How come germany sucks now?

[UEFA]

Question, pre 1998/96 germany was a major powerhouse on the world stage, then they fell off. It was a miracle that they made it to the final of 02' and determination that they made it to third place last year. Why is this so? How did germany produce less talented players than there previous generations?

[crookeddy]

Question, pre 1998/96 germany was a major powerhouse on the world stage, then they fell off. It was a miracle that they made it to the final of 02' and determination that they made it to third place last year. Why is this so? How did germany produce less talented players than there previous generations?

Your expectations are just too high if you think a second place finish followed by a third place finish means the team "sucks".

[green94]

Really. Sucking would be not qualifing, or beating San Marino by less than 10.:cool:

[UEFA]

You know what I mean. Germany used to be Top 2 in the world, right behind brazil(technically still behind) the only other side to reach three back-to-back world cup finals. Only other side to reach three back-to-back euro finals. Great players like Beckenbauer, Brehme, Rumennigge, seeler, muller, breitner, matthaus etc. Now who......Ballack(and he doesn't even measure up to them).

[squidward123]

Question, pre 1998/96 germany was a major powerhouse on the world stage, then they fell off. It was a miracle that they made it to the final of 02' and determination that they made it to third place last year. Why is this so? How did germany produce less talented players than there previous generations?

I'm not sure what you mean "determination" that they made it to third place last year? What kind of BS statement is that. You need determination to do anything. They showed plenty of style and skill along the way to 3rd place too.

Anyway apart from that you do have a point. I think it's because at the start of this decade, germany didn't produce the to-be-great generation of players that it has been producing at the start of every decade since the 60s. It was a bit bare in 2000 but still up there with the best in the world apart from brazil and france.

But in the last year or two they seem to have uncovered the new generation that should have been there in 2000.

[Chelsea8-0Manu]

Germany do not suck. They are one of the best teams in the world. They have young and promising players like Lahm, Podolski, Gomez , Mertesacker , Schweinsteiger and Kuranyi(a little too old) .They also have well established players like Ballack, Frings, Klose and Scneider.

[jerrito]

You know what I mean. Germany used to be Top 2 in the world, right behind brazil(technically still behind) the only other side to reach three back-to-back world cup finals. Only other side to reach three back-to-back euro finals. Great players like Beckenbauer, Brehme, Rumennigge, seeler, muller, breitner, matthaus etc. Now who......Ballack(and he doesn't even measure up to them).

So what you're really asking is "why is Germany not as great recently as they have been for most of the past"? For me the answer is simple. Nobody is great every year, all the time. Not Brasil, Italy or Germany. They all have off years. But all three of those teams (and recently France) have considered third or 4th place a not so great result, because they have been so great in the past. After all, only one team wins the World Cup, no? And beware Germany in 2010. They are young and talented. And they seem likely to peak just in time to make a serious run at lifting the next World Cup. And by the way, when has a German team NOT played with determination?

For a reference, look up what Italy did in 1986 in the World Cup following their 1982 win. And what of Brasil in the most recent World Cup? They looked flat, uninspired and without direction. Not much Jogo Bonito. Certainly a down Cup by their standards. And look up what Brasil did in the World Cups from 1974 to 1990. Great as they are, and great as all 3 nations are, none win all the time.

[squidward123]

Germany do not suck. They are one of the best teams in the world. They have young and promising players like Lahm, Podolski, Gomez , Mertesacker , Schweinsteiger and Kuranyi(a little too old) .They also have well established players like Ballack, Frings, Klose and Scneider.


kuranyi is actually 24!! believe it or not

[squidward123]

You know what I mean. Germany used to be Top 2 in the world, right behind brazil(technically still behind) the only other side to reach three back-to-back world cup finals. Only other side to reach three back-to-back euro finals. Great players like Beckenbauer, Brehme, Rumennigge, seeler, muller, breitner, matthaus etc. Now who......Ballack(and he doesn't even measure up to them).

what do you mean there? There's been plenty of times when germany has been ahead of brazil in the rankings

[Immanuel Kant]

At first, I thought you were trying to bait us with that question. I can't think of a more consistent team over the decades than Germany. It seems to be a rare world cup where they don't wind up being a major player. Evern though Brazil and Italy now have more world cups, I would argue that these teams more consistently have 'off world-cups' than Germany. IMO, what they have lacked in recent years is the 'quantity' of big names and some inconsistency between world cups. When the cup arrives, they are always a force regardless of the prognotications as to their demise.

Deutschland ueber alles!:)

[Cris 09]

In the last 16 years..

1990 WC champs
1992 EC runners up
1994 WC Quarter Finals
1996 EC Champs
1998 WC Quarter Finals
2000 EC 1st round exit
2002 WC runners up
2004 EC 1st round exit
2006 3rd place

Germany had 2 horrible Euro cups in 2000 and 2004 and pretty mediocre WCs in 94 and 98, but they also won a Euro Cup in 96. So, yeah, they have had off years, relied too much on older players but what do you want? Them to win it every year. Forget FIFA rankings!!

[squidward123]

At first, I thought you were trying to bait us with that question. I can't think of a more consistent team over the decades than Germany. It seems to be a rare world cup where they don't wind up being a major player. Evern though Brazil and Italy now have more world cups, I would argue that these teams more consistently have 'off world-cups' than Germany. IMO, what they have lacked in recent years is the 'quantity' of big names and some inconsistency between world cups. When the cup arrives, they are always a force regardless of the prognotications as to their demise.

Deutschland ueber alles!:)

yeah you're right, germany have been more consistent than either italy or brazil.

germany have played 2 less than brazil due to being banned and not travelling over to south america in the 30s

germany have 16/16 quarterfinals 100%
11/16 semis 69%

brazil have 15/18 quarterfinals 83%
10/18 semis 56%

italy have 9/16 quarterfinals (did not enter in 30 and DNQ in 58) 56%
8/16 semis 50%

Those numbers show that germany are substantially more consistent than brazil or italy.

And then there's the european cups in the intervening years where germany with 6 semis, and 5 finals are way more consistent than anyone else.

[jerrito]

yeah you're right, germany have been more consistent than either italy or brazil.

germany have played 2 less than brazil due to being banned and not travelling over to south america in the 30s

germany have 16/16 quarterfinals 100%
11/16 semis 69%

brazil have 15/18 quarterfinals 83%
10/18 semis 56%

italy have 9/16 quarterfinals (did not enter in 30 and DNQ in 58) 56%
8/16 semis 50%

Those numbers show that germany are substantially more consistent than brazil or italy.

And then there's the european cups in the intervening years where germany with 6 semis, and 5 finals are way more consistent than anyone else.

When I think consistency, Germany is the first footballing nation that comes to mind. Hard to argue with those numbers.

[JeremyEritrea]

Q: How come germany sucks now?
A: They don't suck.

[jerrito]

Q: How come germany sucks now?
A: They don't suck.

Hard to see the words Germany and Sucks in the same sentence, isn't it? Boggles the mind.

[Cris 09]

Hard to see the words Germany and Sucks in the same sentence, isn't it? Boggles the mind.


It wasn't to hard in Euro 2000...:) But I see what you mean.

[F96]

Of course we don't have many players playing in LaLiga or the EPL but imo a lot of players would do great in the Premier League. They just prefer to stay here.

But if the EPL continues to get richer and richer I can see alot of players going there over the next few years.

Just because there's no Matthäus or Beckenbauer right now doesn't really mean Germany sucks, does it?

[kontrol-ball-Germany]

There is another side to the coin, i agree that Germany are not producing the players they once did, in those numbers. In some ways we are the odd ones out from Brazil and Italy who still field traditional strong sides but it only adds to Germany's acheivement that still without the staple of stars Germany still gets to world cup finals. In a good way if we have one or two more world class players we would win WC without needing numerous stars like Brazil, England, Italy and Argentina.

Even without the big star names, Germany's ability to organise and be consistant makes up for it and is unparalled.

Amen

[Neutral2]

most retarded topic i have seen in years.

[SirManchester]

It's a very bizzarre argument when one considers the numbers. Historically, still up to this year Germany ranks at the very top. One reason it might not be associated with "greatness" is because of the league itself. The Bundesliga used to be amont the top three in Europe for years, but has slipped considerably in recent times. We also don't see as many German teams doing well in Europe as we see with Spanish, Italian, and English teams and since the majority of the National Team's players play in teams don't don't get to see much European action, they're normally less associated with being world class players. When you look at Brazil and Argentina, practically all their players play in the Champions League every season and are all at the top clubs in Europe.