View Full Version : Match #31 :: The Final :: Sunday 29 June [R]
Juanele
28 Jun 2008, 02:20 PM
BTW, german media reporting that Ballack is doubtful for tomorrow's game.
Don't believe it, Ballack will play tomorrow, guaranteed.
Oscar
28 Jun 2008, 02:29 PM
Don't believe it either.
Wotan
28 Jun 2008, 02:38 PM
Don't believe it, Ballack will play tomorrow, guaranteed.
I "third" that ! Ballack will play! Just keeping him out of practice, to "play it safe"! Part of it could be a "psychological ploy" as well.
He WILL play!
+Gooner+
28 Jun 2008, 02:38 PM
He won't play most likely. Löw said the chances of him playing are very small because the calf muscle is hardened and inflamed. Either Schweinsteiger or Borowski will play instead of Ballack. And since we don't have too much quality on the bench this is a good thing for Spain. At least as long as Borowski doesn't turn all his frustration and anger about him being on the bench all the time into a fine performence.
I guess in the end it will turn out like 2002 against Brazil.
They'll play a fine game but lose 0:2 or something like that.
If he won't be able to play Ballack should REALLY think about getting rid of that #13, I mean seriously...
ForeverRed
28 Jun 2008, 03:02 PM
The odds already stacked against us are even bigger now.
:(
ForeverRed
28 Jun 2008, 03:05 PM
Where did all these Spain supporters come from all of a sudden? lol
I remember visiting match threads before the tournament and they were pretty empty.
Ramon Allones
28 Jun 2008, 03:17 PM
Where did all these Spain supporters come from all of a sudden? lol
I remember visiting match threads before the tournament and they were pretty empty.
In general there are less Spain supporters on a thread like this. Notice the name of the board "Big Soccer". This thread is populated mostly by Americans (though there are a lot of Europeans et al. also.)
And when Spaniards left the old world, they usually settled in latin America rather than North America. Germans and Italians mostly ended up in the U.S. (I see your from NYC)
Having said that, there are also a lot of bandwagon jumpers.
unclesox
28 Jun 2008, 03:28 PM
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080628/capt.ab5e998cbc1342d1a4c31997524ed7aa.soccer_euro_2008_lmd109.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080628/capt.a788cf684df945cb9747187be3b65519.soccer_euro_2008_training_spain_ba106.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080628/capt.e30fb70574d840838aeead0d242d46a5.soccer_euro_2008_lmd104.jpg
Paolo Calcagno, Roberto Rosetti, Alessandro Griselli
unclesox
28 Jun 2008, 03:28 PM
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080628/capt.39525a1719a74fa49fee6d7e1b4b8f12.soccer_euro_2008_training_germany_mme111.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080628/i/r963783820.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080628/i/r72726549.jpg
Could not find any photos with Ballack included. Doesn't mean he didn't train, of course.
unclesox
28 Jun 2008, 03:29 PM
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080628/capt.ac1cbf9d719143a7a3d525fcdc3376fc.soccer_euro_2008_training_spain__lb101.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080628/capt.348db027f5874239863c9411418d15e6.soccer_euro_2008_training_spain_mjs117.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080628/capt.9d1e9f32290341deb1e173458af0106b.soccer_euro_2008_training_spain_mjs114.jpg
ForeverRed
28 Jun 2008, 03:31 PM
He had a special indoor training session without any press noticing. ;)
Cris 09
28 Jun 2008, 03:32 PM
Could not find any photos with Ballack included. Doesn't mean he didn't train, of course.
He didn't train yesterday or today aoording to the DFB.
Tony Dellbird
28 Jun 2008, 03:45 PM
Spain to win!
canadianscraggledog
28 Jun 2008, 03:45 PM
Meh. Even the US has man-handled them repeatedly.
Sure, they got screwed against Austria, but they weren't really that much of a threat.
Nope. Actually Poland manhandled US 3-1 in WC 2002 and Portugal in Euro Qualifying 2-1.
The loss to USA was in a meaningless friendly. So you might actually want to have some knowledge before speaking or writing.
Poland are a very solid team that topped Portugal in qualifying. Unfortunately they have had some issues performing in the final tournament games.
canadianscraggledog
28 Jun 2008, 03:57 PM
That's probably due to the fact that you match up better against Sweden than you do Poland, and Poland matches up better against you than they do most other teams.
Sweden has always played Spain well. In fact, all 3 Scandinavian teams match up well against us for some reason.
Historically Sweden has outperformed Poland. By a landslide.
Poland have 2 3rd place finishes in the WC. How many do Sweden have?
unclesox
28 Jun 2008, 04:10 PM
Poland have 2 3rd place finishes in the WC. How many do Sweden have?
2 (1950, 1994)
4th place in '38.
Runners-up in '58.
Wotan
28 Jun 2008, 05:18 PM
What is the TRUE status of Ballack & chance he will start?
I hear conflicting reports.
Two posters here whose opinion i greatly respect--Juanele & Oscar...say he WILL defintitely start! Others are more cautious. (I hope Juanele & Oscar post their more detailed opinions as to WHY they feel Ballack will be ready)
Another poster "Red"...or something--says Ballack is working out in privacy..maybe a lighter workout.
Anyway--What are the German trainers doing that could help Ballack calf heal faster? Ice....heat...massage.....electric currents?
Someone--get back with any late updates...& Juanele & Oscar--where are you guys? Thanks--Wotan
+Gooner+
28 Jun 2008, 05:28 PM
What is the TRUE status of Ballack & chance he will start?
I hear conflicting reports.
Two posters here whose opinion i greatly respect--Juanele & Oscar...say he WILL defintitely start! Others are more cautious. (I hope Juanele & Oscar post their more detailed opinions as to WHY they feel Ballack will be ready)
Another poster "Red"...or something--says Ballack is working out in privacy..maybe a lighter workout.
Anyway--What are the German trainers doing that could help Ballack calf heal faster? Ice....heat...massage.....electric currents?
Someone--get back with any late updates...& Juanele & Oscar--where are you guys? Thanks--Wotan
Okay, here is the official and only version from Löw. Ballack has a hardened and infalmed calf muscle since Friday and did not take part in training yesterday and today. He is not likely to start tomorrow because there has not been an improvement so far. They medical staff is doing its best but they will decide tomorrow before the match if he can play. It is unlikely, though.
Schweinsteiger or Borowski is are going to replace him. That is all they said at the press conference today.
An no, it is of course not a bluff. Löw has never and probably will never do stuff like that and has always been honest and clear about any injuries and whether a player is going to start or recovering or the like.
smithfan
28 Jun 2008, 05:31 PM
I thought it's just that kind of news to confuse the Spanish team (although I don't think that Löw would ever do that, he's just not that type of character who bluffs) but after I heard Löw talking about Ballack's injury, I'm VERY sure that he won't play. And that is indeed a huge blow for Germany, whose chances are minimal now.