Is Klinsmann set up for a huge failure?

[poorvi]

There were a few worse moments actually. For example, when they announced that Ribbeck would take over the national team - ouch! Or the 3-0 drubbing at Euro 2000 by Portugal B. It looks far better now than back then. Still, it doesn't look good of course, but one should also not forget that Germany drew with Holland, France and Argentina recently so the 4-1 now should be taken with a grain of salt.

Oh yeah, I actually forgot that loss. What made it worse, was that it was the last time Lothar Mathäus played. It was like a farewell game for him. A player like him deserves a more respectful exit.

To Dutch_Master:
I saw the Germany vs Holland game. Germany played without Podolski and Schweinsteiger. They still managed a draw at Rotterdam. And Italy defeated you guys too, by a very comfortable margin, I think that was in Holland too. I do not know what makes you so optimistic. You are not much better than Germany right now. And in all likelyhood, in 3 months time, some tactical changes by Klinsmann + intense criticism by media and Beckenbauer and fans + traditional German propensity to perform good in world cups + krombacher will mean that they start the tournaments stronger than your team.
Also they have an easier group.
Only your jersey is better ( by a very big margin) than the German jersey.

I am no fan of German football, but gut feeling and logic both tell me that the position the German team is in now, when no one expects much of them, is the type of psychological condition they need to do well at world cups.

[Bayerntone]

Klinsmann and Beckenbauer call a truce until the end of the world cup thru the help of Merkel.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/soccer/03/16/bc.eu.spt.soc.klinsmann.beckenbauer.ap/

It makes sense and good job Merkel!

[Bayerntone]

Only your jersey is better ( by a very big margin) than the German jersey.

Nah, the orange colour sucks!

It's only good for traffic cops standing at the middle of nowhere when the traffic lights stop to function.

[Dead Fingers]

new Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger article
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=362258&root=worldcup&cc=5901

[arthur d]

new Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger article
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=362258&root=worldcup&cc=5901

good article

[Bayerntone]

yeah, very subtle and intrigue piece of work from Uli.

The world cup is a straight road ahead round the corner. No turning back nor shelters for a recess.

Solidarity and re-building team spirit is important at this stage. It's good the Dfb and Merkel have reacted postively towards meeting these ends.

All Germany needs to do is to muster whatever resources possible to help the NT perform the best they can.

Think about Greece in Euro 2004.

[poorvi]

I have read some of Uli's articles earlier too on soccernet.com. He is a good writer, and has a decent sense of humour too, but he is very pessemistic ( read extreme case of realism). He was even pessemistic before the Euro cup 2004 competition and the World cup in 2002.

[arthur d]

I have read some of Uli's articles earlier too on soccernet.com. He is a good writer, and has a decent sense of humour too, but he is very pessemistic ( read extreme case of realism). He was even pessemistic before the Euro cup 2004 competition and the World cup in 2002.

I haven't read those, and I've also read a few bad/superficial articles by him, but I wouldn't blame anyone who was being pessimistic before WC 2002 or Euro 2004.

[Dead Fingers]

I haven't read those, and I've also read a few bad/superficial articles by him, but I wouldn't blame anyone who was being pessimistic before WC 2002 or Euro 2004.


Uli is pretty level headed when it comes to writing about the National team. I see him as more realistic, than pesimistic

[poorvi]

I haven't read those, and I've also read a few bad/superficial articles by him, but I wouldn't blame anyone who was being pessimistic before WC 2002 or Euro 2004.

This is all very fishy. This seems like a joint strategy by the media, Beckenbauer and the fans to criticize the German team very severely before the world cup, so that they are not considered as favourites before any tournament. I think the same was the case in World cup 2002 and world cup 1990 and world cup 1994. Once the tournament starts, no one expects them to play good, but they do good, and so their oponents who are expecting a relatively easy match, end up facing a tough team. Then Germany have the psychological advantage, and win the game in penalties. Too far fetched? :D

I am also having doubts over the 4-1 loss to Italy. I am begining to think it was all intentional and is a ruse.:p

[arthur d]

This is all very fishy. This seems like a joint strategy by the media, Beckenbauer and the fans to criticize the German team very severely before the world cup, so that they are not considered as favourites before any tournament. I think the same was the case in World cup 2002 and world cup 1990 and world cup 1994. Once the tournament starts, no one expects them to play good, but they do good, and so their oponents who are expecting a relatively easy match, end up facing a tough team. Then Germany have the psychological advantage, and win the game in penalties. Too far fetched? :D

I am also having doubts over the 4-1 loss to Italy. I am begining to think it was all intentional and is a ruse.:p

Yeah, we are actually much better. Wait till you see the *real* German players march onto the pitch in June, all dressed in black/red/gold. :D

[poorvi]

Yeah, we are actually much better. Wait till you see the *real* German players march onto the pitch in June, all dressed in black/red/gold. :D

Please tell me that there is some element of truth in the post I made before this.

[arthur d]

Please tell me that there is some element of truth in the post I made before this.

I am sorry, but I don't think there was. I wish you were right of course. Here's hoping for penalty shootouts in the second round, quarter final and semi final.