- Not a fan of the CB's playing FB, history shows that Germany can beat good sides playing that way, but when they play the better sides (Boateng vs. Spain 10' and Italy 12') they have been exploited, offensively and defensively. - Germany really need Schweinsteiger to get fit, he helps complete Germany's midfield, takes creative pressure off the holding midfielder and can link play with his technique (Khedira doesn't look 100% fit and he was always a technical liability) - Ozil has to play because with Germany playing CBs on the wings they get no width from deep and he is the only player really providing width on either side of the field. - I don't think Germany can win without a fit Scweinsteiger and 2 CBs @ FB, and I think Low (who doesn't seem like a gambling man) might have to take some tactical risks to have the opportunity to push the team farther..If it was me (If I'm going out I'm going out shooting) I would really consider putting in Ginter (even though he doesn't have international experience) @ the deepest midfielder so I could switch Lahm out to RB and play Durm @ LB
Haha that's gold.. If I were a player who don't want to sing the anthem what could you do as coach? And how would that avoid anything? Seriously you would make a fool of yourself with such an directive. There is just one solution, ignore the fools who have a problem with players not singing. Full stop.
Exactly what I was thinking, a NT coach would have to be mad to bench a player of Lahm's, Ronaldo's, Messi's etc calibre simply because they don't want to sing. I'd hate to be forced to sing the anthem if I was out there. Keep the patriotism out of sports imho.
Agree. Defense will probably look this way for a while. German defending culture is geared up to create attacks.
That's not the right solution. Key is as mentioned in perception of how we define nationalism and how important is it really? Answer: Nowadays, totally subjective.
I would start daily choir practice always starting and ending with the anthem. ^^ I guess the number of players singing it before the game would rise considerably. Its also good breathing exercise.
I very much agree!!. but let's all sing the best version of German anthem. "deutschland deutschland über alles"!!!
really? Calm down The English Anthem sure sounds a lot like God Bless America.....they stole it from us!
Why do I hear people freaking out about us getting eliminated? There is a very slim chance we get eliminated at this stage of competition. We have +4 GD and sitting on 4pts - we can draw USA and guarantee advancement, we can lose to USA and still make it out of the group, as Ghana is -5 GD in relation to us, and Portugal -8 in case of tiebreaker on 4pts. Then we have head to head advantage over Portugal. There's a reason Portugal didn't celebrate their equalizer yesterday, nor did Ghana after getting a draw, as their chances are very slim with 1pt each. Only Ghana has a chance if US lose, so all the pressure will be on US to win the final match.
Yep a clear red IMO. I wonder how many of those bandwagonners coming around lately do actually know the anthem - or even do speak German. Not so many is my guess.
I re-watched the highlights and stumbled across the EPSN version including the intro to the game. I like how a f.ing 2nd group game of two other countries talked up as fight of titans. http://www.soccer-blogger.com/2014/...ls-highlights-gotze-klose-ayew-video-group-g/