Slovenien vs. Deutschland [R]

[SirManchester]

Well, I am interested mainly because I am curious to see how Podolksi will do, seeing as he is hot hot at the moment, also how Huth will be performing in that prominent central defensive position. Anyone for the line up? Here goes mine:

Kahn- Friedrich, Huth, Mertesacker, Schulz-Ballack, Frings, Schweinsteiger, Hitzlsperger- Kuranyi, Prince Poldi.

Prediction- 4:1 Deutschland, Poldi with two...

[pigstrotters]

Well, I am interested mainly because I am curious to see how Podolksi will do, seeing as he is hot hot at the moment, also how Huth will be performing in that prominent central defensive position. Anyone for the line up? Here goes mine:

Kahn- Friedrich, Huth, Mertesacker, Schulz-Ballack, Frings, Schweinsteiger, Hitzlsperger- Kuranyi, Prince Poldi.

Prediction- 4:1 Deutschland, Poldi with two...
I think slovenia at home might be a tougher opponent than many think, they had a victory over italy in a wc qualifier not long ago.....i'd predict germany by 1 or 2, hopefully more but it would surprise me.

[SelfDeception]

This is the starting lineup according to Kicker:
Kahn - Hinkel, A. Friedrich, Huth, Schulz - B. Schneider, Ballack, Frings, Schweinsteiger - Klose, Kuranyi

So probably no Podolski from beginning ;(

Don`t underestimate Slovenia, they`ve been at Championships 2000 and 2002, and beat Italy few month ago in the World Cup Qualification.

[Germanshepherd]

I think its very likely Podolski will play at least one half. Klinsi already said that he is impressed by him. So he surely wants to see how he is doing in the national team.

Slovenia is a good side and with Friedrich in the back I think they can get one past Kahn. But a win should come out of it. Hopefully Kuranyi can score some. He had a hard time lately.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Don't forget you guys that Germany always plays crappy against Eastern European teams. Just look at Croatia 98, Romania and Hungary last year, Czech Republic at the Euro...

[schoppi]

Don't forget you guys that Germany always plays crappy against Eastern European teams. Just look at Croatia 98, Romania and Hungary last year, Czech Republic at the Euro...
...Final in 1996. The 2:1 victory wasn´t so bad. ;)

[European16]

whens the game?

[Moonsault]

This is the starting lineup according to Kicker:
Kahn - Hinkel, A. Friedrich, Huth, Schulz - B. Schneider, Ballack, Frings, Schweinsteiger - Klose, Kuranyi

So probably no Podolski from beginning ;(


Sport1 says:

Kahn - Hinkel, Friedrich, Huth, Schulz - Schneider, Baumann, Ballack, Schweinsteiger - Neuville, Kuranyi


Neuville back in the starting 11 - that would suck so hard... :D

[The Old Lady Hertha]

I heard from SkySports that Podolski, Neuville and Kuranyi were all in the starting eleven, and Worns and Friedrich were gonna be in the bench at first...

Friedrich is solid, GermanShephard, he is not the reason why other teams score. Hes a wing defender and goes up to help the attack, and defends quite well.

[SirManchester]

I heard from SkySports that Podolski, Neuville and Kuranyi were all in the starting eleven, and Worns and Friedrich were gonna be in the bench at first...

Friedrich is solid, GermanShephard, he is not the reason why other teams score. Hes a wing defender and goes up to help the attack, and defends quite well.

Yea that's correct, Klinsi will give Neuville one last chance with the NT, if he doesn't impress here he is gone forever for them squad. Starting with 3 on top is an interesting and rare approach for Germany.

Friedrich is very solid indeed, AND experienced! He is no slouch like some people think. He may be a player that isn't particularly noticable during a game like Lahm but he certainly does a lot of work and is effective.

[scorpio81]

meanwhile, the U21s play england in hull in a qualifier...

pander, rensing, callsen-brecker and hanke are all in that squad...

btw, any idea why schulz was preferred to pander in the senior team? doesnt pander start over schulz at schalke?

[  ]

meanwhile, the U21s play england in hull in a qualifier...

pander, rensing, callsen-brecker and hanke are all in that squad...

btw, any idea why schulz was preferred to pander in the senior team? doesnt pander start over schulz at schalke?


I'll be watching the game later.
I believe Schulz is from Werder Bremen. As to why he was preferred to Pander, whom I believe is a much better player; probably Klinsmann doesn't want to experiment that much with untested players.

[scorpio81]

TY!

yeah, its awesome that FSC is showing so much live international footie now...

some top games tomorrow as well...

unfortunately im at work, so i cant watch the game live, but will definitely catch it later tonight to take a look at these players - especially rensing...

[Moonsault]

Saw the game and the bloody end. Enough spoilers for the moment, but was a good game.

[  ]

I don't want to give too much away but Germany's performance really deteriorated in the second half. Martin Mathi is terrible.

Pander really has a dangerous left foot, reminds me of a younger Christian Ziege.

[SelfDeception]

I don't want to give too much away but Germany's performance really deteriorated in the second half. Martin Mathi is terrible.


Don`t understand Eilts, why he didn`t let play Brzenska or Callsen-Bracker from beginning. Both are starters in a Bundesliga team, Matip had one performance in the Bundesliga for VfL Bochum in this season against Wolfsburg and he was replaced after the first half, because he was horrible (they got 3 goals in this time).

But i`m satisfied with this team, considered how many players missed (cause they are injured or already play for the Nationalmannschaft):
Mertesacker, Lahm, Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Riether(the captain), Huth, Schulz, Odonkor ...

[SubPop77]

Does anyone know what channel this game will be on in Germany? Most Länderspiele are on ARD, but I didnt see it in their program listings for tomorrow. Maybe Slovenien is not quite the ratings grabber that they are looking for on a Saturday night.

[SelfDeception]

Does anyone know what channel this game will be on in Germany? Most Länderspiele are on ARD, but I didnt see it in their program listings for tomorrow. Maybe Slovenien is not quite the ratings grabber that they are looking for on a Saturday night.

The matches are always on ARD or ZDF, they alternate from game to game.
Football always has high ratings in Germany, even though the Nationalmannschaft plays against Andorra or Lichtenstein.

Tomorrow ZDF will broadcast the game. But i prefer ARD, there is no-one better than Netzer and Delling as reporter :D . Beckenbauer and Poschmann are not that entertaining.

[scorpio81]

im watching the match right now, and along with kiessling, hanke and pander have quite impressed me...

pander in particular - im beginning to wonder if he might be a better choice for germany than lahm - he certainly is stronger than him... either way, that LB slot is very well taken care of with even schulz in the reckoning...

hanke is quite athletic and solid... he just might make it to the world cup - he always seems to do well for schalke whenever he comes on...

this senesie guy looks like a little busybody as well... a little hurried and erratic but could yet make a diamond out of the piece of carbon he is right now...

and yeah, the other central defender - mathi is just horrible... agree callsenbrecker shoulda started, but im happy with the rest of the defence as the top two from the group qualify directly, which should be easy...

[  ]

im watching the match right now, and along with kiessling, hanke and pander have quite impressed me...

pander in particular - im beginning to wonder if he might be a better choice for germany than lahm - he certainly is stronger than him... either way, that LB slot is very well taken care of with even schulz in the reckoning...

hanke is quite athletic and solid... he just might make it to the world cup - he always seems to do well for schalke whenever he comes on...

this senesie guy looks like a little busybody as well... a little hurried and erratic but could yet make a diamond out of the piece of carbon he is right now...

and yeah, the other central defender - mathi is just horrible... agree callsenbrecker shoulda started, but im happy with the rest of the defence as the top two from the group qualify directly, which should be easy...

Exactly!! I've watched Pander many times this season and really believe he can make the LB position his own. His crosses are quite accurate.
Senesie missed far too many shots to be considered anything yet. I wonder why the Iranian/German (forgot his name) didn't play, I was quite impressed with him the last U21 match.
Rensing looked very erratic in the beginning but made some really impressive saves later in the match.

Overall I have always been impressed with this U21 team, they look much more solid than "team 2006".