Not a German but a neutral soccer fan with an objective set of eyes:
Spain locked down the mid-field and capitalized on one of their few chances. I don't think Mueller presence would change the outcome of the game. Germany didn't have much room to manoeuvre. I thought some of the German players were tentative i.e. Trochowski
Spain deserved to move on and it will be an interesting game tomorrow.
Spain locked down the mid-field and capitalized on one of their few chances. I don't think Mueller presence would change the outcome of the game. Germany didn't have much room to manoeuvre. I thought some of the German players were tentative i.e. Trochowski
Spain deserved to move on and it will be an interesting game tomorrow.
they didn't play their game and let spain dictate how the game was to be played....if germany played their game of attack and react futbol i have no doubt they would have won... i know i am in the vast minority here, so bash away it makes no difference to me...but spain doesn't impress me...and i really like some of their players like ramos and iniesta and alonso...torres injury from the middle of the epl season is so evidently still effecting him..he isn't fooling anyone...cheers
Germany has a young team and perhaps they got nervous when having to play against tournament favourites Spain for a place in the final. The team reminded me a lot of the mediocre performance against Ghana when the players were noticeably impressed by the danger of being eliminated in the group stage.
Also, I believe Germany was surprised by the Spanish change from Torres to Pedro. With Torres the Spanish play was rather static, I think we could have coped with that better.
All in all I think the German team, while really talented, is not yet quite as good as the wins against Australia, England and Argentina made it look. In my opinion Spain is by far the best team in this tournament and against Germany they finally started to play like it. If Germany somehow takes the lead the game may turn out to be different, but as it was it showed that the young Germans are not quite ready for the really big games. Missing Mueller didn't help, of course, but I don't think it was decisive.
Also, I believe Germany was surprised by the Spanish change from Torres to Pedro. With Torres the Spanish play was rather static, I think we could have coped with that better.
All in all I think the German team, while really talented, is not yet quite as good as the wins against Australia, England and Argentina made it look. In my opinion Spain is by far the best team in this tournament and against Germany they finally started to play like it. If Germany somehow takes the lead the game may turn out to be different, but as it was it showed that the young Germans are not quite ready for the really big games. Missing Mueller didn't help, of course, but I don't think it was decisive.
Thanks for all the input guys. I think we all agree that Spain controlled this match. The thing that I especially noticed was that Spain almost swarmed a German player once he got the ball. Germany's tactic was to pass backward in order to continue controlling the ball and this stunted their attack.
I was initially going to root for the Netherlands but I feel the Spaniards are the better team and I will be backing them with my money.
Good luck and thank again.
I was initially going to root for the Netherlands but I feel the Spaniards are the better team and I will be backing them with my money.
Good luck and thank again.
can only agree here. if you look at my preview of the spain germany match it played out exactly as i expected it. spains strength is defense..and they start their defense with controlling the ball. germany was just not able t run against these guys.
when getting possession and ready to run there were always already f or 6 spanish back.
in the end i actually dont agree to what most people say that spain was dominating germany..possesion is not all. germany got beaten by a corner kick and a great once in a life time header by pujol. this set piece has nothing to do with dominating germany..although spain had a few more chance, there were really only a few..same for Germany (Kroos)...it was a match coming down who scores the one goal and spain did. Probably deserved, but it was close. they played like the do since the EURO and this is big time successful. so well deserved overall and i hope they win the final too with another 1-0.
when getting possession and ready to run there were always already f or 6 spanish back.
in the end i actually dont agree to what most people say that spain was dominating germany..possesion is not all. germany got beaten by a corner kick and a great once in a life time header by pujol. this set piece has nothing to do with dominating germany..although spain had a few more chance, there were really only a few..same for Germany (Kroos)...it was a match coming down who scores the one goal and spain did. Probably deserved, but it was close. they played like the do since the EURO and this is big time successful. so well deserved overall and i hope they win the final too with another 1-0.
