WC 2018 Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

Lahm played in central midfield in Brazil 2014 until the 70th minute of the quarterfinal against Algeria. It would have been tough, even for the world's best right-back at the time, to shine at his traditional position while not even playing there.

Germany's starting formation against Algeria...



Mustafi suffered a tournament-ending injury in the 70th minute and got subbed for Khedira. That's when Lahm switched to right-back, Schweinsteiger resumed in central midfield, while Khedira took over Schweinsteiger's position. From there on Germany looked like a different team.

Lahm certainly didn't "struggle" against Argentina, as our opponent's personnel lacked the quality to make him do so. Quite the opposite, Lahm strongly contributed to a defensive effort that neutralized most of Argentina's attacking efforts.



As a side note, Borges and Zabaleta wouldn't even be qualified to tie Philipp Lahm's shoe laces.

 

At WC14, Borges and Zabaleta were better than Lahm. He struggled as a defensive mid, and only played three matches at right-back, not at legendary level either, thus he is not anywhere near to be the best in any position for that tournament.

 

So you're confirming now that Borges and Zabaleta played better at right-back as long as Lahm was in midfield? Well, no shit. Messi also was a better striker than Manuel Neuer, go figure. Although, both of them scored zero goals in the final, so it could be debatable.

Nevertheless, you're entitled to your opinion, as peculiar as it might be.

 

No, they played better at right-back throughout the tournament. Lahm did not give a great performance even at right-back, although it was better than his shambolic play as a defensive midfielder. Also, when assessing for best player at a position, it does not matter whether it's because one player split time between positions, if he was good enough he would be accommodated someplace.

 

I had Germany nailed on in this group. But if you look back - the defending Champions have an awful record in the next tournament. 7 out of the last 9 have lost a group game and 3 or the last 4 have not got out of the group.

Read more details here: www.worldcupthinking.blogspot.com

The narrative is always the same - Winners will cruise through an easy group and then they crash and burn.

Perhaps bringing in the younger players is what Low needs to do

 

Two touches only. Mistakes will be punished with ear flicks! 🙉#DieMannschaft #ZSMMN pic.twitter.com/BE6fP1yDLc

— germanfootball_dfb (@DFB_Team_EN) June 1, 2018

 

You sound bitter. That's unfortunate, yet understandable, given Argentina's 0-4 World Cup record against Germany since 1990.

What you Argentina fans seemingly don't get is that all these petulant attempts to disparage Germany and its players make your losing squads look worse. If Argentina couldn't even hit the target against a "struggling" Lahm, what does that tell us about the quality of their players?

Again, I don't mind you sticking to your opinion if that's what gets you through the pain.

 

There is not one halfway sane German fan who thinks we will defend the title or cruise through this tourney.

To us this is more like a nice summer friendlies tour playing for the golden pineapple true to the motto of Franz Josef Strauß: "When I met Gorbatschow in Moscow he asked me if this was my first time visiting Russia and I answered: No, but the last time I only came as far as Stalingrad."

 

It's not about bitterness, at least not for the WC14 final. I am bitter that Argentina was not allowed to play all its starters (five missing, including the great Caniggia) at the WC90 final. Otherwise we win that match despite all the flaws, FIFA well knew that to prevent it from happening.

Lahm was not anywhere near great at WC14, it was overall a mediocre performance from him. Other players did step up, including Neuer, Hummels, Boateng and Khedira, plus the awful performances by Aguero and Higuain in the final on top of missing DiMaria.

 

If that's not some sore loser attitude, then I don't know what is.

in 1990 the allegedly so "great" Caniggia got his second yellow card of the tournament because of... wait for it... a deliberate hand ball (what else...) in the semifinal against Italy.



One of five yellows and one red card for a brutish and fouling Argentinean squad in that game. It was Caniggia's own arrogance and stupidity that kept him out of the final. A final where Argentina received two more red cards after brutal fouls against Jürgen Klinsmann and Jürgen Kohler.

And no, Argentina wouldn't have won. They've lost. Deal with it, rather than engaging in revisionist history. Think of Peru 1978 and Maradona's deliberate hand ball in 1986 before lamenting hypothetical scenarios.

In 2014 Germany lost starter Khedira minutes before the opening whistle. Not even 30 minutes into the game Argentina then deliberately knocked out his replacement, Christoph Kramer. Those were two red cards right there. Later they fouled and bloodied Schweinsteiger, again without consequences. Argentina got extremely lucky to finish the game at full strength. And they lost to the better team, again.

Before continuing to make up excuses and FIFA conspiracy theories, better have a look at Argentina's 2014 World Cup record. They've scored pathetic eight goals throughout the tournament, one more than Germany had against Brazil alone. Of their two knockout stage goals only one (quarterfinal vs. Belgium) was scored in regulation. Argentina can call themselves lucky to have even reached the final.

 

You forgot to mention Voeller's dive for the "penalty" that gave Germany the win, the only way Germany were ever going to win a match against an Argentina missing five starters. Compare that with the way Argentina beat you four years earlier, playing football on their own terms with joy and expansiveness. You also forgot to mention Voeller's below the belt foul on Ruggieri that forced him to leave the match and weaken Argentina's defense considerably, and which should have been a red card.

Another thing you forgot to mention is Neuer's penalty foul against Higuain, now contrast that play to Monzon's "contact" against Voeller. But German keepers playing dirty and getting away with it is a long-held tradition in international football.

Yes, Argentina did not play well throughout WC14, that does not disprove that Lahm was mediocre during that same tournament.

 

who cares jesus christ its 2018 not 1986 or 1990, if this happened or that didnt happen then this would have happened!! THE PAST IS BEHIND YOU

 

Seriously, let it go. One last thing before I'm done with you and your whining...

1. Neuer clearly played the ball before Higuain ran into him.
2. Higuain had no chance of ever reaching the ball in the first place.
3. The penalty box is the realm of the goalkeeper and Higuain ignored him.
4. If anything, Higuain is an idiot, not a victim.



That's it. Now take your sore loser attitude elsewhere.

 

Korea's final 23 confirmed.

 

Asian Jogi Löw seems to be a badass

 

FYI

 

Austria-Germany =2-1

 

Sweden-Danmark = 0-0

 

Denmark*

 

2-1 Final score. Austria beats Germany for the first time in 32(?) years!

 

Friendlies mean absolutely nothing.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

The second string in the middle of training camp got a little tired in the second half. Löw still seemed very pissed