck of a lot better to look at an index based on recent results than looking to 60 year old results or the random unfounded opinions of eurosnob a. Of course the FIGA rankings are crap because thy give that unjustified boost to European teams. Obviously Elo and SPI are auperior. Guess what? Those give the same result
More to the point, in the last cup, England, Portugal and the US had the same record. Uruguay had to cheat to beat Ghana. Yet somehow group D is harder than G? Riiight
To clarify, it is us (Germans) who call it the "Humiliation of Cordoba". The Austrian talk about the Wunder von Cordoba (the wonder of Cordoba) or just Cordoba and it is indeed still a huge source of pride for them and the Players from those games get wield out again and again as pundits.
Question--How did Uruguay cheat to beat Ghana? Suarez did what anybody else should and would do--Last second, sure goal that will eliminate your team, yeah, take the Red. Give your GK a fighting chance to advance with a PK. You see--nobody decries the Germans for doing the same thing to us in the 2002 World Cup. Frings didn't "Cheat", he wanted to ensure a win because frankly, the US was outplaying Germany and he knew a PK would give the Germans a fighting chance because Oliver Khan was in beast mode. Where the controversy was with Hugh Dallas who didn't give the PK at all--He never saw it. If Suarez stopped the Ghana goal with his hand and there was no PK call, I would get this outrage over Uruguay 2010. But simply, Ghana got the right call--PK and Suarez red..And missed their chance. End of. And there was nothing unfair about that result. Period.
Like you said: I don't see a difference between the FIFA rankings and the random unfounded opinions of a eurosnob. So why look at it at all?
I don't know if I can agree with the last part but everything else is spot on. Euros struggle mightily in South America and not against just Brazil and Argentina.
Europe. The big five: Germany Spain Italy Netherlands France Cannon fodder: Portugal England Russia Croatia Greece Switzerland Bosnia Belgium Did not qualify: Sweden Denmark Serbia Ukraine Iceland Rest of the World. Big two: Brazil Argentina Cannon fodder: Uruguay Colombia Mexico Cameroon Chile Australia Côte d'Ivoire Japan Costa Rica Ecuador Honduras Iran Nigeria Ghana USA Algeria Korea Republic
"America were clearly the better team for 90 minutes," said Beckenbauer, an analyst for Germany's pay-television network. More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2002/world_cup/news/2002/06/21/germany_beckenbauer_rb/
Are these the only two options? The delusions of one man vs the delusions of an entire nation? Who made that post earlier about American arrogance?
Personally, I have just erased my complete football memory from the years 1998- 2004. Much easier that way. PS: The US outplayed Germany at the 2002 WC, but so then did everybody else, except for Saudi Arabia.
+1 I would've caught it and stuffed it up my shirt like a potbelly. Like people (particularly Ghanians) seriously expected him to stand there like an idiot and peer at it whilst it sailed by and hit the back of the net. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is part of a collective memory of the rational people who (a) understood football and (b) watched the game in question. Yourself and other Germans need not apply to this department at this time, but please leave your application and resumé with the receptionist - danke schön. Apparently, nations other than the U.S seemed to have shared in this supposed delusion back then as I recalled.
Well of course you don't. This is why many here don't take your opinions on the sport all that seriously. The rest of us look to results on the pitch, which is what ELO and SPI are based on