LEGEND!!! have to say it's funny that his jersey looks so big on him. He looks like a child in man's clothing.
This is a great thread! There's so many things I want to post, being the history buff that I am, that I just don't know where to start. But since the last few posts have centered on Mario Gomez and other CFs I figured I will stay on subject. I never liked Gomez for a very simple reason: he never scored in big games. I do admit however, that after the 2014 World Cup I warned up to him as he became a more integrated player and the only true CF, but because his gamble paid off in the World Cup Final, Löw became obsessed with this whole false nine fad, and I still think the reason Germany lost in the 2016 Euro semifinal was due to Löw's stubbornness in taking Gomez as the only real striker, and Gomez was unfortunately unfit. Which brings me to Stefan Kießling. Despite being one of the most consistent and reliable strikers in the Bundesliga, Löw never have him a chance. Why the hell not? Finally I would like highlight a bit of Klose trivial. Germany never lost a match in which Klose scored.
The video about neuville made me think of two players that might never go down in history as the ultimate players and I think their fame especially internationally is long forgotten . Not sure if they will make documentaries or if FIFA recognises them As greats - but I favoured both players very much and think they should be remembered as legends of the past . Pierre Littbarski and Bernd Schneider.
And while we with our ( maybe small ) but dribblers of the past ... Another dribbling legend. Thomas Hassler Hahaha could you imagine a midfield with Hassler Schneider Littbarski [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]
Gomez singlyhanded took Germany out of the Euro 2012 Group of Death scoring the 1-0 winner vs Portugal and double in 2-1 win vs Netherlands. what sucks about Euro 2012 is that it was winnable. Tactical disatsterclass by Low vs Italy saw us lose in SF. Although that defeat does seem to have played role in 2014 WC win too. why not to Kiessling same reason why not to Volland. Didn't rate him and wrote him off and moved on. It's not just that Kiessling claimed that Low showed lack of respect towards him too. https://www.espn.com/soccer/news/story/_/id/1672528/joachim-loew-booted-stefan-kiessling-claims
Schneider was my dad's favorite player of that era and along with Ballack/Neuville and co part of the infamous Bayer Neverkusen almost treble winners. They all played role in taking random club like Bayer to CL final and also played role in Germany 2002 WC final. That's a HUGE achievement and still German football history too. they lost to this Zidane goal in final probably the best winning goal ever in CL history. A generation of ALMOST players.....
THE TRAGIC BECOMING OF BAYER NEVERKUSEN, THE CLUB THAT COULD’VE HAD IT ALL https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/11/13/the-tragic-becoming-of-bayer-neverkusen/
curious back in 2002 when R9 won the Ballon D'Or. would Ballack (was also one of the top scorers in CL that season) have won it had he led Bayer to CL victory and WC victory (suspended in final)?
Not necessarily would happen considering bigger snub happened which was Wesley Sneijder case. Not only Sneijder didn't win but he didn't even included in top 3 Ballon D'Or.
yeah that was a snub but same time winner was Messi and other finalist were Iniesta/Xavi who led Spain to win the 2014 WC. I think had the Dutch won he could have jumped ahead in final rankings. I'm tire of Messi/Ronaldo anyways, faster they retire the better, 12+ years of them hogging the spotlight. Neymar is just unlucky that he's not far off from their ages and already late 20s, lol. this year marks our 30th anniversary of last German Ballon D'Or winner in Matthaus.......damn. Althghouh Germany is country with most individual players winning it at 5 and 7 times won it. Portugal/Argentina take out Messi/Ronaldo have barely won it....Argentina Messi is only winner for them at 6 times for the country.
You mean 2010 boyo, 2014 is our year. I'm not sure you are correct that Matthaus our LAST German Ballon D'Or, are you sure??? I'm quite sure Matthias Sammer was the last one.
yeah your right meant 2010 and yeah Sammer was the last one. If no German wins in 6 years than we'll hit our 30 year drought.
Relax mothaf5ck4, Julian Draxler obviously will win it next year. I see zero reason why he won't win it. I bet Loew's ball that he gonna win it all the way. Emre Can will become the runner-up.
This game got me shaking so hard Jonas Hector scoring the winning penalty to put us through, beating Italy for the first time in a knockout stage during the 2016 Euros Same Mario Gomez could not be fit for the semi final against France you could tell we were missing a focal point.
I miss Podolski. that last goal for Germany was like Hollywood worthy stuff, lol. Shame he ended at 49 goals for Germany and not 50.
For all the flaws in his game that Poldi gets criticized for, it's undeniable that in his prime he just had a knack for finding ways to score for the NT. Which is why he's 3rd all time in scoring behind Klose and Gerd Müller. He was also a good presence for team chemistry during the 2014 WC winning team. The scoring instinct is still missing in many youngsters nowadays, even if they're more skilled. Thomas Müller had it as well during his earlier years, especially in the 2010 and 2014 WC's.
damn, had to stop watching at the 1st vid after like 5 min as it made me sad he's retired. Too good in that one. a German great CF especially for club and had the whole package. Shame that injury he missed WC14 and injury in QF vs Italy is why he's trophyless for dfb. Would have liked it had we taken Gomez to CC17 instead of Wagner, lol.