Post-match: WC M2 (group stage) Germany Vs Ghana June 21

Think this World Cup is all about making the right/smart subs. So many games have been won/lost like that already and it's no different with Germany. Löw has been pretty good with that so far I think and you can easily ratonalize why he has benched Schweinsteiger so far, even considering injuries.

 

I had a similar thought when I re-watched the game this morning. Used to bother me that Klose and Podolski didn't sing it either. {Dang, Algeria up 2?}

 

I re-watched the 2nd half on sportschau.de and there is crack in the game when Schweini and Klose come in. Ghana crushing our midfield 2 times and they come in. Suddenly Ghana's DMs are positioned 20m further back. Schweinis play leads to the corner. Goal.

 

It does not look to great that it's the players with some international background who don't sing.

Though whatever I guess. Otoh I find it a bit embarrassing when players sing with their hand on their chest. And Neymar...

 

Yeah, it's register and complain about them players not singing day!

 

As we hear Khedira was slightly injured too.

 

And the second game syndrome continues I guess. We had some chances to put them away and hopefully will not regret taking all 3 points from this one.

As much as I'd like to see Schweini start over Khedira, he proved to be a real game changer in the second half. Happy for Klose. Ronaldo was my favorite player growing up so if someone is going to surpass him, happy its a German.

 

Yea it's funny because I think using 4 CBs is meant to set up the team better on the counter but that's also without players like Schürrle on and Özil in the middle which would be more ideal. Think Löw is trying to struck a balance in what is really a difficult tournament.

Watching all the games so far it's just become increasingly obvious just how difficult these conditions are for teams. It completely throws form, tactics, ability out the window at times. Imagine the preparation takes even more out of players this time around and that probably affects them in games.

 

I hope national anthems eventually leave sports altogether so discussions like this don't arise every time a team underperforms. So silly.

 

Very true. I think his absence kind of threw things out of balance and forced him to adjust on short notice.

There's also the reality that you can't really change the team every single game. Adjusting to an opponent is one thing but using a different lineup is another which I feel many overlook when they judge a game after the fact.

 

Going to be hard to stop that externally unfortunately so it's always going to be present unless eliminated within but that's a whole different discussion. : )

 

I read many soccer forums and blogs in different countries about how peculiar it is that players with foreign roots not sing the anthem in the german team ...

For many sing the hymn is not important ... and I share that view. But honestly it looks ugly that only some do not sing, and that's something no one can refute. It looks pretty bad, regardless of who has different opinions about it.

No solution to this and it is better to leave the matter for peace.