View Full Version : Match #31 :: The Final :: Sunday 29 June [R]
geego
26 Jun 2008, 06:42 PM
Options to replace injured Villa:
- Start Guiza, replacing a forward for a forward
- Start Cesc along with Xavi and Iniesta, put Cesc in midfield instead of Iniesta and Iniesta as second forward/left wing.
- Start Cesc along with Xavi and Iniesta, and play the three of them in midfield as ball-passers, and move Silva from midfield to forward.
- Start Xabi Alonso, to have a "rough" player play the corpulent germans, and move either Iniesta or Silva forward.
Borussia
26 Jun 2008, 07:11 PM
In defence, I'd give a slight edge to the Germans.
Have you noticed the performance of both defences in the semi-finals? Spain's defence looked pretty strong during the whole tournmament so far!
We're the clear outsiders in this final ... and I'm not unhappy about this! ;)
ForeverRed
26 Jun 2008, 07:24 PM
Even though Germany are going into the game as underdogs I hope Loew addresses the obvious problems we've seen so far in games against Turkey and Croatia.
I don't know why some people claim mental strength as one of Germany's strong points, its been our weakness so far.
AUF GEHTS DEUTSCHLAND!
Ultra_Sur
26 Jun 2008, 07:35 PM
Options to replace injured Villa:
- Start Guiza, replacing a forward for a forward
- Start Cesc along with Xavi and Iniesta, put Cesc in midfield instead of Iniesta and Iniesta as second forward/left wing.
- Start Cesc along with Xavi and Iniesta, and play the three of them in midfield as ball-passers, and move Silva from midfield to forward.
- Start Xabi Alonso, to have a "rough" player play the corpulent germans, and move either Iniesta or Silva forward.
I think:
-------------------- Casillas
Ramos---------Puyol---------MArchena-----Capdevilla
-----------------------Senna
---Iniesta---------Xavi---------CEsc--------Silva
-------------------------Torres
Borussia
26 Jun 2008, 07:36 PM
I still remember when Spain beat Germany in Euro 84 with a late but very late header by Maceda to eliminate the Germans and help Spain move onto the QF's.
And I remember a certain game in Euro 88 when Germany eliminated Spain by 2:0...:p ;)
Btw: Here's all historical statistics (with match reports) between both nations.
CLICK (http://www.fussballdaten.de/vereine/deutschland/spanien/)
I don't know why some people claim mental strength as one of Germany's strong points, its been our weakness so far.
Yeah, therefore we defeated Portugal and reached the final. :-)
ForeverRed
26 Jun 2008, 07:41 PM
Yeah, therefore we defeated Portugal and reached the final. :-)
We played against Portugal the way we are supposed to play. Croatia and Turkey were huge letdowns.
But I'm going to try to be more optimistic leading up to Sunday.
JeremyEritrea
26 Jun 2008, 08:11 PM
This should be a great game.
The Germans' machine-like perfection against the flowing play of Spain.
I'm thinking we'll see at least five total goals.
forza_azzurri
26 Jun 2008, 09:33 PM
May the BETTER team win :)
Especially since the BEST team is not playing :D
Campioni_2006
26 Jun 2008, 10:21 PM
May the BETTER team win :)
Especially since the BEST team is not playing :D
:rolleyes: I know, poor Holland.
teccomin
26 Jun 2008, 10:34 PM
I don't like this stadium :( the camera angle is really bad, too low.
squidward123
26 Jun 2008, 10:57 PM
Spain has easily been the best team of this tournament, I don't care what happens in the final. Germany has had one good game all tournament and struggled against average and below average sides.
If you take out Portugal where Germany was impressive and Italy where Spain was ok :
Spain have played Russia twice, Sweden and then Greece (in a dead rubber). Those are not harder opponents than Poland, Croatia, Austria and Turkey. Since 2 and arguably 3 of them were highly emotional derbies for the opponent against Germany, you could say the opponents have been harder for Germany. Taking into account the balances of play of that set of games, there isn't much difference there between Germany and Spain.
Most Germans probably don't know how lucky they are Villa isn't playing. He is the heart of our attack. Forget about Torres. He has never helped us much in a game. Villa is our engine.
Having said that, there are no excuses. If Germany win then it is because they were better on that day. Good luck to both teams. Lets hope for:
1) Good officiating!!
2) no lightening so we can all see the game!!
Good comment! Good luck!
GoodDead
26 Jun 2008, 11:37 PM
If you take out Portugal where Germany was impressive and Italy where Spain was ok :
Spain have played Russia twice, Sweden and then Greece (in a dead rubber). Those are not harder opponents than Poland, Croatia, Austria and Turkey. Since 2 and arguably 3 of them were highly emotional derbies for the opponent against Germany, you could say the opponents have been harder for Germany. Taking into account the balances of play of that set of games, there isn't much difference there between Germany and Spain.
Good comment! Good luck!
It wasn't that Germany was impressive vs Portugal. More Like Portugal fell asleep for 4 minutes and Ricardo showed his weakness for set pieces that we all have known since 2004.
If there is good officiating Spain will win.
cuyseco
26 Jun 2008, 11:39 PM
My prediction is Spain 2 Germany 1
If I win the right hot babe will do anything I want :p
http://estaticos02.cache.el-mundo.net/eurocopa/2008/albumes/2008/06/26/espana_celebraciones/42d0bc67748fe0447c49e161898894e3_extras_albumes_0.jpg (http://www.elmundo.es/eurocopa/2008/albumes/2008/06/26/espana_celebraciones/index_14.html)
squidward123
26 Jun 2008, 11:39 PM
It wasn't that Germany was impressive vs Portugal. More Like Portugal fell asleep for 4 minutes and Ricardo showed his weakness for set pieces that we all have known since 2004.
If there is good officiating Spain will win.
That's not the idea that almost all non-portuguese have.
Txtriathlete
26 Jun 2008, 11:53 PM
The only game that truly worried me was against Italy, and they cant be compared to the Germans when it comes to defending.
I'm quite optimistic of a victory.
vancity eagle
27 Jun 2008, 01:39 AM
If you take out Portugal where Germany was impressive and Italy where Spain was ok :
Spain have played Russia twice, Sweden and then Greece (in a dead rubber). Those are not harder opponents than Poland, Croatia, Austria and Turkey. Since 2 and arguably 3 of them were highly emotional derbies for the opponent against Germany, you could say the opponents have been harder for Germany. Taking into account the balances of play of that set of games, there isn't much difference there between Germany and Spain.
Good comment! Good luck!
the key word is STRUGGLED. Spain have struggled against nobody except for Italy who are World Champions and just parked their whole team in front of goal, Germany on the other hand has struggled against Austria, one of the weaker teams, lost to Croatia being outplayed, and struggled against a Turkish reserve side. You do the math.
Lusankya
27 Jun 2008, 01:55 AM
We didn't struggle against Austria. If we did then you did as well against Sweden.
But why comparing the last games? It doesn't matter. The final is a whole new thing.
Cris 09
27 Jun 2008, 01:56 AM
the key word is STRUGGLED. Spain have struggled against nobody except for Italy who are World Champions and just parked their whole team in front of goal, Germany on the other hand has struggled against Austria, one of the weaker teams, lost to Croatia being outplayed, and struggled against a Turkish reserve side. You do the math.
Other than Croatia, they didn't really struggle. They just got the job done in a typical German fashion. :D
But we'll see Sunday!
Lusankya
27 Jun 2008, 02:02 AM
Btw Spain is (slight) favorite, they have better players and they are not Italy. It couldn't be better for Germany. :D
squidward123
27 Jun 2008, 02:43 AM
the key word is STRUGGLED. Spain have struggled against nobody except for Italy who are World Champions and just parked their whole team in front of goal, Germany on the other hand has struggled against Austria, one of the weaker teams, lost to Croatia being outplayed, and struggled against a Turkish reserve side. You do the math.
I said on the balances of play. That means I am taking into account how the games went.
And the fact that some games like Poland, Austria and even Turkey were like derbies. It depends on your definition of "struggled" but I don't think Germany really did against the last two. They had things under control despite it not being pretty. It's not the same as if Germany played Sweden, Greece or Russia. Those three teams are not derbies for either Germany or Spain.
Spain have looked more impressive in the 4 games I listed for each, but with those factors above taken into account there isn't much between the two.