Portugal vs Germany Quarterfinal- Euro, 2008 [R]

[masto22]

We are almost sure that Portugal is a better team than Germany.
Can the history be so important?

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

Cool. I was just about to create the thread for this. Looking forward to the match-up.

[1shot1kill]

1 of the few Germany matches where I will be supporting the Germans.

[BigHeadTodd]

Hi all....first time poster here so take it easy on me please. :) Fun to read (since the '06 WC) and now be a part of a truly world-wide message board.

Really looking forward to this matchup. I think Germany has some concerns for this QF....they are pretty banged up (with Frings broken rib, and Podolski's calf in poor shape), and will be without coach Low. Portugal on the other hand is well rested and appear to be in pretty good form. Portugal plays with such grace, Germany is so powerful and usually, somehow, someway is successful in the later stages....I can't wait.

How would you fans (of Germany especially) assess the play of Super Mario for this tourney? I was really looking forward to watching him and I must say he has been very unimpressive....super he has not been. Overwhelmed? Just outplayed? His whiff and then laziness on that perfect ball from Klose was just brutal.

Why not start Schweiny and put Podolski (if he can play) up front with Klose, and bench Gomez?

BHT

[Cris 09]

How would you fans (of Germany especially) assess the play of Super Mario for this tourney?

Crap!

[Little fairy]

I´m so hoping Blöd is right with this german line up:

http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/fussball/EM-2008/2008/06/19/deutschland-portugal/aufstellung-mbhf.jpg

[drahnier]

Is that lineup trustworthy?

Frings being in it is the biggest thing, without Frings this match is much closer to being screwed.
And the putting Ballack right behind the attackers instead of a second attacker might be good because Ballack hasn't been going forward enough.

Of course Hitzlsperger sure isn't great.

And either he or Frings would need to go forward a lot during attacks, but Frings is good offensively too.

[Little fairy]

Its Bild, they have their football spies everywhere. The last line up against Austria were 100% correct...hours ago before Löw annouced it. Great tactical strike of Löw and needed in this match imo.

Well to Frings: There are only 2 possibilities: Löw have to bound Frings on a lamppost before entering the stadium to hinder him from playing or Frings will play. This ridiculous little injury won´t stop him on his way to the title. Noo not a Frings. :D

But to be more serious: Rolfes will come in then. 1th sub for Frings when he isn´t fit. Well as fit you can be with a broken rip...

[Cris 09]

Its Bild, they have their football spies everywhere. The last line up against Austria were 100% correct...hours ago before Löw annouced it. Great tactical strike of Löw and needed in this match imo.

Well to Frings: There are only 2 possibilities: Löw have to bound Frings on a lamppost before entering the stadium to hinder him from playing or Frings will play. This ridiculous little injury won´t stop him on his way to the title. Noo not a Frings. :D

But to be more serious: Rolfes will come in then. 1th sub for Frings when he isn´t fit. Well as fit you can be with a broken rip...

great quote from Platini as your sig... :D
Concur with the rest of your post. Frings could very well start and be subbed at half. This might be a waste of a sub but not as epic a lossas bringing in Odonkor while losing to Croatia...

As far as Rolfes...sheesh, I'm not sure. I mean if Mario was nervous v Austria how would Rolfes do v Portugal in a QF??

[Rainer24]

Germany has sort of been crap so far, but that said, 2-0 for Germany.

[FNU]

Will Podolski play? I've got him in my fantasy team. :o

[blueguitar322]

Go Deutschland!

[Crimen y Castigo]

Low's appeal has been rejected (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3706658,00.html)and he'll be confined to the stands; I believe he will also be banned from the locker room.

For yapping at the 4th official? Seriously, unless he said " 'S' my 'C' " (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZK8QEHxy0oY)* that is a supremely stupid decision by UEFA.


*[link NSFW]

[Brehme]

The funny thing is that according to both coaches the fourth official did not understand english and they both tried to make clear they want to stand up to coach their teams but he always wanted them to sit down and not walk around in the Coaching Zone.

Accoridng to the UEFA, Hickersberger and Löw shouted at each other. It is obvious the fourth official did not udnerstand the situation at all. Hickersberger even went to the german coaching zone to make clear that if Löw has to leave he will leave to as an act of solidarity.

[blueguitar322]

From what has been made public (there's always the chance we won't ever hear some important detail), terrible decision by UEFA. I don't know many offenses by a coach that should even be punished by both a sending off AND missing a game.

[blueguitar322]

BTW, even Scolari is calling for an overturn of that ban:

"If I could in any way influence Uefa, I would like to see that decision be reviewed and I would like to see the team on the bench," said Chelsea-bound Scolari.

"I would applaud Uefa if they let the German coach stay on the German bench so he could manage his team.

"It won't influence the game that much and I see no harm in letting him do his job."Pretty class.

[Rui_GENIUS_Costa]

Portugal needs to break the Germans down :D Grind them to the ground. I can dream atleast.

[Lusankya]

A portuguese victory is not a dream, it's rather the likely outcome of this game. :(
I don't know the actual line up of the german team. But I think depending on this its 60-40 or 55-45 for Portugal.

For me Germany can only win this through penalty shoot-out or if they somehow manage to shut down the powerful portuguese midfield.

[forza_azzurri]

Portugal hasn't played a REAL team yet.


Germany 2 - 1 Portugal

[Branc3399]

Portugal and Germany will play a great game today and the winner will be in the Finals.