Semi final against Italy, what could Germany have done different?

[kontrol-ball-Germany]

What should have Germany done different in that 2006 semi final?

Do you agree that Germany did have the chance to beat Italy or did Germany really have no chance to win that match?

What did Germany do well and what did they not so good?

Did the Italian team have any weak points and what where they?

What could have realistically been done differently in attack, midfield and defense?

When some teams score right at the end of a match like a minute or so before the PSO you can say there is some luck. Especially when normal time and nearly all of extra time was played without either team scoring. In this sense i disagree that it was a watertight victory for Italy and that Italy cut it fine to win and if it went to penalties they most likely would of lost.

Although Italy played well during the game so did Germany, how should of Germany played to score within normal time?

[prymetyme]

As much as it hurts me to say it, Italy played better and deserved to win, we would have won in penalties, and I would have loved that.

The thing that would have changed the match drastically for me was Torsten Frings. Really a shame we didnt have him for it, I think it would have been different for us if we did.

[ForeverRed]

Frings

Theres the difference.

And yes, we could have definetley won the game. There wasn't much between the two teams.

[BlinderPassagier]

Thanks for the thread.... really wanted to be reminded of those last 2 minutes! :(

Seriously though, Italy did play better and maybe Frings would have made a difference, but well, it's the Italians, we hardly manage to get past them in internationals.

[ForeverRed]

Thanks for the thread.... really wanted to be reminded of those last 2 minutes! :(

Seriously though, Italy did play better and maybe Frings would have made a difference, but well, it's the Italians, we hardly manage to get past them in internationals.

Well Karma is a beautiful thing....

Their league just might be canceled and italian football is in shambles!

THE FOOTBALL GODS HAVE SPOKEN!:D

[squidward123]

I've watched it again since I saw it live and the game was so damn even over the 118 minutes. I think germany slightly had the better of normal time and Italy of extra-time.

It was the best game technically I have seen in a long long long time, and both teams contributed equally to that. Schweinsteiger when he came on was the only sloppy player in the whole game.


The only think germany could have done better (looking at you podolski - 4 chances) is taken a chance or 2 when they made an opening (and italy could have said the same thing had they not scored at the end). Klose was creating havoc all game and that played a part in podolski finding himself with many chances.

[eissman]

Tactically, I felt that Germany's formation in the 4-4-2 with Ballack and Frings worked extremely well all tournament. Where I felt it would at some point catch up with them however was when a team realized that with Ballack not really being a "true" attacking mid, and neither forward really back tackling into midfield, that eventually someone would figure out that there was loads of space to exploit and start any attacks directly behind Klose and Podolski and in front of Ballack.

Italy did this. Matter of fact, I felt Italy's best player that game was the man in that spot (Pirlo, I believe) as he distributed rather effectively from that spot all game. Germany made no change in their tactics... meaning they were giving up that space willfully all tournament and were going to do so this game as long as everyone else played their roles efficiently, things would be alright. Problem was Italy had just the right answer in Pirlo.

This is of couse my own two euros on the matter...

All I have to say is watching Germany this summer in Germany with the German population enthralled in their performances was one of the best moments about the entire trip. Inspiring.

[ForeverRed]

Italy's key to the WC was very simple.

Two playerse won them the WC, Gattuso and Pirlo.

[squidward123]

The point is eissman, that germany and italy both played excellently (best game i've seen in a long long time in terms of technique and movement), the game was very even, and had germany taken their chances (I can remember the schneider chance and about 4 other very good ones; 3 of them to podolski) then they'd have won and there'd be no need to analyse anything further.

[kontrol-ball-Germany]

One of the points that IMO is important was that lose to Italy pre world cup where Germany were thrashed, when as players Italy knew inside that this was a team they had humiliated not long ago. This built that confidence in them. The opposite was the case for Germany it must of been one of the lowest points of their interneational careers.

I was amazed how well this German side played when considering we had to play Argentina for 120 minutes and compared to the Italian side was not a traditional strong German. The Italians had one of their more traditional strong sides with plently of energy having beating the easiest opposition in all quater finals in world cup 2006.

Pirlo and Guttuso where essential to this winning the match but Germany did hold their own and Italy played a lot of long balls. There is a point ot made about Frings who was on the form of his life shutting down Riquelme single handedly in the QF. Had he played he would fo spotted the influence Pirlo had and caused him a nightmare of a time im convinced of this.

Frings was the difference and ironically enough when Frings was cleared from the ban it was Sky Italia who caused Fifa to change their decision and ban Frings to Italy's advantage. With Frings imposing his defensive mid game Italy may of played more long balls.

[prymetyme]

Grosso was also one of the Italians best players, with the dive against the australians and of course against us

really a shame that we didnt have frings, I really think that would have changed the out come for us...

one thing that sticks in my head was bern schneider's chance, he really could have finished it :(

[squidward123]

I think Klose's performance in that game was brilliant too and it doesn't get any credit. He was moving off the ball really well and dribbling with it (one dribble through entire defence and buffon had to dive at his feet to take it away) and creating space and chances for others. Gave the Italian defence big headaches all throughout.

[Psychosis hsv]

I think you colud have done:
1. Could not have substituted Borowski for piggy
2. Brought on Kahn in 125th minute, GROSSO could have shot wide due to Kahn's scream.

[prymetyme]

I think you colud have done:
1. Could not have substituted Borowski for piggy
2. Brought on Kahn in 125th minute, GROSSO could have shot wide due to Kahn's scream.

i agree, schweini's poor marking gave grosso the shot.

lookback i would have liked to see Kahn, but i doubt that Lehmann would have been silent, and nobody subs keeps in the 125th minute, especially before what looked to be like impending PK's.

[eissman]

The point is eissman, that germany and italy both played excellently (best game i've seen in a long long time in terms of technique and movement), the game was very even, and had germany taken their chances (I can remember the schneider chance and about 4 other very good ones; 3 of them to podolski) then they'd have won and there'd be no need to analyse anything further.

I don't disagree with you one bit Squidward123. I am just offering a tactical analysis of what I perceived from my own vantage point. The German's did not have an opponent that was able to utilize that space they were willing to sacrifice in their tactical shape/formation defensively all World Cup... until Italy. [Warning: SuperBowl reference]It is similar to Peyton Manning visualizing ways to pick apart the Chicago Bears defense in SuperBowl XLI... if no pressure is applied on that person, he will shred you with passes, that is if he can complete them[End of Warning].

This is of course my 2 euros...

[eissman]

2. Brought on Kahn in 125th minute, GROSSO could have shot wide due to Kahn's scream.

LOL! Repped.

[footyfan1]

I think if Jose Peckerhead (Yeah, I know his name) wasn't such a "bonehead", this match never takes place....... :rolleyes:

[squidward123]

I think if Jose Peckerhead (Yeah, I know his name) wasn't such a "bonehead", this match never takes place....... :rolleyes:

I guess pekerman didn't believe his players could handle germany going forward if he didn't bring on cambiasso as a defensive player rather than messi as an attacking player.

or he saw frings owning riquelme and didn't want to risk scarring messi at such a young age in a world cup quarterfinal :D

[footyfan1]

I guess pekerman didn't believe his players could handle germany going forward if he didn't bring on cambiasso as a defensive player rather than messi as an attacking player.

or he saw frings owning riquelme and didn't want to risk scarring messi at such a young age in a world cup quarterfinal :D


How about he was just a f#cking idiot?? :mad:

[squidward123]

How about he was just a f#cking idiot?? :mad:

Well even if he did bring on messi, germany could still have equalised and gone on to to win. It's not like messi is maradona-schuster-zidane all in one. He's a very skilful young player who hasn't done anything in international football yet.