OT World Cup 2010 South Africa

[frank1970]

ORIGINAL: BShaftoe

One question: are the "new" german midfielders good, defensively speaking?

Samy Khedira and Sebastian Schweinsteiger(possibly the best defensive midfielder in this tournament) definitifely are . Müller is doing defence work, Podolski doesn´t like that at all (und usually doesn´t help out in defence). Ösil is a offensive player though.
All of them know how to play a pass and how to score though.

[vinnie71]

Germany's midfield is rather eclectic and flexible. Except for Osil, all are capable of defending or at least doubling an adversary, which is a huge advantage. Heck even Klose sometimes can be found chasing adversaries for the ball [:D]
 
Btw if Paul the octopus screws up, send him to Malta on 'vacation'. Here he'll meet a lot of his friends... [:D]

[chesmart]

?

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Offworlder

Germany's midfield is rather eclectic and flexible. Except for Osil, all are capable of defending or at least doubling an adversary, which is a huge advantage. Heck even Klose sometimes can be found chasing adversaries for the ball [:D]

Btw if Paul the octopus screws up, send him to Malta on 'vacation'. Here he'll meet a lot of his friends... [:D]

Well, even a pure striker as Samuel Eto'o could defend, true... [8|] Against Barcelona (Champions League semi-final) and Bayern München (final) Mourinho made him play as a right winger [:D] But this does not mean he will be good at that "new" job. You will hardly find very good creative midfielders who are very good destructive midfielders. It's either one thing or the other. And above all, you cannot do both things at the same time. So you need a creative and destructive guy. Different guys, different (and important) tasks.

[Fletcher]

Nobody thinking in a Spanish victory ?? .. I know germans are an amazing team, but in the Spanish team we have Villa, Iniesta, Torres (he is not in his best momments, of course), Sergio Ramos, Pique, Xavi Alonso, Xavi, Casillas...great players with a great trayectory, they are the European Soccer Coup winners... I don´t know if anybody have faith in spanish possibilities or no spanish here to defend our team

Best wishes and good luck for Germany the next Wednesday
ramón

[vinnie71]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

ORIGINAL: Offworlder

Germany's midfield is rather eclectic and flexible. Except for Osil, all are capable of defending or at least doubling an adversary, which is a huge advantage. Heck even Klose sometimes can be found chasing adversaries for the ball [:D]

Btw if Paul the octopus screws up, send him to Malta on 'vacation'. Here he'll meet a lot of his friends... [:D]

Well, even a pure striker as Samuel Eto'o could defend, true... [8|] Against Barcelona (Champions League semi-final) and Bayern München (final) Mourinho made him play as a right winger [:D] But this does not mean he will be good at that "new" job. You will hardly find very good creative midfielders who are very good destructive midfielders. It's either one thing or the other. And above all, you cannot do both things at the same time. So you need a creative and destructive guy. Different guys, different (and important) tasks.

True enough. But never underestimate the fact that even a creative midfielder hovering at your back or doubling you, exerts that certain pressure on anyone who's with the ball. The truth is that more often than not its Schweinsteiger who recovers (and proposes) balls in the midfield. As I said, the German midfielders do seem to double back many times leaving little space for their adversaries and basically clogging the midfield.

Btw Fletcher I think that on paper the Spanish team can be superior - more experience, an ability to find a way through somehow and a coach who is ready to make tough calls when needed. I mean the guy doesn't look at the name but at the requirements of that particular game, even though he espouses a certain football mentality. It takes guts to go up in front of the press after the loss to Switzerland, say it was mostly bad luck (which it kind of was) and that he's not going to change because of that.

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: Fletcher

Nobody thinking in a Spanish victory ?? .. I know germans are an amazing team, but in the Spanish team we have Villa, Iniesta, Torres (he is not in his best momments, of course), Sergio Ramos, Pique, Xavi Alonso, Xavi, Casillas...great players with a great trayectory, they are the European Soccer Coup winners... I don´t know if anybody have faith in spanish possibilities or no spanish here to defend our team

Best wishes and good luck for Germany the next Wednesday
ramón

You've got the better side on paper, but how often do the Spanish fall short at the major tournaments? I'm looking forward to the match, the Germans have been ruthless in front of goal so there might be plenty more to come.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Fletcher

Nobody thinking in a Spanish victory ?? .. I know germans are an amazing team, but in the Spanish team we have Villa, Iniesta, Torres (he is not in his best momments, of course), Sergio Ramos, Pique, Xavi Alonso, Xavi, Casillas...great players with a great trayectory, they are the European Soccer Coup winners... I don´t know if anybody have faith in spanish possibilities or no spanish here to defend our team

Best wishes and good luck for Germany the next Wednesday
ramón

Warspite1

As a neutral I just hope its a really good, open game and may the best team win (and whoever it is then lose to Holland in the Final [;)]).

Against my better judgement (I NEVER bet against the Germans) I actually think the Spanish will win this time. The Germans go into the semi on the back of two resounding victories against two former winners of the tournament, while Spain have yet to hit the form everyone knows they are capable of. I just have a sneaking suspicion that the Germans have peaked too soon, but we'll see.....

P.S you have probably been asked this before so apologies but I am curious. Why the name Fletcher and the liking for the Royal Navy (good choice by the way [:)])?

Thanks.

[TulliusDetritus]

Fletcher, 2 years ago there was a Euro Cup 2008 thread on the General Discussions of Matrix forums. I remember very well that my prediction for the final (à la Paul The Octopus) was : 60% Spain - 40% Germany. Somehow my reasoning was right.

But now, two years later the German side has really improved: the young players mentioned above (credit goes obviously to their intelligent and bold coach: Mr Löw). So now I would say 50% - 50% [:)]

Dixie, as for "but how often do the Spanish fall short at the major tournaments", I think the Spaniards have broken that barrier. How? Defeating both the Italians and Germans on 2008. I guess it's exactly like Holland right now. I don't think they will implode and they should be defeating (I hope!) Uruguay, and then either Germany or Spain (I hope again!).

I suspect Germany vs Spain will NOT be an easy ride at all... It should not be an easy ride if both squads deploy their excellent football. You do NOT know what German or Spanish squad will play on wednesday. The German squad that trashed England and Argentina or the one that lost to Serbia and struggled with Ghana? [;)] The Spanish squad which struggled with ULTRA defensive sides or the one that trashed Poland 6 - 0 one week before the WC? We don't know [:)]

[Fletcher]

P.S you have probably been asked this before so apologies but I am curious. Why the name Fletcher and the liking for the Royal Navy (good choice by the way )?

Thanks.

Hello Warspite1,
About your curiosity about my nickname, RADM. Frank J. Fletcher is one of my favourites naval leaders in the first stage of the Pacific War...For the other hands I am an Royal Navy Fanboy from many years and I like so much the Royal Navy History in the second world war that I have my favourites ships, between them HMS DEVONSHIRE ( A County Class "Washington Treaty" Heavy Cruiser ). Other choice could be HMS ARK ROYAL, but this carrier never was in the Indian Ocean (she was sunk near Gibraltar in november 1941).
In spite of my nicknames and avatar I am playing like japanese (to add more confusion if possible [:D])... I hope I can end my game against Cantona in 1945 to begin a new campaign like Allied (my favourite side) ..but I must to wait

Thank you for your posting about Soccer World Champion, TulliusDetritus, I am not a football follower really, but I am very surprised with all opinion here without any support for spanish team.. They played very well, they had bad luck with Switzerland, ... all right, I am sure that the next game vs German will be very difficult and Spain can lost the match..I hope they win

Thanks
Ramón

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

[:D]

Ahhh... that explains it all.. [:D]


When is the real event for Paul the octopus regarding upcoming Germany - Spain match?



Leo "Apollo11"

[TulliusDetritus]

This morning. Already done [:D]

Looks like the final will be Spain vs - ???

[Bliztk]

Paul is wise.

All hail Paul [&o][&o]

Germany offensive power is overrated IMHO, only played weak teams with offensive aspirations. Spain has played ultra-defensive weak teams, thus the lesser goal average

[Jaroen]

Maybe a misconception but do many Brits root for Holland as the second best after England?
For what it's worth, ie not much, I believe many Dutch would settle for supporting England if Holland would drop out earlier.

Btw. is that octopus only drawing winners for German matches???
Would definately hope for a Holland vs. Spain final since the German mannschaft is certainly an angstgegener for the Dutch. Although winning a final against Germany is just about a dream come true for all the Dutch after loosing the 1974 final.

Go Orange!!!

[vinnie71]

Well one can always rely on the fact that Germany is a kind of boogey man for the Spanish. [:D] Truth is that the Spanish on an individual basis are formidable and therefore on paper should be favourites. Incidentally I believe that it will be a tactical game rather than a goalfest. I also believe that whoever scores first will dramatically change the course of the game in his favour.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

This morning. Already done [:D]

Looks like the final will be Spain vs - ???

Darn... so the true Paul the Octopus also choose Spain (i.e. this is no hoax any more)... interesting...


Leo "Apollo11"

[vinnie71]

OCTOPUS SALAD ANYONE??????
 
[:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

Anyway, I am pretty certain about ONE thing. The squad which is going to win on Wednesday (either Germany or Spain) is going to be World Champion...

In other words, Holland or Uruguay don't have any possibility. Well, a catastrophe, who knows... [:D]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Jaroen

Maybe a misconception but do many Brits root for Holland as the second best after England?
For what it's worth, ie not much, I believe many Dutch would settle for supporting England if Holland would drop out earlier.

Btw. is that octopus only drawing winners for German matches???
Would definately hope for a Holland vs. Spain final since the German mannschaft is certainly an angstgegener for the Dutch. Although winning a final against Germany is just about a dream come true for all the Dutch after loosing the 1974 final.

Go Orange!!!

Warspite1

I'm English and I support the Dutch in Football (in the absence of England and the other home countries) because my first memory of the World Cup finals was as a 9-year old football mad - no, football obsessed - little boy in 1974, who, in the absence of an England team to support (and the poor Scots who went home on goal difference without losing a game [&:]), was totally bowled over by this team in an unusual but interesting Orange and Black strip. Although I didn't truly appreciate then how good the football was, I still remember the 2-0 win over Brazil in the semi-final and what a big thing that was because Brazil had won the cup 3 times and were the holders. I still remember that match like it was yesterday - Holland in their White "away" kit with Orange trim and Orange socks - Cruyff, Neeskens, Krol, Jongbloed, Van Hanegem, Rensenbrink, Rep [&o] [&o] [&o].

I don't remember the second semi-final but recall my dad desperately wanting the Poles (even though they had despatched England in the qualifiers) and the reason he gave - because of WWII and the fate that befell that poor country thanks to the Nazis. Sadly the Poles did not make it but that made the final all the more interesting; Holland vs Germany.

Unfortunately the Germans won that one, coming from behind to beat the best team in the world; just as they had done twenty years earlier against the then best team, the Hungarians (You've just got to admire the Teutonic efficiency!! [&o]).

The Dutch, by then without Cruyff but still a great side, should have won four years later but were beaten by the home country - this time Argentina - once more.

In the interim they have continued to produce great players - Van Basten, Gullitt, Bergkamp (even if he is a Gooner [;)] ), Van Der Sar et al.

This may not be the best Dutch side ever, but Holland are certainly overdue a World Cup win. So nothing against Spain, Germany or Uruguay - but please please please let it be Holland this year [:)]

[frank1970]

this octopus made one wrong tip two years ago, too. Chose Germany as winner in the Eurocup. Was plain wrong. This time it is Germany who will win. No european champion ever won the world cup, so bad luck Spain [;)]

I hope it will be a good match with Germany winning, but my guts say otherwise [8D]