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

[footyfan1]

Nobody wants to be the favourite... :D

Of course. That takes away their reason to play as if they have nothing to lose..... ;)

[David-G]

Going into this one it looks like the teams strength/weaknesses match up pretty well. Spain's strength is quick passing and movement while Germany has been plagued by a very slowly reacting defense at times. On the other hand you have the short Spaniards and the Germans who excel in the air. We'll see which one exploits their advantage better.

[rantanplan]

Its so funny how everybody expects Spain to win this...what a nice situation just like before the Portugal match. Portugal was the favorite...they went out...Holland was then favorite...they went out to hand it over to the Russians...till they went out. Now Spain is the favorite....

[footyfan1]

Its so funny how everybody expects Spain to win this...what a nice situation just like before the Portugal match. Portugal was the favorite...they went out...Holland was then favorite...they went out to hand it over to the Russians...till they went out. Now Spain is the favorite....

Until they either go out or win it.

And who is "everybody?"

I don't know who will win it. But I know quite a few people who think Germany will win it.

Go figure.

[rantanplan]

Okay..lets say most of the people giving their opinions on messageboards following the Euro's 2008. Iam just collecting names..have patience..will take a few months...

[Caesar]

Its so funny how everybody expects Spain to win this...what a nice situation just like before the Portugal match. Portugal was the favorite...they went out...Holland was then favorite...they went out to hand it over to the Russians...till they went out. Now Spain is the favorite....
Portugal was never the favourite.

[squidward123]

And they've got the ability of pulling goals out of their collective ass, which we saw against Turkey.

What is that supposed to mean? The goals were well constructed.

[dmar]

What is that supposed to mean? The goals were well constructed.

Absolutely. But they were somehow unexpected, since the Turks had the ball posession and the Germans didn't look like they were going to score.

I do like german football and I think you guys have the ability to do simple but very effective and precise plays without the need to dominate (in a traditional sense) the play. I'd like to add that even just after the 2-2 I never expected Turkey to win.

[rantanplan]

Portugal was never the favourite.

Excuse me..I just got a laugh on that...

[Prawn Sandwich]

Okay..lets say most of the people giving their opinions on messageboards following the Euro's 2008. Iam just collecting names..have patience..will take a few months...
Why are you "collecting names" and what will "take a few months"?

[squidward123]

Absolutely. But they were somehow unexpected, since the Turks had the ball posession and the Germans didn't look like they were going to score.

In those last 20 minutes germany had most of the ball actually.


I do like german football and I think you guys have the ability to do simple but very effective and precise plays without the need to dominate (in a traditional sense) the play.

We are much more comfortable when we do dominate in a traditional sense, and that has been the m.o. of this team if you watched the WC and since.

But adaptability by being calm to unique situations to get the best result is a good thing to have. Opponents throw all sorts of things at you.

[rantanplan]

Why are you "collecting names" and what will "take a few months"?

Iam not going to answer this....I cant help if you are not reading the thread, sorry. :rolleyes:

[Prawn Sandwich]

I've read every post in this thread and do not understand why you would want to collect the names of people who committed the apparent sacrilege of not thinking Germany would win.

[wallstreet123456]

Marca still reporting he's only dudoso to play, let's hope they're right. Not having Villa would be horrible, not decisive, but horrible.

He left the game early yesterday and they still looked very impressive. I am very concerned about this game, I was not happy to hear the German coach say they are happy to make it this far, making the finals is what they were shooting for. To me it sounds like they are already giving up on the game.

[Alberto]

Hey alberto -

just wondering since what year you've been watching germany?


Since the 1974 World Cup. Saw them play on TV most of their group stage matches and the semi-finals and finals. Watched the finals on closed circuit TV at the Miami Beach Convention Center. They don't make players like Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbauer anymore.

[rantanplan]

I've read every post in this thread and do not understand why you would want to collect the names of people who committed the apparent sacrilege of not thinking Germany would win.

because i have to figure.......

[Alberto]

Do you really say, the USA has more skillful players and is technically more gifted, than Germany?


In the quarter finals in Korea the USA took play to Germany and had them on their heels. Germany responded with hard play.

[Prawn Sandwich]

because i have to figure.......
Why?

[Alberto]

@alberto: it is wrong, look at the stats, how many yellow cards the german side get in the tournament or/and in the qualification. Since Klinsmann we play a very fair style, which means not, that there are no tacklings or a bodyless kind of play. For example, the game vs Portugal it was the portuguese side who fouled the very hardest tackling.



If you read an earlier post I stated that since Klinsmann and this tournament Germany have played an attractive attacking style of soccer. That said I am curious if the Germans revert to their old ways of dealing with more skillful teams. What happens if Spain puts Germany off their game by forcing Germany to defend rather than attack? In the past Germany would start knocking the players doing the attacking. Germany like Spain, Italy and Holland all have very unique styles to their play. I don't think you can change that style in 4 years.

[unclesox]

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080627/capt.df3a7189bda146c5b287c25efec7f0a5.soccer_euro_2008_stadium_reur102.jpg

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080627/capt.3c2ab8ffc13a40259a293f361e01b676.soccer_euro_2008_stadium_reur103.jpg

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080627/capt.f0c7b29bee3a4f0dbcd58bdbad62dc02.soccer_euro_2008_stadium_reur101.jpg