Germany Vs Spain

[Ponty]

Two teams cancelling each other out a bit at the moment. Some flashes of brilliance but mostly dead-end stuff.

 

I noticed the commentator said that Xavi has the best pass completion stat of the World Cup. Watching him play, I'm hardly surprised. Every pass is a 3 yard special.

[latter day saint]

 

I noticed the commentator said that Xavi has the best pass completion stat of the World Cup. Watching him play, I'm hardly surprised. Every pass is a 3 yard special.

thats why i find watching Spain frustrating.yes they are keeping possesion but just wish they would get on with it sometimes!

[Thedelldays]

we are light years behind these two......the passing around and NO needless hoofs from defence to attack

[Andy_Porter]

It's Germany who are making this game frustrating - Spain are trying to play football and Germany are containing them. They are using the full width of the pitch of both sides, getting pretty much everyone apart from Puyol forward and getting plenty of crosses into the box. They could do with Llorente upfront, crossing to a few midgets isn't helping them at the moment.

 

Xavi is easily the best player in the world in his position, he's a fantastic player and has been as good as any player in the world over the last couple of season.

[dubai_phil]

Good old fashioned row in the studio between Souness & Hoddle about tactics, with Veneables struggling to get a word in. Most exciting bit of action in the first half

[Smirking_Saint]

TBF, Germany are defending brilliantly

[Micky]

I'm currently in Germany and the locals are getting wrestless...!

[Saint Martini]

Best half by Spain this tournament by a country mile. Not a whole lot of chances though.

 

Smart decision to finally drop Torres, Spain look better without him.

[Smirking_Saint]

I'm currently in Germany and the locals are getting wrestless...!

 

They have lost the ability to pull and twist ?

 

Or have develop a neurological disorder that affects the legs ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry couldn't resist, i usually can't stand the pedants

[dune]

It's all Spain but you just know the spawny Germans are gonna win.

[chrisobee]

I hope not

[Ponty]

Get in.

[chrisobee]

Yesssssss, come on Spain !!

[Micky]

Oooooo errrrr it's all gone quiet over here right about now..... I'm driving a dutch registered car as well which will probably get trashed in the car park now - doooooh...!!!

[chrisobee]

Oooooo errrrr it's all gone quiet over here right about now..... I'm driving a dutch registered car as well which will probably get trashed in the car park now - doooooh...!!!

 

Sorry, but I still want Spain to win:D

[chrisobee]

Should have 2-0!

[Micky]

Sorry, but I still want Spain to win:D

 

I'm not bothered either way - but I should warn you that at the last WC Final I was in Lake Garda surrounded by Italians - they won it, this year I will be in Germany for the Final....!

 

Should have been 2 nil there....

[chrisobee]

Bye bye Germany.

[Ponty]

Good stuff. Germany appeared lost without the counter-attack option.

[Andy_Porter]

Get in!

 

Just need the Spanish to **** Holland in the final now.

[Micky]

Bit of an air of depression around here right now - best get a beer and slope off to bed before the locals kick off...!!!!

[Thedelldays]

spain up'd the tempo and pressing game in the 2nd....

 

so much skill

[St Landrew]

That Oracle Octopus got it right yet again. His correct-incorrect calls are now 10-1

[chrisobee]

I thought the loss of Muller might return to haunt them, Germany had pressure but not many clear chances.

[dune]

yes. Germany out. And i'm on course to pocket £100 from the work dream team with my 10 holland players. Happy days.

[chrisobee]

That Oracle Octopus got it right yet again. His correct-incorrect calls are now 10-1

 

That's amazing, he must have a crystal ball. I want it just for one day:D

[dubai_phil]

That Oracle Octopus got it right yet again. His correct-incorrect calls are now 10-1

 

The whole German approach to the game was "we've lost this" good shout Paul. I note he is actually English as well/ Good job agent Paul psyched the lot of them out even Loew and his smelly sweater

[alpine_saint]

The whole German approach to the game was "we've lost this" good shout Paul. I note he is actually English as well/ Good job agent Paul psyched the lot of them out even Loew and his smelly sweater

 

hehehehe

 

Reckon the local gasthaus to Oberhausen Zoo is going to be serving fresh Calimari tomorrow..

[Andy_Porter]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2995/betting/2010/07/07/2014227/world-cup-2010-punter-stakes-413000-on-germany-to-beat-spain

 

 

errrrr lol?

[St Landrew]

I've been hugely impressed by the Germans. They are not the most technically gifted, but they have been the best team to watch in every other aspect. As far back as I can remember, the British game has been about making the most of the talents that were available/selected and getting them to work as a team. It seemed they were always going to be secondary to the ball skill talents of Southern European and Southern American squads, yet their work ethic and strict resolve in good tactics would see them through.

 

Well it doesn't seem to work like that. It's almost natural of the Germans [and good on them for trying], to take the northern game at its best and challenge the southern game, with its superior individual skills. Ultimately, you take tactics and you work them, hand in hand with your skillful players. But you have to account for your extra special players. The ones that can turn a game in a moment. We don't have them. The English modern day version is Rooney, and he's becoming the product of English coaching. I'm hesitant to mention Matthew Le Tissier, because he would be shouted down in this country, as complete poppyc*ck. But only in this country. His was a level of skill that is rarefied in an English player, but is rather more common on the continent. Perhaps it's time to take away some of those no-ball-games signs and realise that if England want to be amongst the best again, they are going to have to let their youngest flourish. And not over coach them either.

[SuperMikey]

I wish the Germans had won actually, they've been by far and away the best team in the tournament. Spain have played some really negative football considering the attacking flair they have in their team, they only ever seem to pass it sideways or backwards. Germany have been very well organised, efficient and strong-willed and have a very young team compared to others like Italy or England, and i'm sure they'll be a major force in years to come with the likes of Ozil, Schweinsteiger and Muller coming into their own and becoming world-class players. I hope Holland win now, because they are relative minnows compared to Spain and their players actually work hard as opposed to the lazy Spanish (what other country has virtually all of its citizens having a nap at midday!?).

[St Landrew]

Come on, Supermikey. If we felt like that all the time, we would have begrudged the Brazillians every time they won the World Cup. The fact is, times come around, and it's a new turn. I was so impressed by the Germans I also hoped their endeavour would see them through. They played like I hoped an English team would play. To soak up pressure and then catch the unwary on the break. It's clever counter-attacking football, and it's a speciality of the northern game, when played at its best. Even Saints played it to good effect in moments last season, so it must be good..!

 

But we can't deny individual skill matched with good tactics. Ultimately, as a neutral bystander, we must applaud the purity of the game, and allow that Spain play it well. I really can't decide who I'd rather have win the Final.

[chrisobee]

I've been hugely impressed by the Germans. They are not the most technically gifted, but they have been the best team to watch in every other aspect. As far back as I can remember, the British game has been about making the most of the talents that were available/selected and getting them to work as a team. It seemed they were always going to be secondary to the ball skill talents of Southern European and Southern American squads, yet their work ethic and strict resolve in good tactics would see them through.

 

Well it doesn't seem to work like that. It's almost natural of the Germans [and good on them for trying], to take the northern game at its best and challenge the southern game, with its superior individual skills. Ultimately, you take tactics and you work them, hand in hand with your skillful players. But you have to account for your extra special players. The ones that can turn a game in a moment. We don't have them. The English modern day version is Rooney, and he's becoming the product of English coaching. I'm hesitant to mention Matthew Le Tissier, because he would be shouted down in this country, as complete poppyc*ck. But only in this country. His was a level of skill that is rarefied in an English player, but is rather more common on the continent. Perhaps it's time to take away some of those no-ball-games signs and realise that if England want to be amongst the best again, they are going to have to let their youngest flourish. And not over coach them either.

 

Le Tiss should have played 50+ times for England, absurd he wasn't pick in 1998 when Darren Anderton amongst others was. You're really comparing say aLamborghini to a Vauxhall Astra ! When I was young ( here I go again lol) pretty much every spare minute was spent playing football. Luckily I had Test playing fields ( pre the wretched M27) Green Park, and Redbridge playing fields within 5 minutes and plenty of other open spaces. 90%+ of boys were football mad, no wonder a few from that era made it into the Saints team.

[Saint_clark]

Does anyone know what the octopus predicted?

EDIT; nevermind, just saw it further up the page

[chrisobee]

Does anyone know what the octopus predicted?

EDIT; nevermind, just saw it further up the page

 

Why do people never look properly:rolleyes: Never mind a big grin off to bed lad

[Andy_Porter]

I wish the Germans had won actually, they've been by far and away the best team in the tournament. Spain have played some really negative football considering the attacking flair they have in their team, they only ever seem to pass it sideways or backwards. Germany have been very well organised, efficient and strong-willed and have a very young team compared to others like Italy or England, and i'm sure they'll be a major force in years to come with the likes of Ozil, Schweinsteiger and Muller coming into their own and becoming world-class players. I hope Holland win now, because they are relative minnows compared to Spain and their players actually work hard as opposed to the lazy Spanish (what other country has virtually all of its citizens having a nap at midday!?).

 

So you wanted Germany to win because you think Spain play negative football (lol what?) and now in the final you want Holland to win despite them stinking up the whole tournament despite having some of the best footballers in the world.

 

If Germany where half as good as you suggest why didn't they try and give the Spanish a game untill Puyol scored?

[SuperMikey]

So you wanted Germany to win because you think Spain play negative football (lol what?) and now in the final you want Holland to win despite them stinking up the whole tournament despite having some of the best footballers in the world.

 

If Germany where half as good as you suggest why didn't they try and give the Spanish a game untill Puyol scored?

 

Spain grind out results by passing the ball around for 89 minutes, it's frustrating and boring to watch them play. Germany played with a lot of energy and excitement in their game this tournament, and when the broke on the counter-attack you knew something was going to happen. Holland haven't been great either, but I want them to win because I don't think Spain deserve to. When you look at the players in that Spanish squad, they should be crushing most of the teams in the WC, but instead they had a pretty dodgy start and haven't looked convincing since. Holland have been consistent at least, not sure if they've lost a game yet either, and at least they work a lot harder than the Spanish!

 

The Germans were frustrated by the Spanish tactics, the Spanish set out to wear them down and perhaps nick a goal in extra time. They didn't play with any urgency and although their goal came from a good set-piece, they never really looked like scoring aside from that and the chances that Puyol and Pedro had. You don't win unless you get the ball. People say that the Spanish were the better team, but that's only because they had much more of the ball. Germany were very precise with their movement on the pitch, and defensively they were completely watertight for most of the game. I also loved the fact that the German CBs didn't hoof the ball out of defence even when they were surrounded by Spanish players, they either nodded it on to another German player in a better position or looked for a short, simple pass out of trouble. As St.Landrew said earlier, they played like how I would want England to play (if I supported them).

 

(And i'm in no way bitter because I could've won some dosh on the game if Germany had won...)

[Dark Munster]

Spain grind out results by passing the ball around for 89 minutes, it's frustrating and boring to watch them play. Germany played with a lot of energy and excitement in their game this tournament, and when the broke on the counter-attack you knew something was going to happen. Holland haven't been great either, but I want them to win because I don't think Spain deserve to. When you look at the players in that Spanish squad, they should be crushing most of the teams in the WC, but instead they had a pretty dodgy start and haven't looked convincing since. Holland have been consistent at least, not sure if they've lost a game yet either, and at least they work a lot harder than the Spanish!

 

The Germans were frustrated by the Spanish tactics, the Spanish set out to wear them down and perhaps nick a goal in extra time. They didn't play with any urgency and although their goal came from a good set-piece, they never really looked like scoring aside from that and the chances that Puyol and Pedro had. You don't win unless you get the ball. People say that the Spanish were the better team, but that's only because they had much more of the ball. Germany were very precise with their movement on the pitch, and defensively they were completely watertight for most of the game. I also loved the fact that the German CBs didn't hoof the ball out of defence even when they were surrounded by Spanish players, they either nodded it on to another German player in a better position or looked for a short, simple pass out of trouble. As St.Landrew said earlier, they played like how I would want England to play (if I supported them).

 

(And i'm in no way bitter because I could've won some dosh on the game if Germany had won...)

That's strange, in the game I watched the Spaniards were frustrated by the German tactics, the Germans set out to wear them down and perhaps nick a goal in extra time.

[SuperMikey]

That's strange, in the game I watched the Spaniards were frustrated by the German tactics, the Germans set out to wear them down and perhaps nick a goal in extra time.

 

Were you watching the Euro 2008 game?

The Germans had hardly any of the ball, the Spanish just passed it about all game.

[Andy_Porter]

Were you watching the Euro 2008 game?

The Germans had hardly any of the ball, the Spanish just passed it about all game.

 

Because the Germans let them have it...

 

Klose spent the whole game isolated, Villa had plenty of Spanish around him at all times they just struggled to get the ball into telling areas because Germany defended so well. Possesion football in this case wasn't negative.

[eelpie]

Well, that's it then. Spain v Netherlands should be the best match ever.

 

But thank goodness there is only one last match to have to listen to Lawrenson's inane comments. ITV have supplied by far the best and most intelligent coverage, and their signature tune 'Africa' sung by Vusi Mahlasela is just ace!

[Window Cleaner]

Well, that's it then. Spain v Netherlands should be the best match ever.

 

 

I very much doubt that the friable Dutch defence will last very long faced with the Spanish Steamroller, a red card for Von Bommel and 2-0 to the Spanish at half-time would be my prediction.

[Window Cleaner]

Because the Germans let them have it...

 

Klose spent the whole game isolated, Villa had plenty of Spanish around him at all times they just struggled to get the ball into telling areas because Germany defended so well. Possesion football in this case wasn't negative.

 

sorry Andy you're not right there, that's the Spanish game all over, keep the ball and let the other bastards come and get it if they want it, then they hit them with a mercurial acceleration when they do try to play ball, Spain's front 6 instill fear in defences and midfields, so they hang back so as not to get caught, the Spanish just grind them down and eventually score.

[SuperMikey]

Because the Germans let them have it...

 

Klose spent the whole game isolated, Villa had plenty of Spanish around him at all times they just struggled to get the ball into telling areas because Germany defended so well. Possesion football in this case wasn't negative.

 

The Germans were running around like headless chickens in the first 20 minutes trying to get the ball off the Spanish, but it just wasn't coming off so they cooled it a bit. Agree about Klose being isolated though, part of the reason why he's scored so many has been his excellent service from Muller and Ozil, and without Muller in the side the Germans just lacked that bit of incisiveness up front. Spain were pretty poor going forward, quite often tried that one pass too many and lost possession quite a lot outside the area (mainly thanks to some heroic defending from the likes of Lahm and Mertesacker).

[Frank's cousin]

I dont begrudge Spain their win, but given their attacking flair and midfield passing mastery, I am just a bit puzzeled why they dont score more goals and attack more often... its seems as if they are happy only getting one and even if the football is pretty, well controlled, slick and rapid pass and move which is hugely easy on the eye, its just a bit dull at times... Although this game was better than the final.... yAWN....

 

Germans played overall in the tournament with pricise contra attacking style that is really entertaining, hense 16 goals to Spains 8 with 8 different goal scorers in 7 games... which suggests they have more to come.