Reasons for optimism

[Colm]

I'll give you a few reasons why you should be kinda optimistic

1) Home Advantage (hosts normaly do well and you won the world cup last time it was held in Germany
2) Easy group (should get to the 2nd round at the very minimum and if you get a good draw there (hopefully avioding playing us :)) then you could be in the QF and who knows from there?
3) World cup record, even though History doesn't count for much you atleast know when Germany don't have great teams (like 02) you still do well in the world cup.
4) The team has some experiance mixed with youth (could be a handy combo)

Just an outsiders opinion ofcourse.

[Luchito]

As an admirerer of the good German teams of '86 and '90, I want to ask you guys what you think is the problem with Germany these days. Sure, you have Ballack and a few other prospects, but it doesnt seem like you are producing the kind of stars of the recent past. Im talking about the rumenigges, the beckembauers and the Matthaus (sp).

Do you guys feel it may have something to do with your kid leagues or is it something else?

[ForeverRed]

As an admirerer of the good German teams of '86 and '90, I want to ask you guys what you think is the problem with Germany these days. Sure, you have Ballack and a few other prospects, but it doesnt seem like you are producing the kind of stars of the recent past. Im talking about the rumenigges, the beckembauers and the Matthaus (sp).

Do you guys feel it may have something to do with your kid leagues or is it something else?


The problem is more a circumstantial than anything else, this being a transition phase. One which sees most of the Germans of the 90's either retired or one boot hung up.

Now, there is generation of young German talent on the up, starting from the U-17 level up to the U-21, some were promoted to the First team because of the lack of available players.

Between the outgoing Germans of the 90s and the potential talent of the future lies very little, mainly Ballack who has been the only prominent German talent and really defines this transition period.

The new youth will not be ready for a while, so Klinsman's team for the WC is a big gamble..mostly consisting of this young talent.

[Luchito]

Thanks

[Memento]

Not many people 4 years ago would have thinked that Cristoph Metzelder would be a great player and have a great display during the WC.

Today,not many people again believe he will recover in time his form to play at a good level.I want to be optimistic and think that he will regain some form and play well (perhaps not 100%) to help the defense. Since I believe he has the proben talent, just not the condition right now.

Neither Huth or even Mertesacker have shown to have more talent than Metzelder so far.

[Bayerntone]

Togo coach slams Germany

Togo coach Otto Pfister has ruled out hosts Germany as a serious contender at the World Cup finals.

"Germany have no chance. I don't think they can even get to the final, or even the semi-final," said Pfister, who is German.

"I think if they get to the quarter-final they have done very well," he told the Reuters news agency.

"It's quite simple, you need skill and Germany doesn't have that. They don't even know who to put on the pitch."

The link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/togo/4990594.stm

How much truth is contained in Pfister's comment?

[Neutral2]

Togo coach slams Germany

Togo coach Otto Pfister has ruled out hosts Germany as a serious contender at the World Cup finals.

"Germany have no chance. I don't think they can even get to the final, or even the semi-final," said Pfister, who is German.

"I think if they get to the quarter-final they have done very well," he told the Reuters news agency.

"It's quite simple, you need skill and Germany doesn't have that. They don't even know who to put on the pitch."

The link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/togo/4990594.stm

How much truth is contained in Pfister's comment?

its bullshit since Greece didnt have a chance to reach the final in EC2004 either...besides from that we have a better team than in wc2002.

I would also start bashing other teams if my team had no chance of doing anything at the world cup :)

But I slowly start to like that everyone says that germany sucks :). So we have nothing to lose at the wc. We can only win :D

[Bayerntone]

Pfister must have missed good German beers while in Africa. That's why he's so p*ssed!

[prymetyme]

also, this man coaches togo. enough said.

[kickinthehead]

He'd better go back to playing chess with insane African dictators.

Probably not good enough to coach in Germany.

:p

[poorvi]

Togo coach slams Germany

Togo coach Otto Pfister has ruled out hosts Germany as a serious contender at the World Cup finals.

"Germany have no chance. I don't think they can even get to the final, or even the semi-final," said Pfister, who is German.

"I think if they get to the quarter-final they have done very well," he told the Reuters news agency.

"It's quite simple, you need skill and Germany doesn't have that. They don't even know who to put on the pitch."

The link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/togo/4990594.stm

How much truth is contained in Pfister's comment?

I don't want to sound paranoid, but a German downplaying Germany's chances.Thats too fishy. And if recent records are anything to go by, Germany will end up doing good.

In 1990 no one thought that Germany would do good before the world cup. They weren't even considered favourites. Result: They won the cup.

Borussia Dortmund vs Juventus Champions League Final 96/97. Ottomat Hitzfeld himself said before the match that Dortmund were massive underdogs. Result: They won the cup.

In 2002: Everybody criticized the team as the "weakest German team ever". The team was flayed by everybody from Daum to Beckenbauer. Result: They reached the finals.

in 2006: Evereybody worldwide, and in Germany have very limited hopes from this team ( or thats what they show). This team is criticized, and some greats even write them off.
All these things work in Germany's favour. They somehow manage to lower their image as good team in the eyes of the opponents to such an extent that the opponents are not able to cope with the schock when Germany starts playing good. All seems to be a strong psychological ploy used by the DFB/German media. This is the biggest cause for optimism.

I just have a question to ask
Has Germany entered any tournament as a favourite?

[Kaiser]

2 reasons why Germany WILL win this year's world cup.

1. I said so.
2. I'm not Pele.

[Bayerntone]

I don't want to sound paranoid....I just have a question to ask Has Germany entered any tournament as a favourite?

There are many prophets in every world cup.

None I trust but him.

When he talks, you better listen carefully. After you listen to him, you'll have an idea of which country will make it and which will not.

His name:

Edson Arantes do Nascimento

Check his name here and you'll know who he is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

And if you still don't know what is good about the prediction of this prophet, ask Kaiser above.

Have fun!

[FLBayern]

I would not put too much stock in the comments by Pfister, if memory serves he has been coaching teams outside of German for quite awhile, and I think he would love to have the selection "problems" Klinsman does.
Also to speak to the skill issue I do believe that Klose has improved dramatically since he was one of the top scorers in 2002, coupled with young "skilled" talent like Poldi and Basti; not to mention established players like Ballack this can be quite dangerous.
But in an attempt to add something relevant as the above subjects have been touched on already, I think the ability of many German teams throughout the years to raise their level of play when necessary (remembering the defeat of heavily favored Hungary in 54 and of Clockwork Orange in 74, or perhaps the recovery from 3-1 down in extra time against France in 82, or even the example of 1990 and 2002) I think it is impossible to discount any German team until a game or two into the tournament.

[aloisius]

I expect Germany to play an excellent world cup. Forget the frendlies during the season, they showed at the confed cup how good they can be after spending more time together.

This team depends on cohesion and fitness and they’ll have both after the training camp.

I expect Germany to play at extremely high pace from the first whistle . they’ll be pressing opposition at their penalty box. This will be risky, but also spectacular and will really get the crowd into the game .

Another thing. Germany has 2 superb headers of the ball in ballack and klose as well as an extremely tall squad overall . They’ll extremely difficult to defend at set plays.

[ohk4]

I expect Germany to play an excellent world cup. Forget the frendlies during the season, they showed at the confed cup how good they can be after spending more time together.


http://fussballdaten.de/confederationscup/
I am not convinced that Germany was so good at the Confed Cup. It was exciting but in 5 games they gave up 11 goals. And if you take away the 3-0 victory against Tunesia, they gave up 11 goals in four games. I don't think that kind of defensive effort at the World Cup is going to cut it for too long.

[ThreeStars]

I would not underestimate the role Torsten Frings could play at the world cup. He could be the Dieter Eilts of this Tournament. He played an excellent season for Bremen. The german midfield is much stronger than 4 years ago, and Klose was just some guy who somehow managed to score a couple of goals for Lautern then, not the world class rocket forward with superb technical skill of today. Of course, this time it´s the real deal, no Paraguay or South Korea in the eliminatory rounds to pop up as far as I can see. The german team will have to be better than they have been since 1990. But I remember there being no trace of genius around at that tournament either, until Lothar Matthäus got hold of the ball against Yugoslavia ran straight across the field and scored with an irresistably powerful shot. Ballack can do it, Frings can. And Klose, Schweinsteiger and Podolski can outdribble anyone on a good day. The defense will have to rise to the occasion, but I´m sure they can. The team needs some magic moments in the first round, and there are enough magicians on the team to perform it. Miro Klose definitely has all it takes to become this year´s superstar.

[aloisius]

http://fussballdaten.de/confederationscup/
I am not convinced that Germany was so good at the Confed Cup. It was exciting but in 5 games they gave up 11 goals. And if you take away the 3-0 victory against Tunesia, they gave up 11 goals in four games. I don't think that kind of defensive effort at the World Cup is going to cut it for too long.

Let’s see if Novotny, Metzelder and lehman as a starter can strengthen the defense.

It won’t matter in the group stage as Germany can outscore those opponents even if they concede a couple of goals.

The second round match will define this world cup for Germany.
My guess is that it will be vs. Sweden, a team that’s about equal to slightly inferior to Germany in terms of talent.

[Buschkauz]

one more point: adidas is our best friend during world cup, they'll help us and they got our back ;)

[ohk4]

Let’s see if Novotny, Metzelder and lehman as a starter can strengthen the defense.

It won’t matter in the group stage as Germany can outscore those opponents even if they concede a couple of goals.

The second round match will define this world cup for Germany.
My guess is that it will be vs. Sweden, a team that’s about equal to slightly inferior to Germany in terms of talent.

I agree on all points.