WORLD CUP 2006 / GERMANY

[J.A.W.]

Italy didn't play a great game, but enough to get the job done.

In my view Italy played very well, way more attacking than usual - maybe except for those tactical intervals mentioned above - and I found it a refreshing change from the extremely boring and destructive defensive "catenaccio" system they're known for.

[couw]

Italy didn't play a great game, but enough to get the job done.

In my view Italy played very well, way more attacking than usual - maybe except for those tactical intervals mentioned above - and I found it a refreshing change from the extremely boring and destructive defensive "catenaccio" system they're known for.

My point as well. Italy played very differently from what they showed thus far in the tournament. Only when Germany put on pressure, you could see Italy fall back into their old (boring ) pattern. Also during the second half there were some of these moments that seemed to stem from fatigue. But the change to two forwards really made the difference in the end. Very un-Italian, but also very effective.

[Jim R]

Italy didn't play a great game, but enough to get the job done.

In my view Italy played very well, way more attacking than usual - maybe except for those tactical intervals mentioned above - and I found it a refreshing change from the extremely boring and destructive defensive "catenaccio" system they're known for.

I don't disagree... "very well", yes, just not great. It was anyone's game until Grosso found the net.

I was disappointed with Germany's subs (I mentioned Odonkor already... Schweinsteiger didn't do much, and where was Neuville?)

[Jim R]

Well, I don't think any team applauds the enemy during a match. At any rate, I think the german team has been classy.

[J.A.W.]

Italy didn't play a great game, but enough to get the job done.

In my view Italy played very well, way more attacking than usual - maybe except for those tactical intervals mentioned above - and I found it a refreshing change from the extremely boring and destructive defensive "catenaccio" system they're known for.

I don't disagree... "very well", yes, just not great. It was anyone's game until Grosso found the net.

I was disappointed with Germany's subs (I mentioned Odonkor already... Schweinsteiger didn't do much, and where was Neuville?)

Yep, Odonkor was a big let-down after his previous performances. I can understand why Klinsmann initially left Schweinsteiger out; his performance in the Argentina game was pretty bad, and so was his game today. I never really liked Neuville.

[Jim R]

Now... if you wanna talk about the DUTCH fans...

[porcy62]

Please keep politic outside my post.

It was a very tactical match, both team were afraid of each other. The point is that Germany played with two forwards, Italy with one, but I was expecting a most aggressive german team. If you consider the ball's possession, Italy overwhelmed the germans, I was expecting some sort of pressing on the ball's owners, but Germany was passive, or afraid, they didn't. Klinsmann was afraid of Totti, and everytimes he had the ball, two or three players was on him, that leaves more space to Pirlo. The same with Toni, two or three players on him, that open spaces for 'italian boring playing'.

In the extra times the funniest thing is that italian team ended the match with FOUR, I said FOUR, forwards. So forget 'catenaccio'.

At very first of the first extratime we got two great occasions. Lehmann and Buffon are great goalkeeprs, the referee was correct. Overall I thinks we played better and deserved to win.

It will be a classic?

Mexico 1970: Italy vs Germany 4-3 is a classic

Spain 1982: Italy vs Germany 3-1 is a classic

Italy vs Germany 2-0 at in last three minutes of the extra times, in Germany, in a stadium with 60.000 german supporters against us will be a classic, no matters what will happen in the final.

Edited July 4, 2006 by porcy62

[J.A.W.]

Now... if you wanna talk about the DUTCH fans...

Seriously, it was reported that they generally behaved very well this time.

[porcy62]

About 'catenaccio', maybe it's a 'boring' way of playing, but everybodys, (ask to 1982's Brasil and the following Carioca's coaches who won the WC), knows that you can't win a WC without a solid defense. I think that a match that ends 45-38, could be very funny to watch, but is like the match we used to play when we were kids in the Chuch's courtyard, great football is another thing.

BTW, Catenaccio is another one of the commonplaces about italians, US 1994 team with Sacchi as coach didn't adopt it as way of playing, exactly like germans didn't drink beer and eat wuesrstel from breakfast to dinner.

Edited July 5, 2006 by porcy62

[P.L.M]

About 'catenaccio', maybe it's a 'boring' way of playing, but everybodys, (ask to 1982's Brasil and the following Carioca's coaches who won the WC), knows that you can't win a WC without a solid defense. I think that a match that ends 45-38, could be very funny to watch, but is like the match we used to play when we were kids in the Chuch's courtyard, great football is another thing.

BTW, Catenaccio is another one of the commonplaces about italians, US 1994 team with Sacchi as coach didn't adopt it as way of playing, exactly like germans didn't drink beer and eat wuesrstel from breakfast to dinner.

ITALIA was the best team (even if they didn't play with two forwards before the extra time.)

GERMANY never gives me the impression that they could score (at one exception but BUFFON has shown who he was).

The statistics shows, by excemple, that KLOSE did'nt fire a SINGLE shoot to the goal.

PODOLSKY had one possibility but BUFFON prooved why he is the best keeper in the world for the last six years or so.

The tactic that the GERMAN used was the same in every match: going in percussion in the CENTRAL defense of their opponents.

You can't score that way with ITALY.

GERMANY didn't makes any crosse of a little significance.

Nobody plays on the side (expect ODONKOR but it was already too late when he enters the game).

Personnaly I've enjoy the game.

Not the greatest match I've seen in this tournament but a very attractive one.

One thing puzzled me, aniway. It was the performance of BALLACK who have play, sorry if you belongs to his admirers, a poor WC all together.

I've never been convinced that he had the great talent that somme people find in him.

So, I'm surprised that MADRID then CHELSEA wanted him so baddly.

One more time, the guy has lived no impression on me what so ever..

Edited July 5, 2006 by P.L.M

[Jim R]

About 'catenaccio', maybe it's a 'boring' way of playing, but everybodys, (ask to 1982's Brasil and the following Carioca's coaches who won the WC), knows that you can't win a WC without a solid defense. I think that a match that ends 45-38, could be very funny to watch, but is like the match we used to play when we were kids in the Chuch's courtyard, great football is another thing.

BTW, Catenaccio is another one of the commonplaces about italians, US 1994 team with Sacchi as coach didn't adopt it as way of playing, exactly like germans didn't drink beer and eat wuesrstel from breakfast to dinner.

ITALIA was the best team (even if they didn't play with two forwards before the extra time.)

GERMANY never gives me the impression that they could score (at one exception but BUFFON has shown who he was).

The statistics shows, by excemple, that KLOSE did'nt fire a SINGLE shoot to the goal.

PODOLSKY had one possibility but BUFFON prooved why he is the best keeper in the world for the last six years or so.

The tactic that the GERMAN used was the same in every match: going in percussion in the CENTRAL defense of their opponents.

You can't score that way with ITALY.

GERMANY didn't makes any crosse of a little significance.

Nobody plays on the side (expect ODONKOR but it was already too late when he enters the game).

Personnaly I've enjoy the game.

Not the greatest match I've seen in this tournament but a very attractive one.

One thing puzzled me, aniway. It was the performance of BALLACK who have play, sorry if you belongs to his admirers, a poor WC all together.

I've never been convinced that he had the great talent that somme people find in him.

So, I'm surprised that MADRID then CHELSEA wanted him so baddly.

One more time, the guy has lived no impression on me what so ever..

Podolski had two (at least) good chances. One was a shot with his left foot from the left side of the box; the other was a header (where he was unmarked), on a cross from Odonkor (the best cross he made in the game).

Very early in the game, I saw Klose appear to hurt himself a couple of times (once where he slipped and overstretched himself. Maybe he recovered fully, or maybe he didn't (and kept it to himself). At any rate, he wasn't nearly as involved in the attack as he needed to be... but part of that was the result of Italy's knack for defense.

Ballack needed to get himself (and his head) into Italy's penalty area. He has a strong shot from outside the box, but he wasn't getting any space for that.

I'm not sure about Ballack as a director of the midfield attack. He's certainly capable in that role, but he was far too static in this match today... predictable, not dangerous himself (and he doesn't seem to be a great passer in terms of having the vision to set others up for great chances.

I also wonder to what extent Ballack was fit in these last few games.

[kenny weir]

Missed the first half (set the alarum wrong ...) but loved the goals. Lovely. Looks like the Aussies might have bragging rights in terms of giving the Italians their hardest game.

OK, so looking ahead ... who's gonna be joining me in South Africa? Man I'm really pumped on football now. There's all the usual grumbles from Aussie rules advocates about this just being a passing fad here, but I don't think so. There's real momentum. Our Asian Cup stuff starts very soon.

Once the cup's over, let's start a regular football thread.

[P.L.M]

Podolski had two (at least) good chances. One was a shot with his left foot from the left side of the box; the other was a header (where he was unmarked), on a cross from Odonkor (the best cross he made in the game).

Yes, you're rigth but his header was so poorly executed (misses the target by a miles) that I have difficulties to count that as a goal chance.

Didn't notice that KLOSE was hurt from the beginning or had any kind of trouble.

But he surely had a poor match.

Like I say, BALLACK is a mistery for me.

I've NEVER seen him had a great game.

Or, to put it differently, if he had some, I've never witness them.

Edited July 5, 2006 by P.L.M

[Claude]

I think applauding the opponent during the game is limited to a few "gentlemen sports", like tennis or golf and even there it is quite rare.

The german media were very fair today and acknowledged that Italy played better in the end. No one blamed FIFA for their controversial decision to exclude Frings from the team. I haven't checked BILD (the main tabloid) though, and I won't.

[Dmitry]

Can't say that I enjoyed yesterday's match; aside from the overtime it was a boring mid-field communal jerk-off, pardon the crudeness.

Also, would someone please fit the Podolsky kid with some decent prescription spectacles. He alone could've made the game for the Germans. ... a couple of times.

I'm hoping the Fra-Por game today will be worthy of the WC semi-final.

[J.A.W.]

The Little Pisser is diving again... What an insufferable guy...

Edited July 5, 2006 by J.A.W.

[J.A.W.]

GOAL!

France 1, Portugal 0; Zidane, penalty.

Edited July 5, 2006 by J.A.W.

[Brad]

The Little Pisser is diving again... What an insufferable guy...

That dive was unbelievable, not even good acting for him.

I'm not sure I would have given a penalty for that.

[J.A.W.]

The Little Pisser is diving again... What an insufferable guy...

That dive was unbelievable, not even good acting for him.

I'm not sure I would have given a penalty for that.

Well, he didn't get one - I was referring to Ronaldo, not Henry. Henry was tackled, the penalty was a correct decision.

Edited July 5, 2006 by J.A.W.

[couw]

The Little Pisser is diving again... What an insufferable guy...

That dive was unbelievable, not even good acting for him.

I'd have given him yellow just for the occasion.

I'm not sure I would have given a penalty for that.

ow yes it was definitely a PK. The guy missed the ball, kicked again with the other leg and there was only a player to be kicked. Equals foul. Foul in PK area equal PK.

[J.A.W.]

Just to avoid any misunderstandings, "The Little Pisser" = Cristiano Ronaldo.

(Edited to correct a spelling error - another one...)

Edited July 5, 2006 by J.A.W.

[Brad]

The Little Pisser is diving again... What an insufferable guy...

That dive was unbelievable, not even good acting for him.

I'm not sure I would have given a penalty for that.

Well, he didn't get one - I was referring to Ronaldo, not Henry. Henry was tackled, the penalty was a correct decision.

I was combining two thoughts in that one post. Sorry for any confusion. Yes, he was tackled but I've seen worse not called. Don't get me wrong I want France to win. Just not sure that was deserving of a penalty in a game of this importance.

[J.A.W.]

The Little Pisser is diving again... What an insufferable guy...

That dive was unbelievable, not even good acting for him.

I'm not sure I would have given a penalty for that.

Well, he didn't get one - I was referring to Ronaldo, not Henry. Henry was tackled, the penalty was a correct decision.

I was combining two thoughts in that one post. Sorry for any confusion. Yes, he was tackled but I've seen worse not called. Don't get me wrong I want France to win. Just not sure that was deserving of a penalty in a game of this importance.

It was, I fully agree with couw here. The fact that worse fouls were not called doesn't make any difference in my view.

[J.A.W.]

The Portuguese are diving like mad again... The referee should start handing out cards for that.

France have given up the midfield, letting the Portuguese take control of the game. Not good...

[J.A.W.]

Full time: France 1, Portugal 0

France are through to the final on Sunday.

What a disappointing game. France were not very good tonight.

Edited July 5, 2006 by J.A.W.