Statistically… the best team

You know an article is gonna turn sour when you read the introductional sentence starting with “Statistically…”. Hell yeah. This is gonna be one more not starting with it. But… Germany is the best team so far in this EURO 2008 qualifying. Even to me, this sounds odd. But even more surprising to me was the “HOW” of that fact.

19:1 points. 29:4 goals. The draw in Cyprus keeping Germany from a perfect record. I’ve let you know how bad I’ve felt about the Slovakia game. And they start to surprise me even more. I can’t draw that many conclusions from this game. Except for:

- Schneider can not be creative and he never hits the goal

- Klose plays like back in the day when I disliked him

- Germany can not only win games uglily, but also dominates them like that. Yet again, we ain’t Italy.

- If Germany can win against a decent opposition without 9 World Cup players, espacially the likes of Ballack and Schweinsteiger, there is something Löw must be right about

So, statistically… Germany is the best team on the road to EURO 2008. How come? Because they now manage to free themselves out of dangerous situations by short passes and not long balls. They can score goals by decent play action and not only lucky headers. They are not prone anymore to run into counter attacks because they finally have wingers that are way below 30. The team that stood on the pitch lately has an average age (w/out goalie) of roundabout 25 years, the lowest total of a constantly winning German team ever. Be reminded: If the German U23 team would have managed to qualify for the Olympic Games, the following players could have taken part in 2008’s Olympics: Mertesacker, Madlung, Helmes, Kießling, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Jansen, Hilbert, Podolski, Trochowski, Neuer, Polanski, Gomez. 13 players with Germany experience. But then again: This Olympics wouldn’t matter because they have won the EURO 2008 by next years July then.

Do you believe in miracles? Even if you don’t. Expect Germany to be a contender. The way to the title will lead to an inevitable game against zee Mannschaft. Espacially if you’re English and can not convert penalties. Beckham’s career is prone to end in the semis next year after missing his chance on immortality.