Croatia v. Germany [R]

[Cris 09]

No discredit to Croatia...organized and on the money and deserved to win - but I have to critic Germany as well. Gomez and Klose up front did not have a clue on how to handle a ball. Good pressure put on by the Croatian defense as well but these two strikers are supposed to just that, "top strikers".

Ballack looked like he thought he knew what was going on but he got overwhelmed by the Croatian mids and defense and ended up giving up more than he won. Frings was almost alone there.

Odonker did nothing. Schweini brought energy back to the game but acted like a spoiled fool getting carded, should have been yellow but who the ******** cares.

Lehmann mishandle the ball but I cannot say it's entirly his fault as i beleieve Podolski defelcted it to begin with. Where was the defense?

Metz did what he could, Lahm so-so...Jansen a nightmare, Fritz so-so. Horrible match by the Germans and the Croatian took full adcvantage of that with their attitude playing a solid game. Was Loew out-coached...once Odonker came on, yeah, I thought so!

[KumarsS]

When Germany wants to play ...they will play.

They turn it on and off like Italians.

Looking forward to Germany-Portugal.

Two opposites. One team is disciplined and united. The other is full of over hyped individuals.

Guess who is who ???

You know, as much as I resent the Italians for the WC semifinal, this encouragement warms my heart.

[KumarsS]

Metz did what he could, Lahm so-so...Jansen a nightmare, Fritz so-so. Horrible match by the Germans and the Croatian took full adcvantage of that with their attitude playing a solid game. Was Loew out-coached...once Odonker came on, yeah, I thought so!

Lahm so-so? Lahm was amazing. Our best player, probably for both games so far.

[drahnier]

I believe Germany and Italy have some mutual respect for eachother as they're both classic winner-teams who have won a lot of tournaments when the whole world dislikes them and hopes they'll lose because they don't play beautifully enough.

[Amsteldam]

someone tackled him then he shoved the player to the floor.


Ah, das ist nicht gut dann :D

[RibbyBollywood]

Only speculation here, we see how everything can change.

Just like 1954 and Hungary playing Germany twice,

I did in fact, say Croatia would win this game but if they meet again in the semifinals, I also said it'd be hard to defeat them two times...so that could be lurking, but there is as much chance of that as meeting up with Portugal somewhere down the line.

And if Turkey goes through, geographical neighbours in the Balkans, I don't think it is a sure thing for Croatia to defeat Turkey because there would be a bit of a rivalry there. I think Turkey could be difficult for Germany as well, if they show up with their A game.

The Czechs did not really deserve a victory over Switzerland, maybe a draw. They need some offensive show because obviously they have one of the best goalkeepers.

[Cris 09]

Lahm so-so? Lahm was amazing. Our best player, probably for both games so far.

Most of the attacks from croatia came from the right while he was there. granted, no Fritz to help him out but still. He couldn't neutralized the attacks coming at him.

Amazing? No.

So-so? Yeah.

[The Natural]

When Germany wants to play ...they will play.

They turn it on and off like Italians.

Looking forward to Germany-Portugal.

Two opposites. One team is disciplined and united. The other is full of over hyped individuals.

Guess who is who ???

And unlike Italy both teams know how to get passed the Dutch. ;)

[forza_azzurri]

I believe Germany and Italy have some mutual respect for eachother as they're both classic winner-teams who have won a lot of tournaments when the whole world dislikes them and hopes they'll lose because they don't play beautifully enough.

I always thought that teams play like the countries personalities.

Germans are disciplined , structured and play almost "robot like".

Italians only do what they need to do. Never more or less and they
usually get side tracked with passion.

[AFCA]

That's because you're dead wrong. They were totally outworked against Austria.

I doubt that was all. Croatia looked piss-poor to me in that game.

But this was something very different. I'd say it's a bit of an upset. And it has me thinking about our own game tomorrow :D

[forza_azzurri]

And unlike Italy both teams know how to get passed the Dutch. ;)

Except The Dutch couldn't get passed us for 30 years.

I don't think the Dutch want to play us again in this tournament.

[AFCA]

When Germany wants to play ...they will play.

They turn it on and off like Italians.



Now you're stretching it a bit ;)

[BocaFan]

If I was Portugal, I wouldn't want to face Germany with Ricardo in goal. Croatia is a quality side, MUCH MUCH BETTER than Turkey and Czech Rep.

Meet Jens Lehmann!

They don't need to. Head-to-head is used to determine teams tied on points.. not goal differential. So if Poland beats Austria tonight.. and then Croatia - they will pip them on head-to-head. Of course if Germany also beats Austria then the three teams will all have 6 points and the group will be decided by a mini-group standings of the results between the three teams. Remember Sweden-Denmark-Italy four years ago?

Exactly! That's why Poland would need to beat Croatia by 3 goals to win the group. Like I said, not very realistic.

[squidward123]

Congratulations to the croatian posters in here like aloisius, cromagnum etc...


well on short reflection I am as happy as I could be with a loss in a game that isn't a dead rubber :)

The reason is that we've got this kind of game out of the way and we're still in a good position to go through.

Germany had more possession and better passing patterns etc, but the final ball was always lacking. So Germany were not incisive enough.

Croatia were pathetic IMO. I did not expect that from a normally good footballing side. They did not try to play football after the first goal.

Up until then the game was pretty even with Germany passing it more through the midfield and Croatia going long more (but accurately).

After 24 mins till halftime they defended and Germany put them on the back foot. Croatia had 1-2 chances for Kranjcar from long passes and knock-downs from Olic.

But it was after halftime that they really shut up shop and played pathetic football.

When you do that, you do not "deserve" to score again. A proper counterattack would have been bearable, but that goal was a huge slice of luck.

So they score, and keep shutting up shop, while Germany play nice passing patterns at times, overall dominating possession but lack the incisive touch.

Ballack was poor offensively today. Klose was poor, Gomez was poor, Jansen was defensively a liability.

What really confirmed Croatia's desperation and pathetic football was when they tried to take it to the corner flag at the 85 minute mark!

After that the slow trudging to every corner and throw in and the great acting by the defender to pretend pig hit him in the face when he pushed him in the chest...

Croatia did not really play football and won.

Sure, Germany were not impressive enough with the final pass, but at least Germany tried to play football and didn't act and display something bordering on poor sportsmanship.


They showed a stat 3/4 of the way through the game and Germany had completed more than 100 more passes than Croatia.

I think Germany will go through still.

It was good to get this match where you get a huge dose of bad luck and don't play as well as you can either.

This will also get rid of ANY complacency they might have had. That's really good news.

Now they're cornered. If they can't do it now, then they're just not good enough.

If Croatia meet us again in the semis, they better watch out ;)


Again, congratulations to the croatian posters in here like aloisius, cromagnum and others

[The Natural]

Now you're stretching it a bit ;)

What he says is true only that Donadoni hasn't found the batteries to the remote.

[glennaldo_sf]

I doubt that was all. Croatia looked piss-poor to me in that game.

But this was something very different. I'd say it's a bit of an upset. And it has me thinking about our own game tomorrow :D

This is the thing about Croatia... they can look terrible one day and then great the next. They did it in the last Euros - looking toothless vs Switzerland and then almost beating the holder France in the next game. In WV 2006, they took the game to Brazil in their opener but then came up with stinkers vs. Japan & Australia. In qualifying, they lost to Macedonia only to turn up against England at Wembley and win. That's the thing with Croatia, you never know what to expect.

[AFCA]

And unlike Italy both teams know how to get passed the Dutch. ;)

As vice versa, although in the case of Portugal it's been a while :D

(qualification for euro 92? We won 1-0 in rotterdam, Richard Witschge scored)

[sendorange]

I'd like to know which game squidward was watching. Modric controlled possession and the Croatians were easily more incisive in their passing.

It was the Germans who kept playing in predictable straight lines, no creativity or serious variation until Schweinsteiger came on. Even then they did not create many serious chances and it was Croatia who had great chances to score a third.

[Cris 09]

I disagree on all accounts

Congratulations to the croatian posters in here like aloisius, cromagnum etc...


well on short reflection I am as happy as I could be with a loss in a game that isn't a dead rubber :)

The reason is that we've got this kind of game out of the way and we're still in a good position to go through.

Germany had more possession and better passing patterns etc, but the final ball was always lacking. So Germany were not incisive enough.

Croatia were pathetic IMO. I did not expect that from a normally good footballing side. They did not try to play football after the first goal.

Up until then the game was pretty even with Germany passing it more through the midfield and Croatia going long more (but accurately).

After 24 mins till halftime they defended and Germany put them on the back foot. Croatia had 1-2 chances for Kranjcar from long passes and knock-downs from Olic.

But it was after halftime that they really shut up shop and played pathetic football.

When you do that, you do not "deserve" to score again. A proper counterattack would have been bearable, but that goal was a huge slice of luck.

So they score, and keep shutting up shop, while Germany play nice passing patterns at times, overall dominating possession but lack the incisive touch.

Ballack was poor offensively today. Klose was poor, Gomez was poor, Jansen was defensively a liability.

What really confirmed Croatia's desperation and pathetic football was when they tried to take it to the corner flag at the 85 minute mark!

After that the slow trudging to every corner and throw in and the great acting by the defender to pretend pig hit him in the face when he pushed him in the chest...

Croatia did not really play football and won.

Sure, Germany were not impressive enough with the final pass, but at least Germany tried to play football and didn't act and display something bordering on poor sportsmanship.


They showed a stat 3/4 of the way through the game and Germany had completed more than 100 more passes than Croatia.

I think Germany will go through still.

It was good to get this match where you get a huge dose of bad luck and don't play as well as you can either.

This will also get rid of ANY complacency they might have had. That's really good news.

Now they're cornered. If they can't do it now, then they're just not good enough.

If Croatia meet us again in the semis, they better watch out ;)


Again, congratulations to the croatian posters in here like aloisius, cromagnum and others

[z187 Portugal]

When Germany wants to play ...they will play.

They turn it on and off like Italians.

Looking forward to Germany-Portugal.

Two opposites. One team is disciplined and united. The other is full of over hyped individuals.

Guess who is who ???

:rolleyes:

well Portugal sure looks united to me, they are playing as a team and they celebrate goals all together with the subs, coaches, you can tell they have a special team unity.

dont confuse Talent for lack of team unity, its just their our individual players are that good and can decide games themselves.