Sorry, but this statement is simply moronic. No other way to put it. Germany not relevant in the last 18 years? At the last 3 world cups they've finished 2nd, 3rd and 3rd respectively. I don't know what your criteria for being relevant is, but most countries haven't had that many top 3 finishes in their entire history. Just a bit of enlightenment to put Germany into perspective for you in the soccer world.
I'd say they've been more than decent making 5 finals in the 22 years...... World Cup Record.... 1990 Champions 1994 Quarter-Final 1998 Quarter-Final 2002 Runners-up 2006 Third Place 2010 Third Place Euro Cup Records 1992 Runners-up 1996 Champions 2000 Group Stage 2004 Group Stage 2008 Runners-up 2012 Semi Final
Terrible. Who are these jokers sometimes called Deutschland. They should be ashamed of always going deep and even winning 6 major tournaments.
My top 10 list in ranking order: 1. 1982 Brazil - Italy 2. 2000 Holland - Italy 3. 1970 Italy - Germany 4. 2006 Germany - Italy 5. 1982 Italy - Germany 6. 2012 Germany - Italy 7. 1978 Italy - Argentina 8. 1994 Spain - Italy 9. 1982 Italy - Argentina 10. 1978 Italy - France
I particularly rank 2000 Italy Holland at rank #2 because of the outstanding defensive display against all odds , an English ref totally biased against Italy, 10 men, 2 pks , 100,000 plus fans and Italy wins !!!
With Brazil 2014 just around the corner, Goal runs down the 10 greatest World Cup finals' games in history
Germany is a long way off from the teams I grew up watching. 1996 was a good team but if Zola didn't choke his chicken they wouldn't have won that time either.
What has Germany won since 1996? They don't cash winning tickets at the sports book for 2nd and 3rd place. Could care less about their record of losing. In fact they are the biggest losers in history of soccer with 4 losses in the final.
Only one team wins it all and they haven't won but at least they made it to the final game 5 times which is more than any other country in the world other than maybe Brazil. You look at France, Argentina, Italy and Spain in the last 22 or even 26 years and they haven't progressed or reached the final game of a WC , Euro or Copa America as as many times as Germany.
I suggest that each fighter to go his corner and take a deep breath. Then, we can all do some serious "tifo" for the Azzurri. I am extremely excited to see how the forward players interact. Immobile, Rossi and Verratti sounds like a very interesting tandem. Forza Italia!
I had to go back and watch those Sweden HL's again but the vid doesn't do it justice. Cassano and Del Piero flanking Bobo Vieri with creative license to go all out and attack Sweden. Zambrotta was also very good. Too bad in typical Trappatoni fashion he said "We scored? OK everyone behind the ball now." And we invited the Swedes back in the game.
Lol they were , but glad to see personalities and attitudes evolved for the better . We all got older perhaps? Btw 100 percent agreed on your take, that is if not taking into account the quality of the opponent when compared to other heavy weights and also not taking into account the stakes against said heavy weights. Only based on level of play in a major tournament we can say it hold water. I've seen Italy dominate minnows in qualifiers and friendlies and have still yet to remember them playing this beautifully. Their play was simply beautiful and dominant . If so many chances weren't blown by Vieri and a few others it could have been 4 - 0 easily at the half , probably more . In a way they resembled the high level offensive beautiful play of Brazil , when Brazil were at their prime with players , but still Italy on the defensive end whenever Sweden tried to counter . Italy typically didnt play that way , especially at that time. Not even did they play that way against Bulgaria in WC 1994 when they dominated for the most part and also play very well . Imagine if we had a modern manager at that time with the players we had ?
As far as updates, I'd have to really think about it. Certainly in this tournament you have to look at the Turkey & Switzerland games where we played them completely off the pitch.
For me the best I have seen Italy play is 2006 vs Germany and 1982 vs Brazil Honourable mention 2003 vs Wales in Milan
Definitely still 2006 Italia - Germania WC Semifinals. I can recite word for word by memory the goal calls from Caressa. Still gives me chills