Post by Deleted on May 30, 2008 11:14:58 GMT
GERMANY
Something strange is in the air - there's a German side which are actually entertaining to watch. For years, they played to their stereotype of being a well oiled machine whose efficient style created goals and had thebottle which the English could only dream of. Their last European Championships performance was dreadful - made to look fools against Latvia and humbled by a Czech reserves side. Something had to be done and Jurgen Klinsmann was the man. A successful World Cup campaign late and a developing team of attackers, it was felt natural to pass the baton to Klinsmann's assistant Joachim Low.
Some say Joachim Low was the factor - the real driving force behind the change and he's adopted in my opinion, the ideal structure at international level. Rarely are the players of Bayern and Schalke used in friendlies, they experiment and give players from the lesser teams an opportunity to shine. From this they have developed a pool of 40 players with international. Low recently fielded a 19 year old midfielder from second division Moenchengladbach, Marko Marin in their warm up friendly versus Belarus despite an impressive performance he just missed the cut. Gone this time out is Kahn (an influence which IMO often held back Germany and he's doing the same to Bayern now) and now the spotlight falls to Lehmann who has some Autumn days in his career to play out in Austria. The back four is possibly the best footballing back four in the competition. Per Mertesacker's value could rise tenfold - he's the latest non-flashy footballing centre-half they have produced. Lahm, the multi-footed full-back is looking for a move from Bayern and a good competition would see Barcelona come knocking.
Ballack still leads the team with an air of arrogance only a German can produce. He's obviously hurting from receiving another runners-up medal (he's known in Germany as 'The Runner-Up', he's lost in three finals for Bayer Leverkusen and lost a title on the last day of the season with Chelsea and Bayer). Frings, the steel alongside himself provides some decent shadowplay. The wingers could be any of the 4 - Rolfes, Borowski, Schweinsteiger and Trochowski. Schweinsteiger with his B List celebrity status in Germany has somewhat lost his way in recent times, Rolfes has taken on the challenge from there to stake a claim whilst Borowski is set to join Schweinsteiger at his club after the summer and a good few years service at Bayern.
Klose remains the Lineker of the team - work-rate nil, teamwork nil, goalscoring superb.The Germans approach to him has never been warm - his desire to celebrate his 5th goal against S.Arabia as much as a winner against Argentina leaves them cold. Podolski, one of the stars at WC2006 has also suffered a fall from grace - HE rejected a deal to Man City in January and was suggested to play for Bayern's reserves in the Third Division by their hierarchy (a certain Karl-Heinz,Franz and Uli). Mario Gomez and Kevin Kuranyi will look to snatch the spot alongside Klose. Games against Austria and Poland should see plenty of insults exchanged off the pitch and expect some tackles being given out from the opposition whilst the Germans don't see the fuss (the French and Dutch are their enemies). It's the most entertaining Germany side for years and the draw has been kind that it won't be until the semis that they face a team who will trouble them. Personally I am hoping for a repeat of the semi-final in Dortmund between Germany and Italy two years ago in this year's final.
SUPREME PERFORMER - Miroslav Klose
ONE TO WATCH - Per Mertesacker
WASTE OF SPACE - There isn't one..Oliver Neuville is in his late 30's and plays in the second division
Goalkeepers: Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Robert Enke (Hanover 96), Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen)
Defenders: Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04)
Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen)
Forwards: David Odonkor (Real Betis), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Fixtures
Day 2 - Sun 8 June - Poland - Klagenfurt - 1945
Thu 12 June - Croatia - Klagenfurt - 1700
Mon 16 June - Austria - Vienna - 1945
Something strange is in the air - there's a German side which are actually entertaining to watch. For years, they played to their stereotype of being a well oiled machine whose efficient style created goals and had thebottle which the English could only dream of. Their last European Championships performance was dreadful - made to look fools against Latvia and humbled by a Czech reserves side. Something had to be done and Jurgen Klinsmann was the man. A successful World Cup campaign late and a developing team of attackers, it was felt natural to pass the baton to Klinsmann's assistant Joachim Low.
Some say Joachim Low was the factor - the real driving force behind the change and he's adopted in my opinion, the ideal structure at international level. Rarely are the players of Bayern and Schalke used in friendlies, they experiment and give players from the lesser teams an opportunity to shine. From this they have developed a pool of 40 players with international. Low recently fielded a 19 year old midfielder from second division Moenchengladbach, Marko Marin in their warm up friendly versus Belarus despite an impressive performance he just missed the cut. Gone this time out is Kahn (an influence which IMO often held back Germany and he's doing the same to Bayern now) and now the spotlight falls to Lehmann who has some Autumn days in his career to play out in Austria. The back four is possibly the best footballing back four in the competition. Per Mertesacker's value could rise tenfold - he's the latest non-flashy footballing centre-half they have produced. Lahm, the multi-footed full-back is looking for a move from Bayern and a good competition would see Barcelona come knocking.
Ballack still leads the team with an air of arrogance only a German can produce. He's obviously hurting from receiving another runners-up medal (he's known in Germany as 'The Runner-Up', he's lost in three finals for Bayer Leverkusen and lost a title on the last day of the season with Chelsea and Bayer). Frings, the steel alongside himself provides some decent shadowplay. The wingers could be any of the 4 - Rolfes, Borowski, Schweinsteiger and Trochowski. Schweinsteiger with his B List celebrity status in Germany has somewhat lost his way in recent times, Rolfes has taken on the challenge from there to stake a claim whilst Borowski is set to join Schweinsteiger at his club after the summer and a good few years service at Bayern.
Klose remains the Lineker of the team - work-rate nil, teamwork nil, goalscoring superb.The Germans approach to him has never been warm - his desire to celebrate his 5th goal against S.Arabia as much as a winner against Argentina leaves them cold. Podolski, one of the stars at WC2006 has also suffered a fall from grace - HE rejected a deal to Man City in January and was suggested to play for Bayern's reserves in the Third Division by their hierarchy (a certain Karl-Heinz,Franz and Uli). Mario Gomez and Kevin Kuranyi will look to snatch the spot alongside Klose. Games against Austria and Poland should see plenty of insults exchanged off the pitch and expect some tackles being given out from the opposition whilst the Germans don't see the fuss (the French and Dutch are their enemies). It's the most entertaining Germany side for years and the draw has been kind that it won't be until the semis that they face a team who will trouble them. Personally I am hoping for a repeat of the semi-final in Dortmund between Germany and Italy two years ago in this year's final.
SUPREME PERFORMER - Miroslav Klose
ONE TO WATCH - Per Mertesacker
WASTE OF SPACE - There isn't one..Oliver Neuville is in his late 30's and plays in the second division
Goalkeepers: Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Robert Enke (Hanover 96), Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen)
Defenders: Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04)
Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen)
Forwards: David Odonkor (Real Betis), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Fixtures
Day 2 - Sun 8 June - Poland - Klagenfurt - 1945
Thu 12 June - Croatia - Klagenfurt - 1700
Mon 16 June - Austria - Vienna - 1945