what do you mean?? I predict a close game with croatia, but i hope they play the way they did with Austria, then we can finish them off.
I mean that this croatian side, after forming an identity with several new players and new manager, are in their first tournament
I get the feeling this will be Germany's best match in the group stages. But I continue to be concerned about complacency in this team.
The lack of utmost desire which some matches before the tournament were approached (esp. last autum) and the lack of desire to score a second goal against Poland. The team is generally not trying as hard as it used to. This is my impression, perhaps you don't share it, won't really affect mine. Doing only the "required minimum" doesn't need to be bad either. Anyway, Croatia hasn't done anything to impress except perhaps that Wembley win against England; not in this tournament and not before. Maybe tomorrow is their chance.
The only thing that applies to now from here is the 2nd goal against poland bit...but they will sort it as the tournament goes. Anyway, poland played wel too in that period...
Actually, I think he was dead on. It seems you are saying it doesn't apply because it's tournament time now. How quickly we forget that crappy World Cup opening performance against Costa Rica. Sometimes this German team needs someone to give them a scare to really get them going. At the World Cup, it was Costa Rica. Who's to say it isn't the Croatians now??
^I really don’t know why people are ‘rating’ the Croatians. They are a very weak team. Beating England is meaningless, come-on Macedonia got a draw against them. MACEDONIA! Anything less than a dominating performance would be worrying for our chances in this tournament. Honestly we should have little trouble scoring on this Croatian team. Their defense is extremely slow and foul prone. All of us Bayern fans know how poorly R. Kovac plays against big physical strikers like Gomez. The Croatian midfield is also quite slow and Ballack/Frings should have little trouble controlling the tempo of the match.
No way man. I don't think Germany will lose at all, but I think the Croats have the means to throw a scare into the Germans if they aren't on their game. The Croats may not have been "impressive" in the qualifying and against Austria, but they sure as hell are better than the Poles and should give Germany a harder time. If they don't, Bilic should just quit on the spot.
From BBC.co.uk Germany captain Michael Ballack feels Croatia will offer his side their first true test of Euro 2008. Both teams won their opening matches in Group B and the winner of this game will be all but guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals. "We can be happy with beating Poland but we will know our true level after this game," Ballack said. BBC Story Here
The Croats were not just unimpressive, they were bad, and let us wait until Monday to determine whether Coatia is "sure as hell better than the Poles", I'd rather do that then just take your word for it. I hope Poland gets a rematch against Germany after the group stages. As for this game, I expect Germany to win, but the pressure is kind of off of Germany now so they may not come out as hungry as they did against Poland, but if Croatia plays like it did against Austria then we should expect a 4-0 scoreline.
Be careful. He seems pretty sensitive. You know, with our doubting the awesome football machine that is Poland.. and all.... But he did have a point. I spoke way too soon in declaring the Croats "better." Won't do that again.
well croatia dominated england in zagreb and outplayed them in wembley..they played very well in qualifers except for maybe the 2 games against macedonia..croatia has not played well lately in there friendlies or in there match against austria..i think alot of this has to do with petric being out of form and eduardos injury..everyone thinks he is just a goal scorer but he is so mcuh more then that..he is a complete player who worked excellent with our midefiedl espically with modric who he played with at dinamo and the under 21..since his injury croatia has not looked the same..not only from a goal scoring point but the way they controlled the midfield with him..with that said i think croatia will come out and play hard tommorow and give the germans everything they have..germany might win but they will not dominate this game as many people in here think..
That's what I will be curious to see, whether it will be the Croatia we saw against Austria or the Croatia we saw against England tomorrow (which you expect to see), therein lies the answer to whether it will be a close tough played match or a blowout.
I think Germany can handle both...my concern is; will we see the Germany that won at Wembley or the one that tied in Cyprus.