Argentina vs Germany: Final Match Game Day Discussion Thread

16 was a good #, 24 is just greed.

 

I agree

I even know some purists who want to go back to 8 teams

Tho I can't even lie I used to love the 24 teams World Cups just for the scrappy 3rd place team that always went deep in the knockout stages

 

No, because Greece won the Euro by getting out of a group with Portugal (host), Spain and Russia and then defeating France, Czech Republic and Portugal without resorting to penalties. They were truly a tough team to beat back then and people do not give them enough credit for it. It just shows how incredibly competitive the European Championship is and I am so glad we have this tournament to provide a stage for some of the great second-tier European teams that barely miss out on the WC.

And honestly, looking at the qualifying groups for 2016, I don't think the quality will suffer much from having more teams. Even the best third-tier teams can still be very competitive at the international stage (such as Turkey, Poland, Romania, Austria, Serbia, etc.) and are certainly no worse than the lower tier teams sent to the WC by CAF, AFC and CONMEBOL. There will simply be one more round to weed out the best teams. Ultimately, the experience of playing a big international tournament may strengthen those European teams that normally don't get a chance to qualify and increase public interest in the sport.

 

We'll never see Greece 2004 again, at least I hope not.

 

Conmebol qualified 5/6 teams, without having a last place team, I actually don't remember a last place conmebol team in a world cup. So how are the teams not qualifying to the world cup from Europe much better than the ones being sent by Europe, if Europe always has last place teams at the World Cup?

That makes no sense.

 

No need for the apostrophe. Iphone keyboards a pain in the arse.

But not knowing when to use your and youre or you're is sad.

Unless English is your second language, as it is for me, perhaps its or it's (apostrophe just for you) fine.

Bad sport? The fk do i care. So many haters and anti Germans. IT'S my time to rejoice and say F every team and to those who doubted Germany.

One thing we can agree on, it was probably best i take my antics to the Germany section where it can be appriciated by ones who would be in the same boat as i.

Prost!

 

Sorry, I meant CONCACAF, not CONMEBOL of course.

 

My mother is Polish, father German. I also support Poland for as long as Ive been supporting Germany. Sadly Polish footy is bad and there are no positive signs of that changing anytime soon. Can only produce a few quality players worth talking about every decade.

Extremely poor youth system i think...
Guys like Lewandowski, Blaszczykowski, and Piszczek are the only standouts on the NT. Also any of their GK.

 

But would you rate Poland below Honduras, Cameroon or Iran? I'm not saying they're going to win the Euro any time soon but they'll be able to provide some decent competition, certainly not worse than the kind we're used to at the WC. That's provided they'll even qualify because the third-tier teams must go through a play-off first.

 

Throw Ecuador into the mix too, if only to poke COMENBOL in the eye with a stick.

 

I would rate Poland better than Honduras. MAYBE Iran. Cameroon, not so much. Poland seems to do decently during qualifiers then sheet the bed during EC or WC, no matter how easy their group is... like during the last Euro's when they hosted. They had Russia, Greece, and Czechs and STILL managed to F it up.

 

Come on, don't be so serious, nobody claims that Neuer had the same impact going forward that Messi had. I quoted the numbers to guve context to how little Messi ultimately was involved in some of the matches. My point was of course not to argue that Neuer was the new Messi. I thought that was obvious.

 

No, the toughest challenges Germany had were against France and Argentina. Ghana and Algeria might have created draws after 90 minutes but that was against weaker German teams. Lahm was still in midfield then, Khedira and Schweini were not yet match fit, the fast Boateng had not yet replaced the slow Mertesacker that caused the defense so many problems and the inclusion of Götze and Mustafi were clear mistakes then. Only once Germany fixed these things did they become the World Cup winning team.

 

What ever, Germany is still far away from the best to me. You guys were goaless until 115' before defeated Argentina.
Germany got the easier team to fight for the Final WC 2014. It even be more fun to see them against the Dutch instead of Argentina. Due to the Dutch nature, it will be a faster pace game. Heck, Germany very lucky to avoid Spain and Italy in this WC. Would you Germans rather take Spain/Italy against you instead of Argentina?

Germany never beat Italy in any major matches tournaments. That is 15 big matches from Euro Cups and WC (if they crossed with Italy), this is generations and generations of defeated by Italy in 30+ years span time. This definately say something.
Germany struggles against Ghana, but I give you the credit since it might just be the German team bad day. Due to the chances you ever face Ghana again in a random Round group game is Unlikely to ever happen again. But Italy is different, you will likely to bump into them again in Euro Cup.

Euro Cup 2016 is coming up. So you the WC champions instead of aggrorant, try to show Europe that you capable of beat Italy and Spain. Then even the haters out there will have to admit you guys are the best. It will be embarrassed to hold the World Cup tittle but yet Italy and Spain kick you guys butts in Euro Cups, LOL!

So Germany, show us that you can get out of the omen of "Italy being your Kryptonite"
You can do it, as you say you are the powerful mighty Germans. Then show us in Euro Cup 2016

 

Lol...

 

And LOL, come on Germany current WC champion holder tittle, show us your mighty machine against Spain and Italy in Euro Cup 2016! You can do it!

 

Sorry but I keep reading your posts and I don't believe for a second that you are genuine. You master words like 'embarrassed' but are unable to use simple verbs like 'to be' or its derivation 'are'. You can use expressions like 'would you rather' but in other sentences sound like somebody who has started to learn English yesterday.

 

Fortunately, no one uses the same measuring stick that you do. I don't know what Germans did to you but your inability to understand things is beyond belief. We would all love to have the opportunity to face Italy but you can only face the teams in front of you.

 

Shots already fired

 

Tukafo, thank you for help me with my English.
I am Chinese, and English is the 4th language that I learn.
It takes time to learn a foreign language you know, just like you Germany team take 24 years to get the World Cup tittle.

Crus 09, I have my rights to use any measure stick as I want. Same to what I believe in and my opinion. Again, Germany are still far behind from the best team to me, until they can prove to beat Spain and Italy.

I be around till Euro Cup 2016, and until Germany win them, then I will remember to congrads Germany team and believe they are the best.

 

If we want high quality, 20 teams are plenty for a WC - 2 each from N.America, Africa and Asia, 4 from S.America, 10 Europeans.
8 teams for an EC.
If we want an all-inclusive world party, well.......Sepp will lead the way.
The personality and quality of teams do change over time, Greece were a very good and highly creative side when they won the EC, almost a little old style Brazilian in their approach.
This year's Greek team looked a little like they had lead in their boots.
Croatia and Bosnia may have been a little overwhelmed by the surroundings, opposition, climate, culture, etc. , but don't underestimate those eastern European and Balkan teams. If by some weird happenstance they had to play in CONCACAF, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, etc. would qualify pretty much every time, and they would give even many of the South Americans a good run for their money. Winning the Asian or African qualifiers would be virtually guaranteed for them.
If the Germans don't get too fat & happy after their big win, they're going to be tough to beat for some time to come.
Spain will likely be rebuilding, Holland should probably think of getting some younger players involved, Italy need to rework their system and realize it isn't the 1980's anymore (which is sad, I agree), England are somehow STILL in Splendid Isolation, club soccer rules and the national team are, at best, an afterthought.
Belgium and France have EC potential, and it isn't completely impossible that a 'minnow' might emerge, see Greece, above.

 

Are people honestly already calling into doubt Germany's accomplishment.

Obviously the best team at the tournament by a mile. Now take a moment and imagine what they could accomplished had they had Lars Bender, Gundogan, and Marco Reus (all of whom they will almost certainly have in 2016)...

I am sure they will be happy to take on Spain and Italy.