Pre-match: (EURO 2016 - Group Stage) Germany vs N. Ireland 06.21.2016 [R]

We will see. A completely uninspired, toothless match against Poland after the warning signs were there against Ukraine (a team who were the first to be eliminated from the tournament) doesn't bode well when Germany come up against teams like Spain, Italy, or France who can't simply be brushed aside by Germany having more quality players to make up for Löw 's kindergarten tactics.

Scoring 1 goal from open play in 180 minutes from a deep midfield Schweinsteiger run against less talented opposition and saying no changes needed is a bit counterintuitive.

This isn't the World Cup, where Germany have far and away the most talented squad.

Conte, del Bosque, and Deschamps are no slouch of coaches either.

 

And those opponents aren't going to play with two banks of four in the box. We need to have a solid defense to defeat the likes of Spain and France.

Löw has sacrificed a bit of offensive output to play more cautious and stop us leaking tons of goals. Wholesale changes aren't needed. Move Müller to striker and either drop Götze or Draxler for a third midfielder or straight swap one for Schurrle.

Another important aspect to consider is game states. Schurrle and Sane are counter attack players. They may not be as effective as starters.

This is what I would do:

------------------Neuer------------------
Höwedes--Boateng---Hummels---Hector
-----------------Kimmich/Weigl-------------------
------------Khedira----Kroos--------------------
Götze-----------Müller----------------Özil

 

Playing a six behind Kroos/Khedira would allow Khedira to get forward and make those late runs into the box that make him so dangerous.

 

Löw is actually a fairly conservative coach. I think he will play a 4-3-3 in the knockout round as soon as we face a big gun. I think he's banking on Schweinsteiger getting fit for the quarter finals.

 

I would be all in favor of putting a #6 behind Kroos and Khedira.

I don't know if Löw would play Özil on the wing. He kept him in the middle even when we had no winger on the right at all in the last minutes of the Poland match. I wouldn't mind Özil out wide.

Not sure why you insist on keeping Götze when your knock against Shürrle and Sané is that they are counter attacking, as Götze is the very definition of a counter attacking player. Just compare Götze under Klopp vs. Götze under Guardiola.

 

I don't think Götze is a counter attack player. He has great close control and is more of a combination player. He excels in one touch passing.

He didn't work under Guardiola because Pep's system at Bayern relied on creating 1v1 options on the wings, and in that type of system you need players like Robbery or Costa/Coman.

Sane and Schurrle are weaker in close control but have explosive speed which is why they are abetter counter players. They can use their pace in the large spaces available, but struggle against deep lying defenses.

 

Götze and Özil on the wings is a very slow combination, especially with Höwedes behind Götze.

That's asking for another goalless match.

Özil on the left could be ok with Hector overlapping, but you'd need a fast, technical dribbler on the right.

There is a reason the good coaches like to have wingers who can win 1v1, because you need your wingers to create goal scoring opportunities, not simply retain possession.

If Götze isn't playing at the #10 there's no reason to start him, and Germany have Özil for that position. Götze is a good super sub, but he's shown nothing in 180 minutes + friendly matches to warrant starting any more matches at this tournament.

 

Against top teams we aren't going to play with a number ten.

 

If I had a yank accent, I wouldn't even tell people I speak German.

 

Thats interesting considering not even Arnie can get rid of the rahrahrah sound

 

According to Bild sources, Mario Gomez will start. Götze will move to the left with Draxler hitting the bench.

http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/em-2016/jogi-stuermt-mit-gomez-46399066.bild.html

 

Maybe Germany can score from a set piece?

 

Not a fan of Gomez starting. Might as well play with 10 men.

 

Just worked through the kicker predictor on remaining games... We could play Austria in the second round!!!

 

This is the worst team in recent years, Loew picked a very unbalanced squad, no pace, no skill, no striker, no wing attack. I've never seen such a team could get through to QF.

Didn't he blind not see how Mueller's improved his game at the new position in the middle ? That way helps him to contribute more to the team build up play.

Why so stubborn with Howedes and podolski case is beyond what we can explain ?

 

Ive seen an article where it is exactly stated that Germany is no Spain who have added the fullback wing play to their game. No dribbling is also intended. They said Löw wants to pass the ball through the middle.

 

I have 4 tickets to the last 16 game in Lille on Sunday that will most likely be for Germany vs 3A/B/F. Please email me on cavferris@hotmail.com if interested.
Thanks

 

THOMAS SCHNEIDER ON...
... possibly reaching the last 16 without having played: That would be nice, but we have our own objectives. We want to win the match and qualify as group winners.

... possible importance of today’s matches on the line-up: They will have no influence on our line-up. We will need every player throughout this tournament so it might be the case that one or two changes are made.

... thoughts about a new role for Thomas Müller: We are thinking about a lot of things, and we have thought about this, too. We’ll see tomorrow where he plays. => hope hope

... opponents Northern Ireland: We have a lot of respect for the opposition. They played well in qualification and actually won their group. They have also played well here and convincing beat Ukraine.

... the chances of an appearance for Leroy Sané: Leroy has trained well as ever. He is doing a good job just like the other players. Perhaps his chance will come at some point during the tournament.

... the discussion of leaders: It has been noted by the team but it is a pointless discussion. We have enough players in the team who have shown their leadership qualities in the past.

http://www.dfb.de/en/news/detail/schneider-qualify-as-group-winners-148586/p/2/

 

They've had terrible friendlies (meaningless) and terrible QF (means something) the last 2 years.

I figured they would role into tournament mode somehow but it just looks like their stuck in whatever gear they were.

We are lacking more leaders, true striker, fullbacks and pace on the wings.

We look so slow, lethargic and complacent out there. We seem to lack any kind of passion or hunger.

Our only saving grace has been Neuer and our CBs so far.

I hope to god they can figure it out and crank it up a few gears.

 

What did you expect from bandwagon Dhajj? Off to the stadium I go