Pre-match: (EURO 2016 - Semi Final!) Germany vs France 7.7.2016 [R]

What's atrocious about calling a clear handball a penalty?
https://gfycat.com/HandsomeFrailIaerismetalmark

Also while France were on the backfoot in the first half they were controlling the game in the second half and Germany were nowhere close to scoring. Petr Cech said that they could have played the game until morning and France would still have won.

 

Ive been watching football for 20 years now and Ive said it before: in 8 out 10 times in the big leagues this doesnt get called. For whatever the reasons might be. Short distance, no intention, the hightest ref official of DFB also said it was a dubious, unusual call to him. Then UEFA sents a ref from a country that has just been sent home by one side, the same ref that has been haunted for 2 years by his no pen call in the WC final. Somewhere in the middle of the 2nd half Germany had committed 6 fouls but had recieved 4 yellows. Signore Rizzoli must sleep better now

 

World Cups get you stars on your jersey, Euros don't. Let someone else be happy, we are leaving Russia with the trophy!!!

 

Looking forward to that tournament with Varane and a more experienced Umtiti and hopefully new fullbacks.

 

The problem with this analysis is that it ignores the impact of the penalty on the second half.

If the game had gone into half at zero zero there is no evidence to suggest France would have gotten off the back foot

 

Absolutely agree. But again, its a clear handball so its not like scoring a goal shouldnt affect the outcome of the second half. And while Germany had tons of possession in the first half they didnt do enough with it. Lloris actually made more saves in the second half when Germany pushed everyone up and threw the kitchen sink at France in the dying minutes.

 

A "clear" handball? No, it was a handball that could have gotten called either way.

 

I love the positive thoughts in this thread over the past few pages! I might still be a bit drunk but I'm also a lot less depressed than I was in 2012. We played well overall but had some injuries and general bad luck - on the other hand, we still reached the semis (for the 6th major tournament in a row!) and with that kind of consistency and the influx of young talent we'll surely be contenders again in 2018.


Nationalelf, you and I know
How the tournaments come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be playing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Nationalelf, you and I cry
But Jogi is still in the dugout and picking his nose
Let me see you play once more like you did before
Play a new game, Nationalelf

 

In 2010, even though I had no real expectations of the team, I was depressed by the loss to Spain. I don't exaggerate when I say that I cried on and off for two hours.

But I feel at peace with this loss. Sometimes, the game doesn't go your way, but based on what I've seen this past month, Germany is the best team in Europe. The way its possession and pressing game has developed was amazing to see. Not a single team has had real chances against it from open play. If Germany can keep this up and integrate another dimension through more clinical goalscoring, I'm confident about what the future holds. I'm really not worried about it.

 

Some refs would call it, some would not. Home teams will get some calls. You'd think it would be more likely to have such PKs called in earlier round versus in later stages when such calls are essentially game changers/deciders.

At any rate, it was pure stupidity on Bastian's part. Also on the coaching staff, players should have been warned about this after something similar was called in the Italy game. The PK totally changed the game. Prior to the PK Germany was in total control and was looking more likely to win unless they have a lapse in concentration or error in judgement, which is what occurred.

This is a huge lost opportunity. The way Germany played the last 30 minutes of the first half, it became clear this was Germany's Cup to lose. This brought back EC92 emotions...

 

For me this feels worse than 2006, 2008 & 2010. Germany was overachieving is those tournaments. Even in 2012, the manner of the Italy loss sucked but Germany was outplayed in those games. This hurts coz Germany should have won based on the performance same with the Ec92 final.

 

Maybe it's because I finally experienced victory at the last World Cup, but I must say I am at peace with the result.
Had Germany won the Euro I would've been a little indifferent due to Reus's absence. Still, this crop must win the next World Cup to cement their status as a Golden Generation otherwise 2014 will be remembered as culmination of years of hard work rather than the start of a golden era many were hoping for.

 

Even Schweini's blunder aside, this side doesn't have the mental fortitude of champions. Case in point, compare this campaign to the Euro 96 campaign. This team is definitely more talented. Against the home team in 96, in the semis Germany carried on as if nothing had happened after conceeding that early goal. Only to progress to the finals where again Germany won from a goal down. Yesterday, the team lost all composure after the French 1st goal. Kimmich's yellow was out of sheer frustration.

It was all panic after a point.

 

How is it the same team?
Hector in place of a world class Lahm
Klose in place of a terribly out of form Mueller

Not to mention poor fitness levels. Forced substitutions against Italy and France. Beckenbauer once played a world cup semi final with his hand in a cast. So did Philip Lahm aginst Costa Rica in the 2006WC. While the injuries to Gomez, Khedira and Boateng maybe different, its still a very uncomforting reality that apart from Germany, no other side has had to make as many forced substitutions during a game. Italy didn't. France didn't. Portugal didn't.

From the begning of the second half to the French second goal, I wasn't too impressed with the fight back.

This is the German national side. The bar is set too high.

 

I don't agree. Without Bastian's blunder, the team was in total control, most likely winning the game and final! Show me another team in this Euro with a better "mental fortitude"! The way the half ended, it is expected they were going to be a bit rattled. However, they really battled in the 2nd half and it just did not go their way. They did not look defeated, even after they conceded the 2nd. They kept pushing and pushing. The longer you go without scoring, the more players you have commit going forward which means you are open to counter attacks.

We only lacked luck and 2nd striker, nothing can be said about lack of mental fortitude based on the France game and the performance against Italy when we conceded a PK out of no where..

 

6 Semis in a row answers that!

 

Im curious if Jogi will decide to step down after this. DFB is not going to fire him.

 

Is there any better coach to handle this Germany NT than Loew now?

 

No

 

I'd give him another 2 years of ball sniffing.

 

How many countries do the whole 'stars' thing on their jerseys? Is it just Germany and Brazil?