doesn't have to be a historic rivalry to be a rivalry. Rivals/competitors means the same thing, it's about the biggest threats while vying for the same objective. Brazil are a WC rival as we are catching up to them in the trophy race, if they win their 6th, we are even more behind them than now. you forgot Muller was suspended in 2010 vs Spain too and in 2008 pretty much Lahm's blunder led to their only goal of the game. Had they not scored that, who knows what would have happened. They needed that and a corner kick goal in 2010 just to advance past us.
I kind of feel a little bit of goodwill for Brazil. I've had good interactions with their fans both online and IRL, and I respect them a lot as a football power. Hope they can get out of this funk they have gotten themselves into. Obviously though if Germany come against them, I hope we beat them and I hope we catch them in number of WCs won this time.
it's ironic that had we by miracle beaten Brazil in 2002. We would have 5 WCs and they would have only 4. One of the worst German teams actually made the WC final, lol. Still wonder about what would have happened had Ballack not been suspended, which was such a shame, given his immense contribution leading to the final.
I disagree. I think Sterling has better ball control than Sane. Sterling's problem is his finish, and his decision making, in fact, decision making is the common problem of English players. If you observe carefully, Sane normally beat defender by cutting outside on his left, very similar to the Dutch Bayern Munich player Robben, or younger version of Giggs, all these player beat defender by cutting outside to their left and get a shot or pass, they rarely cut inside to their right, while a more better ball controller like Messi or Sterling (not saying I compare Sterling with Messi, just style) are able to do both more often... So on left flank, Sane can only cut outside and put a cross in, and I don't know why he doesn't play more often on the right flank, just like Robben, I guess the coach sees that his shot is not as powerful as Robben's. So Sane is quite limited
I am not saying Sterling is better player than Sane, I think Sane actually has better potential than Sterling, Robben should be Sane's role model in terms of playing style. But we are not discussing here which (Sane or Sterling) is better. we are discussing who will make the final 23, many people think Brandt should be cut, but I think Brandt should be chosen if you have to cut one them Sane or Brandt, Sane virtually has done nothing for the national team, more disaster showing. While Brandt has won the Olympic runner up, won the confederation cup, and most importantly his playing style is much suit to the national team, compared with sane.
The NT average age is 26.77 I think that a perfect balance with Gomez the oldest at 33 and the youngsters are Kimmich. Tah, Brandt, Sule, Sane , Werner and Goretzka all around 22/23....
not 100% sure but I believe usually those are behind close doors. They might give the results but that could be it. Usually use these games to try things tactically, experimenting.
some info on the Germany seniors vs Germany U20 ter Stegen started the game, Neuer came on as a 2nd half sub. Each played a half a game. other players were Hummels and Tah in CB. While Muller, Goretzka and Rudy were also in the starting XI. Result Germany 7-1 win over the U20s. Scorers: Sané (2), Brandt, Goretzka, Kimmich, Petersen & Gomez I'm curious about the U20 scorer though.
Sounds like we’re just gunna have to agree to violently disagree, because I don’t find that description at all accurate of the ~20 matches I watched Sane play for City. I can’t pretend to be a big EPL fan, but studying Pep is fascinating for a tactics geek like myself, and Sane’s ability to run at multiple defenders from his wide starting position was what impressed me the most about his play, game after game. Your descriptions seems much more applicable to someone like Reus, who’s lethal when he has space to glide through on the counter, but who’s dribbling isn’t strong enough to consistently penetrate organized defenses unless there’s a clear talent gap between the teams. So Marco is forced to rely on his shooting to be a danger against a parked bus, and for an opposition error to give his side an opening. He isn’t one to force an opening. I think the problem may be that you are focusing on him staying wide while driving the play forward because Pep relies on his wingers to provide a lot of width given how much the rest of the team does in the middle. But I’m talking about Leroy’s ability to penetrate organized defenses in the final third when they already get there or have to penetrate a parked bus...which is why I don’t understand your Robben comparison, yes he typically starts very wide in the attack zone, but what makes Robben world class when fit is his ability to penetrate into a crowd with his quickness, dribbling and lethal left foot...which is why he also thrived under Guardiola when used centrally and asked to run at defenders through the middle. I’m with you on the Brandt love though, his dribbling in tight space isn’t on Sane’s level, but he’s even more clever with his movements & 1-2s, and is also comfortable in a crowd. If I was picking the squad we’d be taking Müller, Sane, Reus & Brandt as the top 4 wingers. With the likes of Draxler, Philipp, Gnabry, etc. fighting for one of the final roster spots Edit: ...granted I also want us to play a 3-4-1-2 with Sane & Kimmich as the wingbacks around a Werner - Müller/Reus front two, with Mesut in the hole in front of that central block of 5. With Kimmich sliding into the back three and Brandt taking up the RWB position opposite Sane in matches where our opponents will keep 9 giants in their own box at all times...aka the upcoming Sweden match where I’m afraid that we are going to see a “more cautious” lineup concede to the Swedes a point, after we drub Mexico in the opener.
Oh Saglam, for someone with obvious talent he’s never actually impressed me when i watch him, but with the seasons that similar ‘skilled but creatively uninspiring’ midfielders like Demirbay & Serdar have had recently, my optimism for the likes of Saglam has been slightly elevated
the game was only 60 minutes long, had it been 90 it could have been double digit goals for the seniors. good to see how much Werner, Muller and Kimmich are involved in the build ups.
no Ronaldo though,tbf Tunisia did qualify for the WC. What about France beating the Irish 2-0. at the end of the day, these are just practice matches.
How a fan of the german NT can ever put any weight into a friendly result is beyond me lol. We might have the worst disparity in competitive-match-record vs friendly-record of any team in any sport Plus the Tunisians can defend like a ************************ and can frustrate teams who aren’t very good with the ball like Portugal...or England...they may not have the creative talent that their Maghreb cousins in Morocco can brag about, nor the superstar that their Egyptian cousins have leading the way, but that’s a well organized team who can be a serious nuisance...sorta like Sweden only without every player being 6’4”
then you weren't here when some people on this board were putting Germany down for losing 1-0 to Brazil in a friendly, lol. where is the friendlies WC?
Germans have a habit of being poor in friendlies before tournaments, dont know whether this apply for Portugal Yes friendly is a friendly but I doubt Portugal will get very far unless same amount of luck during euro 16
Portugal are in Spain's group, how they do in the WC Group Stage could determine if we end up in the same bracket to the final as Spain or not.
I think I will have to disagree on this, I do want you to prove me wrong though, I hope Sane is as good as you described. we shall see in a month time
[QUOTE=" Your descriptions seems much more applicable to someone like Reus, who’s lethal when he has space to glide through on the counter, but who’s dribbling isn’t strong enough to consistently penetrate organized defenses unless there’s a clear talent gap between the teams. So Marco is forced to rely on his shooting to be a danger against a parked bus, and for an opposition error to give his side an opening. He isn’t one to force an opening. .[/QUOTE] When Reus was younger, he used to impressed me with his dribbling, I think that was when was still in the first team which always fight for relegation battle, I cant remember which team...I guess he has changed his way of playing to be more efficient, just like C Ronaldo, both reduce their dribbling but more a goal threat these days...
[QUOTE=" I’m with you on the Brandt love though, his dribbling in tight space isn’t on Sane’s level, but he’s even more clever with his movements & 1-2s, and is also comfortable in a crowd. If I was picking the squad we’d be taking Müller, Sane, Reus & Brandt as the top 4 wingers. With the likes of Draxler, Philipp, Gnabry, etc. fighting for one of the final roster spots .[/QUOTE] The thing I like Brandt is that he seems coming close to a break through and has developed his play into his unique style based on many matches this season and the match against Brazil. In a world cup tournament, you need someone who is relatively unknown to break through and bring in some surprise, with this in mind, I haven't felt that Sane is getting anywhere, while Brandt seems picking up...it is just my gut feeling... Draxler actually is quite important I have to argue, Loew has developed further his system during the experiment in Confederation cup..Draxler actually played an important role in many matches in Confederation cup, with Draxler's ball controlling skills and his physicality, he actually plays a ball holding point, given that Muller and our strikers (be werner or gomes) and even Ozil are not very good at holding the ball, you need someone who can receive the ball from the back or deep midfielders and move the ball forward high up and close to penalty area, interchanging play with Ozil or wait for the fullback (hecktor) to overlap to put cross into penalty area, Draxler himself can also seek chance to shoot from top corner of the penalty area or get inside to provide goal theat..you see his role is actually important and I can't see Reus or Sane can do that, Brandt probably can do it with lesser degree...Draxler provides something different to Ozil, Muller and our strikers, without someone like him to receive ball and protect the ball high up in the pitch, Germany can be prone to high pressed team particular like Spain, (i am not talking about some ordinary teams because against ordinary teams Germany can have lots possession). Against very good team like Spain or France, you don't want to lose too much of possession...During the friendly match against Spain, you saw the goal by Muller was after a long period of ball possession on the left flank where Draxler, Ozil, Hecktor and Kroos were heavily involved so he will be the starting 11, I believe Leow has high hope on him, whether he can delivers I don't know, because he seems hasn't developed a lot last couple years., but nevertheless, he is important in Leow's plan