Match #31 :: The Final :: Sunday 29 June [R]

[Cris 09]

As you said it was only in the group stage did Germany attack. In the knockout phase all those teams were pathetic. All negative football. Don't concede the goal. Play for penalties. Too bad Cameroon did not go through against England I was rooting for them. They still have my all time favorite play in the World Cup, Rene Iguita being stripped of the ball at midfield by Roger Millia and the subsequent goal. Great stuff. Play with fire you will be burned.

Its Rene "Higuita"!

As far as the final, Germany had like 10 goals to Argentina's 1 or something, hardly a defensive game by Germany!

[Campioni_2006]

I'm just an Italian/American guy w a "passion for Germans"

What? You're Italian? Is that why you said this when Spain beat Italy:

Aside from warm milk, camomile tea & Valium, the next best thing to put you to sleep is watching the Italians play what they call- "football".

The most boring game, the biggest crybabies & whiners!

Plus, they show their lack of nerve & coolness in PKs (ok...they won ONE in the last 20 yrs...they've lost about 6 of the last seven)-

I don't know who has less "courage" . an Italian footballer or an Italian "soldier" in WW II. Wotan

Hardly sounds like an Italian fan? :confused:
Unless of course you're Italian.. but you don't like the Italy NT.

[Campioni_2006]

Err..uhm.. goodnight.

[Caesar]

Eh, I give up.

So how does Germany line up assuming Ballack is out? Schweini straight into his role, or a major reshuffle?

[Cris 09]

Eh, I give up.

So how does Germany line up assuming Ballack is out? Schweini straight into his role, or a major reshuffle?

Schwieni or Lahm...let us not forget Lahm played midfield at Wembley when Germany barely had a 'b' squad v England last year and did pretty well.

I'm really missing Schneider right now!! :(

[uclacarlos]

Nope. Actually Poland manhandled US 3-1 in WC 2002 and Portugal in Euro Qualifying 2-1.
Poland hasn't advanced in a tournament since 1982. This was their first Euro. Sweden, on the other hand, has advanced repeatedly in both the Euro and the WC, and has numerous semi-final appearances, most recently in 1994 and 1992.

No comparison.

And the US advanced in 2002 ahead of Poland. :D

The loss to USA was in a meaningless friendly. So you might actually want to have some knowledge before speaking or writing.
Like knowing that the US has beaten Poland more than once since 2002 in meaningless friendlies?

Or that Sweden's track record in major competition far surpasses Poland's?

Poland are a very solid team that topped Portugal in qualifying. Unfortunately they have had some issues performing in the final tournament games.
They've also had issues qualifying for the Euro throughout their history. And the fact that they've had issues period in performing in tournament is indicative of their overall quality.

The poster to whom I had responded was asserting that Germany had a tougher road to the final, which is just ... naive to tell the truth. Both Austria and Switzerland were in their bracket and only fewer FIFA-ranked top 10 teams, whereas 5 of the top 10 teams in the world were in Spain's bracket.

Of course, FIFA rankings are good for very little, but c'mon... Spain had to get through the reigning Euro and WC champs plus the other top teams of the Group of Death.

Poland's an ok side, but nothing spectacular. Sweden is a notch above them.

[Caesar]

When did the thread about Spain v Germany in the Euro final turn into a comparison between the US, Sweden and Poland? :confused:

[Lahmfan]

When did the thread about Spain v Germany in the Euro final turn into a comparison between the US, Sweden and Poland? :confused:
i actually wanted to ask the same question 3 pages ago:o

[Borussia]

Eh, I give up.

So how does Germany line up assuming Ballack is out? Schweini straight into his role, or a major reshuffle?

Let's keep that secret...;)


Btw: Here's 2 nice previews.

CLICK 1 (http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=301696/report=pr.html)

CLICK 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWn8u_YJGRM)



When did the thread about Spain v Germany in the Euro final turn into a comparison between the US, Sweden and Poland? :confused:


Because some people obviously like spamming and talking bla bla...

[Borussia]

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/5345/pic1710wi0.jpg

I hope that this family in my neighbourhood (he's German, she's Spanish, their son is Spain fan, the daughter Germany supporter) won't be in trouble tonight...:D

As long as both flags get along together, there's some hope. :-)

[Caesar]

Let's keep that secret...;)
Come onnnn. I promise not to tell Aragones. :p

[squidward123]

They went defensive like everyone else after the group stage, but they at least played some nice stuff early on (which is more than can be said for anyone else).


have you seen the holland game?? They were full out attack in that one. Holland were almost matching them too.

[smithfan]

ARD filmed the last training session this morning, and Ballack did NOT participate. Anyone who thinks that he will play, is a very optimistic person...

[Wotan]

ARD filmed the last training session this morning, and Ballack did NOT participate. Anyone who thinks that he will play, is a very optimistic person...

If i were Germany's coach & the team Dr.- I certainly would NOT risk having him..."train"! Common sense, why put him at risk to re-injure or aggravate the injury by "training"? Right now, until game time the most sensible thing to do is to...rest!

[Wotan]

MY TAKE ON SPORTS INJURIES!

I'm in my late 50s....been a sports fan for over 50 years, the American sports, baseball, basketball & Football(American).

I've seen many, many injuries over the years & one common thin I've noticed about whether a certain player will play in a key game..or not is this...-

If a guy is definitely going to be out & not play...it's said....at least a day or more before the game ! (Like Villa for Spain).

Usually, & I mean this in over 90% of the time...when the "athlete in question's " Status remains......"uncertain"...in the HOURS preceding the game...it is invariably a sign ...he WILL play! (I've seen this countless times, in Basketball, baseball...Amer. Football)-

Basically....if the trainers..KNOW w certainty a guy is not fit to play--it is said! This "uncertainty"...hours before the game...is usually a harbinger that the guy WILL play!

Just curious--does anyone here, see mt point & agree? We'll soon see, but do you see my point? (I read on Yahoo--that the German Media "expect" Ballack to start.....whether he goes the full 90 minutes...I can't be sure.)-

Hope to get some feedback on this--thanks-- Wotan

[Alberto]

Its Rene "Higuita"!

As far as the final, Germany had like 10 goals to Argentina's 1 or something, hardly a defensive game by Germany!


And my misspelling of his name proves what, since you felt compelled to put quotations around his last name.









Que imbecil.

[Tony Dellbird]

As you said it was only in the group stage did Germany attack. In the knockout phase all those teams were pathetic. All negative football. Don't concede the goal. Play for penalties. Too bad Cameroon did not go through against England I was rooting for them. They still have my all time favorite play in the World Cup, Rene Iguita being stripped of the ball at midfield by Roger Millia and the subsequent goal. Great stuff. Play with fire you will be burned.

To piss you off more, It's actually Roger Milla?

[Alberto]

MY TAKE ON SPORTS INJURIES!

I'm in my late 50s....been a sports fan for over 50 years, the American sports, baseball, basketball & Football(American).

I've seen many, many injuries over the years & one common thin I've noticed about whether a certain player will play in a key game..or not is this...-

If a guy is definitely going to be out & not play...it's said....at least a day or more before the game ! (Like Villa for Spain).

Usually, & I mean this in over 90% of the time...when the "athlete in question's " Status remains......"uncertain"...in the HOURS preceding the game...it is invariably a sign ...he WILL play! (I've seen this countless times, in Basketball, baseball...Amer. Football)-

Basically....if the trainers..KNOW w certainty a guy is not fit to play--it is said! This "uncertainty"...hours before the game...is usually a harbinger that the guy WILL play!

Just curious--does anyone here, see mt point & agree? We'll soon see, but do you see my point? (I read on Yahoo--that the German Media "expect" Ballack to start.....whether he goes the full 90 minutes...I can't be sure.)-

Hope to get some feedback on this--thanks-- Wotan

You are engaging in speculation. Only Michael Ballack knows if he can play and to what level. What is important is for Ballack to be honest with himself and his team and be sure whether he can make a positive contribution or not. If he is not able to play effectively or if he hurts the team because he cannot run at close to full speed he does more to hurt than help Germany. Also, if Ballack starts as an emotional lift for the Germans I wonder if this is not at end a risky move that could backfire. With only three substitutes starting Ballack and then having to sub him out early reduces the options available to the team.

I would also be concerned if Ballack playing could lead to a worse injury with a longer recovery. Some injuries you can play through without fear of doing greater damage. A calf strain really hampers your ability to run. It requires a great deal of stretching and there is no guarrantee it will not tighten up and knock you right out of the game.

[Alberto]

To piss you off more, It's actually Roger Milla?

Thanks you must be fun to hang out with.

[Cris 09]

And my misspelling of his name proves what, since you felt compelled to put quotations around his last name.









Que imbecil.

Uhm, just letting you know the correct spelling. Using quotes is appropiate in this case placing focus on "Higuita" the name, as opposed to "Higuita" the man...:rolleyes:

As far as "imbecil", tu mismo!! Como diablos lograste ser un MOD aqui pues nunca lo sabre...

Hurray for the quality of B.S. it apparently can only get better!