They make it look easy , not sure they have the athleticism of France or Belgium. Can't rule out Italy or Spain England looked disjointed and ordinary
I'm obviously biased, but it seemed to me as if Germany committed a foul every two or three minutes. Not dirty stuff, but just to break up the game so that the technical Portuguese players couldn't get into their stride. It reminded me of us against Watford. Sadly, with the same end result. EDIT: Just checked and it wasn't just my bias. According to ESPN 15 fouls by Germany compared with 5 by Portugal.
Germany play simple football with quick balls into the box to feet . That's something Farke could look at . We relied heavily on slide rule passes from Emi next season the defenses will be more savvy and we don't have the partnership anyway . Banging balls low at pace into a target man is all about percentages they even got a couple of OG's . Hugill and Idah would thrive from that .
Yes, it's simple and it works. I have to come clean and admit my bias here and say that I have never liked Germany in football. Yes, they've had some great players, and no country can touch them for determination and strength of mind, and they are probably the most effective winning machine in world football, but for all their success there's never been a beautiful German team for neutrals to enjoy. No Brazil or Holland or Spain with Xavi/Iniesta. Their greatest footballer has almost certainly been Beckenbauer, a defender, which says it all. Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Platini, Zidane, Messi, Ronaldo: it's hard to imagine Germany ever producing one of these. They're the Chris Evert of football; they win by default when there isn't a great team around. OK, I know, you don't get points for artistic merit in football. And defending is part of the game, too. And team organisation is at least as important as individual skill (almost certainly more so, as Holland's failure to land a World Cup suggests). Probably I'm just grumpy because Portugal lost.
I am not a German fan but you have to admire their efficiency. Farke tries to play like Pepe's Barcelona from working at Bayern If some of that clinical German influence can rub off then all the better. As for Portugal Ronaldo is probably the greatest ever player and a born winner but I really don't like him , he appears to be extremely smug and narcissistic but that's probably a given if you strive for success year after year
On a different point, I've read several commentators compare how VAR is being used so far in this tournament with the shambles of its implementation in the Premier League. (I hope this doesn't jinx it and in the Spain match we don't get a ridiculous decision that takes ten minutes to reach!)
Efficiency and that street-wise awareness of when and how to foul. As for Ronaldo, I wouldn't personally call him the greatest ever player, but I have to admire him, and anyway criticising him in Portugal is like dissing the king in Thailand. I'd be lynched!
VAR decision on the goal made in maximum 30 seconds. No looking at it from 30 different angles and then deciding some nasal hair was offside. Is there any chance the bozos who control UK football will take heed and start using VAR sensibly? (Answer: probably no). As for the game, if Germany vs Portugal reminded me of Norwich vs Watford, this is like us against McCarthy's Ipswich. Hoof it up to the big boy! Are Poland really one of the top 24 teams in Europe? Edit: Admittedly, Ipswich with Lewandowski.
Gary Gower on Hanley's performance: https://norwichcity.myfootballwrite...ands-woes-were-borne-of-norwich-citys-finest/ Gary describes how DF and the coaching staff have enabled Hanley to move from being a 'stopper' to being a modern, ball playing CB. He's also right that his size tends to prolong the stereotype in many pundits minds, even when he's beating the likes of Foden and Rashford to through balls. Aarons has said in the past how quick he is in speed tests but many people fail to see it or admit it. I was also interested in this: "What Friday night also did though, no doubt, was to offer some food for thought for Team Farke with regard to next season. If the opportunity of playing a back-three presents itself, then Hanley straddled by Ben Gibson on the left and A N Other on the right looks to have potential, providing the structure elsewhere still permits the right numbers in the right areas." DF might even consider Sørensen for the right side of a 3, with the freedom to move up the pitch when we have possession, allowing a deep playmaker to support the attack. He showed his defensive qualities when playing at LB. Scotland showed that it needn't be 3 CBs.
Any half decent Championship CB playing in the middle of a back 3, with quality players either side of him and a five-man defensive shield in front is capable of that sort of performance. Amadou got rave reviews when he played CB against Man City! "Man of the match - Ibrahim Amadou (Norwich City) please log in to view this image Pressed into service in central defence and making his first start in the Premier League, 26-year-old midfielder Amadou helped shackle City's world-class attackers with a composed display."
Yes Amadou had a good game too you have mentioned this game a few times now . Add him to the list of players you believe should be in our starting 11 alongside Leitner Rupp & Stiepermann . Absolutely bizzare that you tie yourself in knots with your whatabouttery trying to draw a false equivalence just to look like you are right about Hanley. Over the season Hanley played well in just about every game he played in in a back 4 . Any sane person would just admit, that they don't rate Hanley but he played well against England. Not you though....
Yes, Amadou did play well at CB against ManCity, but he had previous experience at CB before he was switched to DM by Bielsa, I seem to remember. What you also fail to say, Robbie, is that Hanley was the only CB in that side, flanked by a FB and a midfielder who he had to direct to keep the positioning right.
Handley makes the team of the week https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...os2020-selection-jose-mourinho-praise-8072466
Where did I say Hanley didn't play well against England? Nowhere! I didn't say it because it wasn't true; he played well, just as he's played well for us this last season in the Championship. Nor is it true that I "don't rate" Hanley. I've made my opinion perfectly clear countless times; to repeat, Hanley is a good Championship level CB but he's not Premier League quality.
Tierney has regularly played on the left side of a back three for Arsenal this season. He's no stranger to that position. His doing so has been a big factor in Arsenal's improved defensive performance under Arteta.
Italy looking pretty good at the moment. Be ironic if they don't win the tournament after starting so well when you consider how many tournaments they have started fairly poorly and gone on to win.
