Germany: United States [R]

[ForeverRed]

He still called up Ernst though........tsk tsk tsk

[SirManchester]

well the games i have seen of the German team team to be just brute force

and physical games where lots of crosses are put in and long passes ... less

of short passing , dribbling one touch futbol basically the opposite of JOgo Bonito


errrr...you need to watch more then, and pay attention to the likes of Ballack, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Friedrich, and Schneider.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

He still called up Ernst though........tsk tsk tsk

Agreed...I actually wanted to see Thurk in there but I don't think he has a chance. :(

I actually think Boateng is better than Ernst now though. :o

[Wotan]

Is Neuville totally out of the picture? I thought Klinsi would give him a look in the USA game. Any idea about him?

[MicFW]

Hmmm... The US climbed up to 5 in the FIFA rankings, whereas we're not under the top20 any longer. That makes them absolute favourites in the upcoming match... :)

[Wotan]

Those FIFA ratings have ALWAYS been......an ABSOLUTE JOKE!! :rolleyes: I remember yrs ago---seeing real good Italian & German teams being rated like 7th & 8th--behind teams like Mexico. :confused: Look at Italy-now-they're rated 12th...7 spots behind the USA. Years ago a college soccer coach here in America says no one ever takes them seriously.

[ohk4]

Those FIFA ratings have ALWAYS been......an ABSOLUTE JOKE!! :rolleyes: I remember yrs ago---seeing real good Italian & German teams being rated like 7th & 8th--behind teams like Mexico. :confused: Look at Italy-now-they're rated 12th...7 spots behind the USA. Years ago a college soccer coach here in America says no one ever takes them seriously.

flawed or not, you have to take them seriously because they help to determine the seeding at the World Cup - It's as as simple as that.

[Bruce S]

Those FIFA ratings have ALWAYS been......an ABSOLUTE JOKE!! :rolleyes: I remember yrs ago---seeing real good Italian & German teams being rated like 7th & 8th--behind teams like Mexico. :confused: Look at Italy-now-they're rated 12th...7 spots behind the USA. Years ago a college soccer coach here in America says no one ever takes them seriously.
these ratings are a joke...that said, Italy struggled to get a draw with Mexico at WC 2002.Mexico dominated the game, so I am not sure about your example.

[Bayerntone]

Though the recent form of the Germany NT is one of the causes that has make it rank outside of the top 20, that ranking system has put lesser weights to friendly matches than matches in approved tournaments; and except the matches in the Confed Cup last year, Germany has been playing friendlies in the last 2 years.

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

I agree, the weighting between friendlies and regular matches
is a problem at the FIFA ranking system.
Germany didn´t play unsucessfull under Klinsmann,
they lost 5 matches (out of 23 matches) since the last EC,
that´s not much. (South Korea, Brasil, Slovakia, Turkey, Italy)

To the Italy example:
I agree, that Italy showed under coach Lippi very good performances
and deserves a spot in the top 5 based on the performances under him,
but the performaces is the last 7 years are the criterium at the FIFA ranking
and not the current performance.

To the USA:
They played a good quali and afairc they also played a good WC 2002,
where we could only beat them with a bit luck.
If they are a top 5 team is another question,
but they are a competitive side.

Won´t be a walk in the park to beat them next week. ;)

[bltleo]

these ratings are a joke...that said, Italy struggled to get a draw with Mexico at WC 2002.Mexico dominated the game, so I am not sure about your example.

ach, bruce..on german board?....nice to see you here

i agree..fifa ranking are jokes

[Bayerntone]

Germany squad for their game with the United States on March 22:

Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Timo Hildebrand (VfB Stuttgart);Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Robert Huth (Chelsea), Marcell Jansen (Borussia Monchengladbach), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per
Mersacker (Hanover 96), Patrick Owomoyela (Wereder Bremen), Christoph
Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund), Manuel Friedrich (FSV Mainz); Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund), Michael Ballack, Sebastian Deisler, Bastian Schweinsteiger (all Bayern Munich), Tim Borowski, Torsten Frings (both Werder Bremen), Fabian Ernst (Schalke 04), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen); Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04), Mike Hanke (VfL Wolfsburg), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Lukas Podolski (Cologne).

New picks

from:
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=371023&CPID=219&clid=&lid=9&title=Friedrich+gets+German+call (http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=371023&CPID=219&clid=&lid=9&title=Friedrich+gets+German+call)

[Crazy_Yank]

I think this is going to be an excellent match. I think both teams are pretty equal. I think Germany has a bit more star power than the US, but our team is extremely fit and the team cohesion is 2nd to none. Not to mention we are one of the fastest teams in the world, and now we finally have skill to match that speed. I'm not so bold as to predict a US victory on German soil, but I think it will be a very even match. I'm really excited about this one.

[Crazy_Yank]

good question DF..

what´s german style of play and what´s american style of play?


The American style of play is that of a chamleon, meaning we don't have a defined style of play. We can play almost any style. We have a very diverse group of players who play all over Europe. We have players playing for top flight teams in England, Germany, and Holland. We have a guy at the top Belgian club who is being scouted by some world powerhouses. Of course we have our MLS guys, but most of our 1st 11 is European based. We have players who play a lot of different styles so this allows to taylor our style of play for our opponent.

[balla_basti]

OK. Deisler is definitely out of the USA game because he needs keyhole surgery on his right knee. Lets pray to God that its nothing serious.

But i think its a good time to try out a midfield combo that might just work very well and balance as well.

---------Kehl
Frings---------Borowoski
--------Ballack

I think this might be a VERY balanced midfield and it ensures that all the players play in the position that they play for their clubs. Arguably all of these players are the orm players for their club at this point as well.

We also then have Schweini and Bernd Schneider in the reserves and we can bring them on for either wing. Gives us rotation chances as well.

The whole team shuld be like this.

----------Kahn
Owom-Metze-Merte-Lahm
----------Kehl
Frings-------------Borowoski
----------Ballack
---Klose---------Poldi

I really like the look of that lineup :) Owow ahead of a horrendous Arne and Manuel F to come in at any time during the game because Klinsi has picked him.

Maybe even Arne as center half. I am sorely disappointed to see Kiessling miss out. He would have been superb!

And why not Frank Baumann?

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

And why not Frank Baumann?

Not Baumann, because he´s always injured. :(

Hard to make a prediction,
but i hope the Dortmund fans support the team
after the Woerns things,
but i am confident they will.

Hope for a German win.

[Crazy_Yank]

I wish this was a FIFA date because the US is not bringing any of it's English premiership players, which is a good chunk of our squad, including our best striker, midfielder, and one of our top center backs.

[Dead Fingers]

I wish this was a FIFA date because the US is not bringing any of it's English premiership players, which is a good chunk of our squad, including our best striker, midfielder, and one of our top center backs.


So do I, but it will be the last best chance for the bubble players to perform. And you know Bruce is not stingy with giving players chances to play.

[scarshins]

The US does have some diversity of style...but not that much, and not with the lineup they are bringing. It will be "US players in Germany plus some Kansas City Wizards" plus a few others. I have a feeling the US will attempt to first of all, play solidly from the back through midfield. We played Germany 4 years ago in Germany and were taken apart 4-2...Germany played quite well, lots of ball movement and tight passing...the US only scored 2 because we had one nice sequence, and because Clint Mathis had his moments.

The US will definitely try to avoid giving up 4 goals. Usually the US pressures a whole lot in the midfield. I think they may play a little deeper and try to counter-attack. They will be bringing a few taller players to defend set pieces too. They will take a good look at Cory Gibbs, back from injury, to see if he's a WC candidate. Freddy Adu will not play:) .

Good luck and hopefully no injuries.

[F96]

Not Baumann, because he´s always injured. :(

Hard to make a prediction,
but i hope the Dortmund fans support the team
after the Woerns things,
but i am confident they will.

Hope for a German win.

Well, after Klinsmann made sure to call up Kehl they will, at least I hope they will.
I read on Spiegel online that the DFB wants to confiscate all banners that are anti-Klinsmann.