Germany Out! What a crazy game. I have to say the main issue with Germany over the last 10 years is that they never had a TOP class striker. They won the World Cup on the back of their midfield and defence. But today they really could have used a quality finisher in the box.
Really disappointed with Ozil these last few months. Having said that no-one from Germany played well.
Ozil is an incredible talent, In terms of ability he's one of the best in the World but.... you literally cant rely on him. He's a total softie - if the team is playing badly he wont be the man to make the difference.
I watched the entire game and I don't know how anyone could say that Ozil was the reason Germany lost that match. Nearly everything went through him, I lost count of the chances he set up, and it seemed like no one else in the team could complete a 5 yard pass. I know you guys don't like stats but he came out of that game as the highest rated German player and had 7 key passes. I know he goes missing in some games, but that one was not it. It was insane! It is great for Arsenal that he gets a rest though. I think it might make him more hungry for success as well, which is doubly awesome. Germany lost because they have no real strikers. They miss Klose.
I agree you can't blame Ozil, it was a collective team failure. They lacked passion and desire in almost every game i watched them in. Drogba even tried to blame Ozil and Gundogun meeting Erdogun for having an impact, what utter bollocks. The German team has talent running right through their entire team, and they had bench players who could make an impact too. Striker or no striker, they have enough attacking fire power and creativity to get goals. I mean, Mexico has an ordinary front line made up of PL rejects Hernandez and Vela, and they still created, scored and put Mexico through. Germany sleep walked the tournament and paid the price for it. Strangely, German football is in great shape, they have plenty of talent at their disposal. Sometimes you need a fresh change and the current management has been with them for too long. They'll be back for the Euros as one of the favourites.
Err.. I never said said Germany lost because of Ozil. I mean he was poor in that match but I was making a comment about his character in general. Also pretty sure I posted this just before... But the German press have been on Ozils back (much like the English press have been for his performances at Arsenal). He's not blameless in all this. I think the criticsm is a little OTT. But for a player of his talent - he should be doing soo much more.
I don't know what people expect. A striker can take a game by the scruff of the neck by getting open and scoring, a midfielder who lays on goals is totally dependant both on players getting open and then on strikers putting the ball away. Ozil is not going to dive into tackles and dominate a midfield. He isn't that kind of player. He is always going to need players around him to win the ball and to score from the chances that he lays on. If you are expecting him to be a Zidane and do it all, I just think that is unrealistic. Anyway, changing the subject. I was never so happy England lost a game. Talk about a soft half of the draw.
I'm surprised both teams was not scoring own goals... Both teams I think would have wanted to come 2nd... Also if we were taking game seriously our 2nd 11 were poor and let's hope starting 11 stay fit
Colombia won't be so straightforward, especially if James is back. It may be an "easier" draw, but England aren't one of the best teams in World football either. They can beat the teams in their draw, but i can quite easily see them lose. A lot of those games are still 50/50's.
We can go far but the Colombia game will give us a clear picture of where this team is. At the moment it's hard to assess how good we really are. The Belgium game didn't tell me anything different, after 8 changes and nothing much to pay for, it wouldn't.
There is no such thing as an easy half of a draw. The teams left in the competition have to be considered at least as good as we are and treated with respect. As for missing a 'Brazil' or 'Spain', if we are going to win, we would have to meet them at some stage. The later that meeting comes, the harder it will be as they will be a more coherent unit. I like what Southgate has done so far but felt he squandered an opportunity to keep a good momentum. Columbia will be no pushovers. Great fans , great national anthem....
Meh. A cliche that isn't really true. Its a Cup comp - and some of the big teams (maybe all of them) will get eliminated, there will almost certainly be upsets. You never know who will make it to the Semis. We have seen teams like Greece win major competitions in recent years. Basically you cant really guarantee anything. I've got a feeling for Belgium now. I think they may well make it to the finals. Uruguay look capable of winning it also. France and Argentina have the players but havnt really looked great. Brazil look incredible for short spells then all of a sudden look very vulnerable. England are full of pace and energy. Harry Kane upfront provides a real clinical threat. Portugle and Spain both look great going forward.. Still alot of good teams in this.
Yeah I know - I guess I just hate that old 'we will have to meet them at some stage' cliche. The teams that go through will be the ones that perform the best/and or get some luck on the way.
That's the thing about knockout competitions-unpredictable and exciting. What annoys me is people who should know better- press and pundits- claiming this is an easier draw and setting up major criticism if the team fail. Truth is, we still don't really know how good this team is.
You guys keep saying I'm insane and then you come up with stupidity like this. I don't know how many threads we have seen about good draws and bad draws, and now you somehow pull out of your collective asses that draws don't matter. I suppose you would prefer to play Brazil, France and Portugal back to back to back to get to the final, than Columbia, Switzerland and Croatia? There is no comparison! And you don't "Meet them all at some stage". That is just factually incorrect. That is why there are better and worse draws in knockout play. The whole American sports league system is about getting a better or worse draw for the playoffs. Are you saying their entire system is based on a mistaken cliché?
"There is no such thing as an easy half of a draw." (Of course there is, at least when it isn't a seeded draw.) "What annoys me is people who should know better- press and pundits- claiming this is an easier draw." (Again - it obviously is) As for missing a 'Brazil' or 'Spain', if we are going to win, we would have to meet them at some stage. (We absolutely are not going to have to meet Spain and maybe not Brazil, even if we win.) I think you are failing to comprehend just how stupid what you wrote and agreed with was. Probably because you seem to have an irrational urge to disagree with everything I write, no matter how mundane it is.
