I don´t think, I´m the one, who´s crying! I´m completely satisfied, with the way, things went! I can even live with Spain (being the better team) winning the EC... (just to get back "on topic")
That makes two of us. We don't have to agree on the other stuff, but we do agree that the better team won this tourney. And if you go back I did say the Germany team's accomplishment this tourney was praiseworthy.
Sorry, I just can´t stand everybody is complaining about a team that has been in 2002 WC final,, 3rd in the 2006 WC and lost against a great Spanish team in the 2008 EC final! Germany didn´t play the most beautiful or technical football and they definitely didn´t dominate all the teams they beat in this EURO (and in other Cups as well), but there is kind of a spirit or a winner-mentality, that lead Germany thus far in all the tournaments! You don´t have to be champions to be winners! But that´s what espacially Germans are like...complaining at a high level! Others wish, they would have made it so far in recent tournaments...no matter, if they played the best football during the tournament or not!
Criticizing this German team for very poor performances in the semi-final & final, is absolutely justified in my eyes, dear Niederrhein neighbour & Celtic mate (even our big expert @ Gregoriak was pretty pissed off)! But this doesn't mean that I agree with all statements from Keith alias @ footyfan...
Btw: Let's better talk about the worthy winners from Spain now! I think there's enough been said about Germany...
Of course, there´s much to critize, if you have a look at how the German team played most of his games in the EC...if nobody would critize the team, no one would try to improve (and there´s a lot to improve - no question), so critics should be pretty welcome! But there´s a difference between crititising and bashing a team and I can´t see anybody has a reason or is an a position to bash the German NT after all it has achieved in recent years... But you´re right let´s give the Spanish team the attention, it deserves in this thread! In my eyes, they have had great teams in the past as well...what this team seems to have learnt is, "efficiency and coolness" (as you said) even in "do or die"-games...that´s something former Spanish teams didn´t prove!
This was a huge win for Spain. It put us in the map just when people were losing faith in our way of playing the game. We didn't just add the mental focus, but a bit of smart tactics and defensive awareness. Let's see what the future holds. The coach change poses many questions. And we'll have to replace Senna and Capdevilla soon. About the offensive players, I'm not worried. Granero, Capel and Bojan, amongst others, are going to be huge talents. Amorebieta, Piqué or Alexis will eventually fill the CB position. And I must say... You Germans have been the classiest rivals in this boards.
I have a question. in the past it was said that one of the main problems for the Spanish team were the internal rivalries between basques, andalusians, catalonians, etc., but that now all the players had one goal namely to win the trophy for Spain. is this true and therefore one of the reasons for this years success, or not!?
Age. He's 31. Hopefully he'll still be around for 2010. I've never believed in that theory. Egos hurt more than that. This is a humbler team, IMO.