but to me it looked like the biggest problem was assimilating Werner. He's a wonderful player at RB Leipzig, but that team is all about counterattacking and using his pace. The only team Germany would maybe have to counterattack against in this entire tournament would be Spain. Everyone else would lose the possession battle against them.
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
That's the point I made last night - you need a CF to take up space in a tournament where everyone will be organized defensively. Think Luca Toni. I have no idea why Lowe never changed his approach. Play 2-3-5 with Kimmich and Brant as wingbacks.
RE: Mexican fans once they went down 2-0 were about to have Â
a collective nervous breakdown because one German goal would have eliminated them
And Germany missed four gimme headers in the last 10 minutes of regulation and extra time - Gomez (1) and Hummels (3). And Gomez shanked an easy tap in from 15 feet...
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
Did you watch this game? Kroos and Ozil constantly whipped in crosses. Germany just couldn't finish. Hummels missed 3 and Gomez missed 1. And they were sitters.
Germany had NO pace up front. Zero. That's the difference Sane would have made. At least he and Draxler, if he played, could have really pressed the pace. Muller and Gomez were just staggering up the pitch...
Germany have been arguably the worst team in the WC. They deserved nothing less then to go home now . Perhaps as well SK players have been spared army duty now for this glorious upset.
He is one of the most overrated stars in the game. I see him a lot on Arsenal. 75% of the time he is asleep on the pitch. And as mentioned, leaving Sane's pace and work rate at home is inexcusable. Lowe has to go.
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
Did you watch this game? Kroos and Ozil constantly whipped in crosses. Germany just couldn't finish. Hummels missed 3 and Gomez missed 1. And they were sitters.
Germany had NO pace up front. Zero. That's the difference Sane would have made. At least he and Draxler, if he played, could have really pressed the pace. Muller and Gomez were just staggering up the pitch...
Draxler was shit when he was in all tournament.
What a day it would be if Brazil went out to day as well Â
But Germany didn't need Sane's pace to create the crosses - they needed Gomez on the end of them, and they needed it from minute 1.
They needed pace like Sane, and Draxler, to apply more pressure and wear down the outside backs. Speed also kills. Their attack was like watching United under Moyes.
He is one of the most overrated stars in the game. I see him a lot on Arsenal. 75% of the time he is asleep on the pitch. And as mentioned, leaving Sane's pace and work rate at home is inexcusable. Lowe has to go.
Totally agree. He's the big tease. His sulking is like watching Jay Cutler on the pitch.
Here is his resume at Arsenal - play one really good game, then play five do-nothing games. Repeat.
It will be interesting to see what Barca does with Coutinho. They're in dire need of midfielders (they don't have much past Busquets and Rakitic), but that doesn't seem to be the best way to employ Coutinho.
Mexico really fucked themselves today. They're looking at Brazil in the round of 16 when they could have been facing Switzerland.
I didn't catch much of La Liga as the race was pretty much decided before he arrived and he wasn't eligible for Champions League.
Seems like he could fit nicely as the CAM in their midfield three, potentially filling Iniesta's role, no? Brazil has been playing him in the midfield behind the front three and he's looked phenomenal.
They tended to play a 4-4-2 with Busquets/Rakitic in the middle, and either Iniesta or Coutinho on the left. Coutinho played well enough, but the general feeling was that he'd might be better off in Neymar's old LW role in a 4-3-3. But what does that mean for Messi and Suarez? And Dembele?
Lots of questions at Barca. Despite their excellent season there was pressure on them to revert back to their traditional 4-3-3. If I had to guess the clock may be ticking on Suarez's time there (maybe 2018 is his last season), and a future front 3 of Coutinho-Messi-Dembele is a possibility. But for the upcoming season Coutinho's versatility may see him play a variety of roles.
So Brazil/Mexico in the round of 16. Absolutely Mexico really blew it today. Had a reasonable path to the semi finals but now will get Brazil and possibly Belgium.
but to me it looked like the biggest problem was assimilating Werner. He's a wonderful player at RB Leipzig, but that team is all about counterattacking and using his pace. The only team Germany would maybe have to counterattack against in this entire tournament would be Spain. Everyone else would lose the possession battle against them.
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
That's the point I made last night - you need a CF to take up space in a tournament where everyone will be organized defensively. Think Luca Toni. I have no idea why Lowe never changed his approach. Play 2-3-5 with Kimmich and Brant as wingbacks.
This tournament is proving your point right. It's interesting to look at the last two tournaments' (2010 & 2014) leading goalscorers vs. what we've seen already only in the opening round (and considering that two of the top scorers Kane and Lukaku have only played twice):
6 goals: James Rodriguez
5 goals: Muller
4 goals: Messi, Neymar, Van Persie
2018:
5: Kane
4: Lukaku, Cristiano
3: Cheryshev, Costa
In the previous two tournaments, only Klose, Vittek, and maybe Higuain and Forlan are what you would call traditional target strikers. The rest of the list is dominated by wingers, false 9s, and midfielders.
Obviously 2018 is turning out differently. Maybe that will be the tactical takeaway. The world may be moving on from the styles that Spain and Germany built in the late 2000s.
I know that Kroos provided one of the moments of the tournament with his goal against Sweden, but he may have been the single worst player of the first round. To summarize:
1. He jogged and was late getting back for the Lozano goal in the Mexico game.
2. He made the turnover, and then jogged back as the pass for Sweden's goal went just over his head.
3. He inexplicably played the ball back to Kim for the 1-0 goal today.
Kroos is an excellent player, but the physical and mental sharpness were not there at all.
surprised Germany was bounced. Thought for sure that the win over Sweden would right them.
I have to look to Low's selections as the issue. Gomez provided an immediate impact in the last game. With Kimmich and Werner/Brandt providing crosses, Germany should have had a couple of goals per game on those chances alone.
I don't think Sane would've added much value since they already had excellent wing play. They simply didn't capitalize on their chances and certain players looked cooked - Ozil and Khaderia being two. Muller as well. And Kroos had way too many instances of not appearing to give effort.
The parallels between this Germany and Spain 2014 are many. Germany weren't definitively blown out like Spain were by the Dutch, but both Mexico and South Korea easily could have scored 4 or 5 goals each had they been more clinical.
To play the way these guys do (when it's going good), you need a lot of sharpness to move the ball quickly and hunger to get it back even more quickly when you lose it. Finely tuned machines - impossible to stop when humming but the slightest problem could destroy the whole thing.
One interesting thing about Germany is that they won the 2017 Confed Cup with a B team that played quite differently from this team. They may be better off making some difficult decisions going forward (moving on from Kroos, Muller, etc.) and embracing the Confed Cup team.
at the World Cup can be somewhat unpredictable given that these guys are coming off a long grueling season domestically. Kroos was great for Real Madrid every time I saw him. Maybe something was off with him physically because he definitely didn’t look himself, I agree there
Guys like Ozil and Muller though have not been the same players for their clubs for years now. They maybe should have been phased out of the national team
This is a pretty cool clip of some of Spain's players showing some skills. I'd slam my hand in a car door to have that kind of control. It would certainly help playing indoor... Link - ( New Window )
but to me it looked like the biggest problem was assimilating Werner. He's a wonderful player at RB Leipzig, but that team is all about counterattacking and using his pace. The only team Germany would maybe have to counterattack against in this entire tournament would be Spain. Everyone else would lose the possession battle against them.
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
That's the point I made last night - you need a CF to take up space in a tournament where everyone will be organized defensively. Think Luca Toni. I have no idea why Lowe never changed his approach. Play 2-3-5 with Kimmich and Brant as wingbacks.
This tournament is proving your point right.
In the previous two tournaments, only Klose, Vittek, and maybe Higuain and Forlan are what you would call traditional target strikers. The rest of the list is dominated by wingers, false 9s, and midfielders.
Obviously 2018 is turning out differently. Maybe that will be the tactical takeaway. The world may be moving on from the styles that Spain and Germany built in the late 2000s.
I think Michael Cox made the point before the tournament that the trend in club football is pressing but that hasn't translated to national teams.
So it's easy to connect that the smaller, quicker attackers players that are needed to beat a pressing style aren't as effective against 2 banks of 4 whereas Lukaku or a Gomez is going to be able to create chances for others and score off crosses.
Cruel way to go. This tournament has been rough on the African sides. Senegal out on yellows, the Rojo goal against Nigeria, Morocco's own goal against Iran, and the doubts around Salah for Egypt.
Senegal OUT on Fair Play points. Awful way to be eliminated.
They should do penalty shootouts to decide the tiebreaker
Penalty shootout would be awkward here as Japan and Senegal were playing against other teams simultaneously in arenas about 500 miles apart (Samara and Volgograd). You could do it the next day, I suppose, but everything is supposed to be determined today so far as who advances.
I'm not sure. Go Terps would know. But I did check that Japan and Senegal were identical in both goals scored and goals against, so that's why the yellow cards were used.
About 90 minutes after the final group games ended, Sepp Blatter put some slips of paper in some balls in some bowls, swished them around a bit, then drew that the Netherlands would go on to have a spitting competition with West Germany, and sent Ireland off to penalty shootout heroics against Romania.
An actual spitting competition or is that a figure of speech for a match?
No, that doesn't make any sense.
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
That's the point I made last night - you need a CF to take up space in a tournament where everyone will be organized defensively. Think Luca Toni. I have no idea why Lowe never changed his approach. Play 2-3-5 with Kimmich and Brant as wingbacks.
And Germany missed four gimme headers in the last 10 minutes of regulation and extra time - Gomez (1) and Hummels (3). And Gomez shanked an easy tap in from 15 feet...
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
Did you watch this game? Kroos and Ozil constantly whipped in crosses. Germany just couldn't finish. Hummels missed 3 and Gomez missed 1. And they were sitters.
Germany had NO pace up front. Zero. That's the difference Sane would have made. At least he and Draxler, if he played, could have really pressed the pace. Muller and Gomez were just staggering up the pitch...
Der deutsche Untergang--The German downfall (Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung)
Raus, Raus, Raus--Out, Out, Out (Frankfurt, same paper)
Vorrunden-aus! Was sagt Jogi zu seiner Zukunft! (Germany out in the prelims! What does Jogi (Low) say about his future? (Bild)
Aus! Aber so haben wir auch nicht mehr verdient--Out, but we did not deserve that anyway (Bild)
Ich packe meine Koffer...und nehme das DFB-team mit--I pack my bags and take the German team home with me (Die Zeit)
Deutschland scheitert erstmals in der Vorrunde--Germany falls for the first time in the preliminary round (Die Zeit)
Die historische Schmach der deutschen Nationalmannschaft--The historic failure/disgrace for the German national team (Die Welt)
Quote:
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
Did you watch this game? Kroos and Ozil constantly whipped in crosses. Germany just couldn't finish. Hummels missed 3 and Gomez missed 1. And they were sitters.
Germany had NO pace up front. Zero. That's the difference Sane would have made. At least he and Draxler, if he played, could have really pressed the pace. Muller and Gomez were just staggering up the pitch...
Draxler was shit when he was in all tournament.
Ulreich in the CL semifinal for Bayern
Neuer vs. South Korea thinking he was Salah running down the wing
And although Ter Stegen hasn't had one recently, he has a history of howlers
They needed pace like Sane, and Draxler, to apply more pressure and wear down the outside backs. Speed also kills. Their attack was like watching United under Moyes.
Enough said.
The only time the goalkeeper should ever come forward is if you have a corner or set piece and you absolutely have to score
Totally agree. He's the big tease. His sulking is like watching Jay Cutler on the pitch.
Here is his resume at Arsenal - play one really good game, then play five do-nothing games. Repeat.
link - ( New Window )
Great play maker. Now with a year under his belt with Messi at Barca, I expect even bigger things this year.
Imagine if Liverpool still had him and Salah playing in tandem...
It will be interesting to see what Barca does with Coutinho. They're in dire need of midfielders (they don't have much past Busquets and Rakitic), but that doesn't seem to be the best way to employ Coutinho.
Mexico really fucked themselves today. They're looking at Brazil in the round of 16 when they could have been facing Switzerland.
Seems like he could fit nicely as the CAM in their midfield three, potentially filling Iniesta's role, no? Brazil has been playing him in the midfield behind the front three and he's looked phenomenal.
Lots of questions at Barca. Despite their excellent season there was pressure on them to revert back to their traditional 4-3-3. If I had to guess the clock may be ticking on Suarez's time there (maybe 2018 is his last season), and a future front 3 of Coutinho-Messi-Dembele is a possibility. But for the upcoming season Coutinho's versatility may see him play a variety of roles.
So Brazil/Mexico in the round of 16. Absolutely Mexico really blew it today. Had a reasonable path to the semi finals but now will get Brazil and possibly Belgium.
Quote:
but to me it looked like the biggest problem was assimilating Werner. He's a wonderful player at RB Leipzig, but that team is all about counterattacking and using his pace. The only team Germany would maybe have to counterattack against in this entire tournament would be Spain. Everyone else would lose the possession battle against them.
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
That's the point I made last night - you need a CF to take up space in a tournament where everyone will be organized defensively. Think Luca Toni. I have no idea why Lowe never changed his approach. Play 2-3-5 with Kimmich and Brant as wingbacks.
This tournament is proving your point right. It's interesting to look at the last two tournaments' (2010 & 2014) leading goalscorers vs. what we've seen already only in the opening round (and considering that two of the top scorers Kane and Lukaku have only played twice):
2010 top scorers:
5 goals: Muller, Forlan, Villa, and Sneijder
4 goals: Higuain, Klose, & Vittek
2014:
6 goals: James Rodriguez
5 goals: Muller
4 goals: Messi, Neymar, Van Persie
2018:
5: Kane
4: Lukaku, Cristiano
3: Cheryshev, Costa
In the previous two tournaments, only Klose, Vittek, and maybe Higuain and Forlan are what you would call traditional target strikers. The rest of the list is dominated by wingers, false 9s, and midfielders.
Obviously 2018 is turning out differently. Maybe that will be the tactical takeaway. The world may be moving on from the styles that Spain and Germany built in the late 2000s.
1. He jogged and was late getting back for the Lozano goal in the Mexico game.
2. He made the turnover, and then jogged back as the pass for Sweden's goal went just over his head.
3. He inexplicably played the ball back to Kim for the 1-0 goal today.
Kroos is an excellent player, but the physical and mental sharpness were not there at all.
I have to look to Low's selections as the issue. Gomez provided an immediate impact in the last game. With Kimmich and Werner/Brandt providing crosses, Germany should have had a couple of goals per game on those chances alone.
I don't think Sane would've added much value since they already had excellent wing play. They simply didn't capitalize on their chances and certain players looked cooked - Ozil and Khaderia being two. Muller as well. And Kroos had way too many instances of not appearing to give effort.
To play the way these guys do (when it's going good), you need a lot of sharpness to move the ball quickly and hunger to get it back even more quickly when you lose it. Finely tuned machines - impossible to stop when humming but the slightest problem could destroy the whole thing.
One interesting thing about Germany is that they won the 2017 Confed Cup with a B team that played quite differently from this team. They may be better off making some difficult decisions going forward (moving on from Kroos, Muller, etc.) and embracing the Confed Cup team.
Guys like Ozil and Muller though have not been the same players for their clubs for years now. They maybe should have been phased out of the national team
Link - ( New Window )
Quote:
In comment 14000749 Go Terps said:
Quote:
but to me it looked like the biggest problem was assimilating Werner. He's a wonderful player at RB Leipzig, but that team is all about counterattacking and using his pace. The only team Germany would maybe have to counterattack against in this entire tournament would be Spain. Everyone else would lose the possession battle against them.
I don't think Sane would have been an answer either. They may have done better playing with Mario Gomez as the attacking reference point. With their wingers and fullbacks they would have been able to generate crosses to Gomez at their pleasure. Against Mexico and South Korea that should have been enough.
That's the point I made last night - you need a CF to take up space in a tournament where everyone will be organized defensively. Think Luca Toni. I have no idea why Lowe never changed his approach. Play 2-3-5 with Kimmich and Brant as wingbacks.
This tournament is proving your point right.
In the previous two tournaments, only Klose, Vittek, and maybe Higuain and Forlan are what you would call traditional target strikers. The rest of the list is dominated by wingers, false 9s, and midfielders.
Obviously 2018 is turning out differently. Maybe that will be the tactical takeaway. The world may be moving on from the styles that Spain and Germany built in the late 2000s.
I think Michael Cox made the point before the tournament that the trend in club football is pressing but that hasn't translated to national teams.
So it's easy to connect that the smaller, quicker attackers players that are needed to beat a pressing style aren't as effective against 2 banks of 4 whereas Lukaku or a Gomez is going to be able to create chances for others and score off crosses.
I could see them missing out as Poland looks lethargic and Senegal is not allowing many chances.
I think it's still that, but Japan and Senegal were identical in those regards here. That's why they went to yellow cards.
They should do penalty shootouts to decide the tiebreaker
Quote:
Senegal OUT on Fair Play points. Awful way to be eliminated.
They should do penalty shootouts to decide the tiebreaker
Penalty shootout would be awkward here as Japan and Senegal were playing against other teams simultaneously in arenas about 500 miles apart (Samara and Volgograd). You could do it the next day, I suppose, but everything is supposed to be determined today so far as who advances.
I'm not sure. Go Terps would know. But I did check that Japan and Senegal were identical in both goals scored and goals against, so that's why the yellow cards were used.
Link - ( New Window )
I bet senegal would totally go for a replay of Japan game.
An actual spitting competition or is that a figure of speech for a match?