Must win. The hard-fought nature of yesterday's match makes me rue the points dropped against Finland more than previously.
I remember the two previous games against Wales. The first one in Cardiff was one of the best games of the German NT and especially Schweinsteiger of the last 5 years. Wales didn't really attack the German players at all and Germany completely controlled the rhythm of the game. Still they only won 2:0 so it will be crucial to not waste the chances they get and I imagine they have learned from those two games. The 2nd one was boring as hell because it didn't matter anymore.
I read a Welsh article earlier today which described Schweinsteiger's performance last year as "one of the best midfield performances ever seen at the Millenium Stadium".
I'm not really worried about this match. I expect Loew to field the same team that started against Russia. He might start Frings and Fritz instead of Hitzlsperger and Friedrich respectively but all else should stay the same. I do hope to see Helmes in this game.
Pace possibly? I didn't say I liked it or that there was much logic attached to it. I wouldn't be surprised if that happened though.
And rest Lahm. That lad has been playing like hundred times in the last 2-3 weeks. After all, Bayern will need him on the weekend against Karlshure
Same team but bench Lahm. He seriously needs a rest the poor little hobit. I would prefer if Helmes/Gomez played over Klose for this specific game. Only make those 2 changes for me, unless of coarse Jones finally gets a chance.
NO, this is not san marino. Helmes and Klose is a better idea. Or Podolski and Helmes. And bench Lahm.
Actually, I can see us bottling this match. Wales will park the bus and wait for counters, and if the players are not concentrated and don't give 100%, this will end in a draw. Good thing is that due to the new situation in the team, more competition and more pressure, the 'established' players have much less of a bonus than they used to have in the Euro 2008 qualification, and simply can't afford a sloppy match. Löw seems to be more willing to bench certain players also, and this is a healthy development IMHO. We need to win this, we should win this, but only if the team is totally professional and serious about the match.
Yeah, I can see us screwing up, but last qualifiers we did exactly the opposite in matches where you should win but don't. That's why I have hope and confidence they will carry this to these qualifiers. I think if Germany score an early goal i nthe first 20 minutes, it's a 100% win imo and potentially a goal fest.
Pace cant/shouldnt be the reason. Friedrich might not look like it but he is actually a very fast player (afaik one of the fastest in the NT) and i dont rly see any reason to replace him. He had a few problems in the 1st half against russia but improved in the 2nd (too bad Lahm had then problems on his side) but i really dont want to know what would have happened if Fritz had played instead. Friedrich is for now a very solid solution as RB. I would only like to see two changes. Rolfes or Jones for Hitzlspeger and Helmes for Podolski or Klose.
Same here, and mainly because there could be complacency from Ballack (who now thinks he's silenced all critics), Schweinsteiger (for whom complacency is the normal state), maybe Podolski (who doesn't always realise what's at stake). Löw's inability to really fire players up for a full game makes him not a great but only a decent or average coach, which is a shame.
Ballack Doubtful For Wales Clash Germany are sweating over the fitness of captain Michael Ballack ahead of the next World Cup qualifier with Wales on Wednesday.
Tada, where's Özil when you need him (on the wing, with Schweinsteiger moving to the middle). With Rolfes and Hitzlsperger, it'll be difficult as usual to break through Wales' defensive block.