Germany vs Poland [R]

[squidward123]

P.S: Podolski looked good out there, kinda ironic you got a Polak on a German team scoring goals against the Polish NT.

I'm sure you need to do more than just be born there to qualify as a proper Polak :)

[Cris 09]

But we've beaten Brazil before....:)

My apologies. I stand corrected! Nice...:)

[Marbur66]

My apologies. I stand corrected! Nice...:)
No worries. Now if we could get one against Germany one day.....:o

[WhiteStar Warriors]

Is their a chance of playing Germany again IF we qualify from the group?

[Dead Fingers]

Is their a chance of playing Germany again IF we qualify from the group?

yes.
http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/index.html

Group A winner plays Group B runner up
Broup B winner plays Group A runner up

winner of those play each other.

[Marbur66]

Is their a chance of playing Germany again IF we qualify from the group?
Yes. If Germany and Poland come out of the group and both win their quarter-final games, they would meet in the semis.

[Cris 09]

Is their a chance of playing Germany again IF we qualify from the group?

Yes, during the semi!

[Lahmfan]

No worries. Now if we could get one against Germany one day.....:o
What kind of crazy talk is this?? :o:p

[karny9]

Podolski better light it up against Croatia & Austria..

Tbh I'm finding a lot of the news reports about the game slightly unfair, mainly the one on the euro2008.com website...Possession, shots, shots on target etc were pretty much dead even and both teams had quality chances. The game could have gone 3-2 either way. Outside of Boruc's save on Ballack and Lehmanns stop on Saganowski's re-direction, I felt the goalies werent tested as often as I expected.

[Cris 09]

Podolski better light it up against Croatia & Austria..

Tbh I'm finding a lot of the news reports about the game slightly unfair, mainly the one on the euro2008.com website...Possession, shots, shots on target etc were pretty much dead even and both teams had quality chances. The game could have gone 3-2 either way. Outside of Boruc's save on Ballack and Lehmanns stop on Saganowski's re-direction, I felt the goalies werent tested as often as I expected.

The commentators said the same thing when the stats came on the screen...difference was, according to them, that a lot of the shots from the Poles where some long shots from way out of the box.

[squidward123]

My apologies. I stand corrected! Nice...:)

wc1974 third place game is the most prominent one

[squidward123]

Podolski better light it up against Croatia & Austria..

Tbh I'm finding a lot of the news reports about the game slightly unfair, mainly the one on the euro2008.com website...Possession, shots, shots on target etc were pretty much dead even and both teams had quality chances. The game could have gone 3-2 either way. Outside of Boruc's save on Ballack and Lehmanns stop on Saganowski's re-direction, I felt the goalies werent tested as often as I expected.

Germany had quite a bit more quality chances than poland...if you apply the same standards to both sides' chances "3-2 either way" is not fair

[Cris 09]

I wanted to share this post!!!

Watched/charted Michael Ballack in the Germany - Poland game today.

I watched 66 minutes, when the feed broke for almost 8 minutes. When we returned live, Podolski had scored his second, the game was out of reach and I really had work to do (so that I can watch the Italy - Holland game tomorrow).

In 66 minutes, Ballach had 32 possessions and just 7 turnovers. Looking to see where his touches came from, he received balls from:
Mertesacker - 4
Fritz - 3
Podolski - 4
Lahm - 1
Frings - 4
Gomez - 1
Jansen - 2
Metzelder - 4
Direct from Throw ins - 2
Loose balls - 3

His distribution was equally egalitarian:
Mertesacker - 1
Fritz - 2
Podolski - 4
Gomez - 1
Lahm - 1
Klose - 1
Frings - 1
Jansen - 3
Metzelder - 3
Lehmann - 1
Schwansteiger - 1

Ballack received passes from 8 of the 11 players who played, and made passes to all 11 (Schwanstiger was a 55th minute sub) and this was only looking at 66 minutes. I do this charting for 20 - 25 games a year, primarily in the Premiership and in the Champions League, and that kind of distribution is rare. His touch back to Lehmann was a statistical outlier (attacking mids rarely control back to the keeper), but I doubt I'll see another player get it to every other field player in just 66 minutes. I'm no fan of Ballack in general, but this was a typical, neat and tidy game, moving the ball, getting it to everyone because he covers a lot of ground, is always available, and will usually make the simple pass, even if it is right back to Metzelder or Jansen. Really an elegant game for Ballack.

[ForeverRed]

Maybe you should post that in the Ballack vs. Gerrard thread lol.

[ForeverRed]

Podolski better light it up against Croatia & Austria..

Tbh I'm finding a lot of the news reports about the game slightly unfair, mainly the one on the euro2008.com website...Possession, shots, shots on target etc were pretty much dead even and both teams had quality chances. The game could have gone 3-2 either way. Outside of Boruc's save on Ballack and Lehmanns stop on Saganowski's re-direction, I felt the goalies werent tested as often as I expected.

A lot of Poland's shots on goals were speculative long range goals because they couldn't penetrate the defense and found it hard to keep possession for good moments at a time.

Germany was in control for most of the match even if the statistics don't show that directly. They played the game to their strengths, keep the ball moving and maintain preasure on the opponent. That said, Poland came to play and replied with their own direct way of playing which was surprisingly fluent and full spirited.

[Cris 09]

Maybe you should post that in the Ballack vs. Gerrard thread lol.

Seriously thought about that one...cool stats, though, eh?


Dude, you Kumar and I look like DF's kids with our mini avatars while he's got the full-size.

[Cris 09]

A lot of Poland's shots on goals were speculative long range goals because they couldn't penetrate the defense and found it hard to keep possession for good moments at a time.

Germany was in control for most of the match even if the statistics don't show that directly. They played the game to their strengths, keep the ball moving and maintain preasure on the opponent. That said, Poland came to play and replied with their own direct way of playing which was surprisingly fluent and full spirited.

Absolutely, credit to Poland for not sitting back but playing for the win.

[ForeverRed]

Seriously thought about that one...cool stats, though, eh?


It would be great if only a certain someone on that thread was sensible. Indeed great stats to show what a special player Ballack is. You won't find stats like that for many "big name" players.

Dude, you Kumar and I look like DF's kids with our mini avatars while he's got the full-size.

We're all mini fingers. :D

[prymetyme]

I always get terribly confused now when reading the threads, because all your avatars are the same!

[Cris 09]

I always get terribly confused now when reading the threads, because all your avatars are the same!

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/GBEU/FP1839~Darth-Vader-Posters.jpg