View Full Version : PBP: Croatia v. Germany [R]
ForeverRed
12 Jun 2008, 03:28 PM
I just want to congratulate the Croatian fans here that don't come to the Germany boards. You deserved to win. Bilic outsmarted Loew tactically and exposed Germany's weaknesses. You won the game how a game at this stage of the tournament is usually and probably should be won.
squidward123
12 Jun 2008, 03:30 PM
They had at least 2 clear-cut chances that didn't go in during the first-half and at least one more in the second-half (where the German almost put it in his own net after the Croat just missed a tap in).
Name them?
Krancjar had a clear cut one in the first half and a half chance in the first half
Modric had a half-chance very late in the game...that's the one where lahm put it out for a corner. It was not "almost into his own net"...was quite a way wide of the goal.
There were no clear cut chances in 2nd half for either team.
56% of (useless) possession is nothing to hang your hat on and certainly doesn't signify any sort of "domination".
Yes, it signifies dominating possession like I said...but it can be useless and not incisive. Of course.
Croatia's first goal wrapped-up a sequence of about 20 complete passes in-a-row. They had more shots on target than Germany. More shots off target. Corner-kicks were even. Fouls committed were even.
Good, but this is a bit unrelated and shots and stats don't mean as much in practice as they might indicate from paper. Poland also scored higher in those categories than germany.
Not a hint of time-wasting by Croatia until the corner-kick right before the red-card.
No there was, before that. Petric and modric both took it to the corner flag on the opposite side and I looked at the clock and it read 85 mins. On the second go (modric), the ref actually gave germany a throw in despite it being a croatian throw in.
Emperor_Norton
12 Jun 2008, 03:33 PM
How? Croatia did not create any chances after the half-chance and good chance that krancjar had midway through the first half. So how are they supposed to score more?
As others have written before, it could have easily been 4-1 for Croatia. The final result is deceiving.
squad selection is fine. they just did not play well enough on the day.
Maybe we will discuss this on another thread. I have written before the EC started that I had serious issues with Loew`s decisions. But I know that this topic is controversial and that opinions will differ amongst Germany supporters.
agree. midfield attacking passing was poor with the final ball. Otherwise was good enough to dominate possession (Albeit in the face of very defensive play from croatia)
Dominating possession doesn`t mean anything. Metzelder playing back to Lehmann might help to win this stats but it surely won`t help to win the game.
footyfan1
12 Jun 2008, 03:37 PM
I'm really disappointed with some of the things I'm reading.
It seems too many Germany fans here are good winners, but sore losers.
ZenitChempion
12 Jun 2008, 03:38 PM
Congrats to Croatia!
I was rooting for you because you allowed Russia to qualify, and after that game, I am really impressed by your football.
This maybe an impossibility, but I wanna see Croatia - Netherlands in the final.
P.S. Haven't logged in here since 2006 WC. Back then no one knew the team in my nick, and now they are UEFA Cup holders!
footyfan1
12 Jun 2008, 03:39 PM
Dominating possession doesn`t mean anything. Metzelder playing back to Lehmann might help to win this stats but it surely won`t help to win the game.
Exactly. Croatia 2-------------Germany 1
That's the only stat that counts in the end.
Congrats to Croatia, deserved win.
They played much more confident than our boys and could have scored more goals.
I'll go and cry in my pillow now, thanks.
squidward123
12 Jun 2008, 03:42 PM
As others have written before, it could have easily been 4-1 for Croatia. The final result is deceiving.
but you can't name the chances still....
I mean if we're counting everything then ballack had an equivalent chance to krancjar's first one from the first half...pig went just wide of the post...
so i would not say it could have "easily" been 4-1.
3-1, yes, as kranjcar should have put it away from 8 yards.
Dominating possession doesn`t mean anything. Metzelder playing back to Lehmann might help to win this stats but it surely won`t help to win the game.
I thought what we mostly lacked in was the final ball or the ball before that...
MetroFever
12 Jun 2008, 03:42 PM
Germany 4
Croatia -1
Their overrated and their coach is too cocky.
http://www.index.hr/images2/darijosrna_hrvatskareprezentacijaAFPV26.jpg
BocaFan
12 Jun 2008, 03:44 PM
Name them?
Krancjar had a clear cut one in the first half and a half chance in the first half
There was a wide-open Croat to his right which he should have slid a simple pass to. That's what makes it a full chance, IMO. Yes, without that passing option, it would only have been a "half chance".
cromagnum
12 Jun 2008, 03:59 PM
Modric just got robbed! No way was that a foul! Frings flopped like a bitch!
that was a clean tackle and he would have been one on one with lehman..croatia showed today that when they run they can play some nice football..that run by corluka where kranjcar should have scored was great..
squidward123
12 Jun 2008, 04:01 PM
that was a clean tackle and he would have been one on one with lehman..croatia showed today that when they run they can play some nice football..that run by corluka where kranjcar should have scored was great..
In case some people got it the wrong way, I KNOW croatia can play very nice football as I followed some of their qualifying campaign and especially the two games against england where they played them off the park.
I expect a lot from croatia in terms of footballing style.
It's in that context that I made comments about croatia today.
squidward123
12 Jun 2008, 04:02 PM
There was a wide-open Croat to his right which he should have slid a simple pass to. That's what makes it a full chance, IMO. Yes, without that passing option, it would only have been a "half chance".
yeah of course.
many, many full chances are missed because players do not make a simple pass at the end...
Cris 09
12 Jun 2008, 04:05 PM
I'm really disappointed with some of the things I'm reading.
It seems too many Germany fans here are good winners, but sore losers.
"Many"? A few, would be more like it.
"Many"? A few, would be more like it.
Agreed.
BocaFan
12 Jun 2008, 04:15 PM
yeah of course.
many, many full chances are missed because players do not make a simple pass at the end...
You're over-complicating matters.
A full chance means merely a great chance to score, which that play clearly was.
squidward123
12 Jun 2008, 04:20 PM
You're over-complicating matters.
A full chance means merely a great chance to score, which that play clearly was.
i was definining that as getting an opportunity to shoot from a great position
anyway, doesnt matter now
olafgb
12 Jun 2008, 04:28 PM
Croatia appeared to be closer to the third goal than Germany to the equaliser, so we don't have to talk about a deserved win or the number of scoring opportunities. Such a performance happens if you play a little above average performance in the first game and afterwards you believe to be superb. Also against Poland the left side was the big defensive problem, there was one Polish attack after the other over this wing - talked down as Podolski was affected who had to be hyped up as the big game winner. Sure, offensively he was excellent but a left mid - which is his position - also has to work defensively. Jansen already had a bad game against Poland where his problems were obvious.
Also Löw seemed to be overstrained with the situation. In an interview yesterday he told that he is tactically prepared for every situation - leading, trailing, getting a red card and so on. Today he didn't seem to know what to do, he appeared helpless already after being down in the first half. What do you want with Odonkor when you have to rally up a goal? Odonkor can run fast, that's his quality - a counter attacking player when you have the space but at half time it was very clear that Croatia would concentrate on the defence and would not allow any space. Schweinsteiger came in too late, the midfield was not creative at all and it urgently needed structure and new ideas. Also foolish to stick to Klose to the end who obviously is out of shape and was not involved in the game at all
I still believe that Germany will advance but it won't be as easy as it sounds. Austria is playing promising games - let them score the lead and this team is able to care for a second Cordoba.
Lahmfan
12 Jun 2008, 04:40 PM
THANK YOU AUSTRIA! now please lose next game.
LJSoccer
12 Jun 2008, 04:41 PM
I was not able to see the game today because I am at work but I can categorically commend both Germany and Croatia on the beauty of their women. Your 2 nations easily have the best looking women in the tournament.That alone is worth tuning in for. In any event I suspect both countries will advance and hope that they do, if for nothing more than the lovely scenery!
Good Luck to both.