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10 Conclusions: Austria 0-1 Germany

June 17th, 2008 | By: Jan | 12 Comments »

Michael Ballack Purzelbaum 1. Kudos to Austria for a spirited and aggressive performance and thanks for not having a decent finisher – not that we have anything to brag about here either. Some tackles were a bit too aggressive for my taste though, and the ref could have probably handed out the odd yellow at times, instead of sending both coaches to the stands just because they were coaching.

2. “Make no mistake, and I will promise you this, my team will be totally different on the pitch in Vienna,” said Löw after the Croatia match. As we know now, he was referring to the inclusion of Arne Friedrich for the injured Marcell Jansen.

3. Something went wrong with this team. Either the fitness coaches messed up, which would explain the overall sluggishness of the team. Or the tactics scout got his analysis of Germany’s opponents wrong. Or the sports psychologists failed to help the players deal with the unique situation of a big tournament. Maybe the team’s cook got his menus wrong. Maybe going into isolation in a small remote hotel in nowhere-land didn’t help rekindle the World Cup vibe. Maybe the players have an attitude problem. Maybe Jogi Löw has an attitude problem. Maybe Jogi Löw lost his gamble with out of form players, who frustrate those who have to sit on the bench and those who have to put up with them on the pitch. Germany will be underdogs against Portugal and the team will have just two days to sort out their problems; whatever those might be. To cheer us up, we could rely on historical stereotypes, in which German teams don’t peak early in a tournament or where German teams reach the final no matter whether they are playing good or bad. And maybe the win against Austria had some positive psychological effects.

4. Mario Gomez has completed his transition from Germany’s best to Germany’s worst striker. He has yet to complete his transition from a Stuttgart to a Bayern Munich player. Honi soit qui mal y pense.

5. Michael Ballack’s stunning free kick, which won the match for Germany also won Ballack the Man of the Match award. Nonetheless, Ballack doesn’t seem to have conserved his excellent Chelsea form for the Euros.

6. Philipp Lahm is one of the few German players who have improved their game during the group stage. It feels like he hasn’t lost a single one-on-one situation; maybe there are stats to back this up. Löw should probably give him a free role, so he can clean up the mess wherever it occurs – right or left flank.

7. Per Mertesacker – like Lahm – seems to be finding his way into the tournament. He routinely dragged Metzelder with him, who was solid but didn’t show any spectacular rise in his form curve.

8. Jens Lehmann didn’t make any mistakes, which by our current standards is also an improvement. He did a good job fishing most of Austria’s high crosses into the box out of the air. I doubt a bit that Portugal would rely on such tactics though.

9. Arne Friedrich was back in the team and back on his World Cup position, taking over for Lahm, who himself went back to his World Cup position. He did a good job in defence, but wasn’t inspirational going forward. I’d personally prefer to see Clemens Fritz as a right back.

10. Lukas Podolski was again one of the better players and again took over for Mario Gomez as Klose’s partner up front later in the game. I wonder whether Löw can find a pattern in there somewhere.

Tags: Arne Friedrich, Austria, Christoph Metzelder, Euro 2008, Jens Lehmann, Jogi Löw, Lukas Podolski, Mario Gomez, Michael Ballack, Per Mertesacker, Philipp Lahm

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Comments

By diana | June 17th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

I got to hand it to you on the analogy you use for No. 4. I have to read the Wikipedia entry for the explanation more than once.

‘As we know now, he was referring to the inclusion of Arne Friedrich for the injured Marcell Jansen.’
I actually heaved a sigh of relief when I saw Friedrich in the starting XI.

Now there’s a problem. Or make it two. Frings and Podolski doubtful for the clash against Portugal – http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=548009&cc=4716

Regarding Mario Gomez…I was watching the preview show (we have this daily Euro 2008 preview show running on the pay-TV here but it’s hosted by known radio and TV personalities in the country) and the presenters, when discussing about the match, one topic they brought up was why Loew still stuck with Gomez. They can’t find the answers.

I only know Gomez has been disappointing for me.

Posted from Singapore

By diana | June 17th, 2008 at 2:01 pm

I forgot. If Jogi’s having an attitude problem like you said, it has also being noted halfway across the world as well. It’s on the papers here (other than the match report) and I was listening to the radio and there was a report of him being off to the stands. I still feel sick thinking about it.

Not the kind of incident that should be shown everywhere…I am one of the many millions who witnessed it on TV.

And by the way, the presenters on our preview show here…they do know their football as well.

Posted from Singapore

By harriet | June 17th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

I still don’t understand how Gomez managed to tranform like that.All I know is that, being a fan of him, I really don’t want to see him in the starting XI next match, for his own good.

Posted from Hong Kong

By diana | June 18th, 2008 at 8:00 am

Harriet, I have to agree with you. And I am a Stuttgart fan even.

News just in (it’s from AFP) – Jogi loses his appeal to be in the dugout for the Portugal game. This means he cannot meet the players before, during and after the match.

Link – http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fbleuro2008gerautporloewhickersbergeruefa&prov=afp&type=lgns

I don’t know what to say. I only know I first know the news on the Teletext and was almost muttering ‘Shoot’. Jogi and Hickersberger were just doing their job on the touchline before the referee steps in.

Posted from Singapore

By harriet | June 18th, 2008 at 9:55 am

Huh. That referee over-reacted.
I wonder what will happen with his absence. But then the 2nd half after they’ve been sent off seems fine(the team).
I’m more worried about Frings&Poldi’s availability for the next game.

Posted from Hong Kong

By diana | June 18th, 2008 at 10:31 am

Flick (his assistant) will take over. That is what I read.

‘I’m more worried about Frings&Poldi’s availability for the next game.’
Me too. Especially Frings’s case is making me even more worried. Bierhoff has said that we will only know on the day of the match. Poldi’s getting better, if what Bierhoff saying is right.

What I was referring to – http://www.fifa.com/confederationcup/news/newsid=807833.html#frings+losing+fitness+race

Posted from Singapore

By Sky | June 18th, 2008 at 11:49 am

This was a terrible display by the german national team. While I am supporting germany in the euro 2008 match, all they did was pass backwards and took absolutely no risks in moving the ball forward. I doubt they will progress past Portugal on thursday, as C. Ronaldo at least has the temerity to take some risks in the offensive play.

Germany just got lucky on the free kick.

By diana | June 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am

Harriet, I forgot. I’m not sure about my own impression of the fourth official but I remembered the main referee is actually also the same one whom refereed the Scotland-Italy Euro 2008 qualifier. Back then there was a contentious decision (I forgot what was it) which left the then-Scotland coach Alex McLeish fuming. I suppose it could have swung into Scotland’s qualifying for the tournament, given I only remembered McLeish was furious after the match. And in the end, he blamed the referee for the reason why they never qualify for the tournament (Italy did after that match).

Anyhow, Portugal coach (and soon-to-be Chelsea coach after the tournament) Luiz Felipe Scolari wants to see Jogi on the match itself when the two sides meet – http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=548617&cc=4716 I suddenly like the man they nickname ‘Big Phil’ (Scolari, that is) now. Also, Bierhoff and the German football officials are furious at the decision – http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-eurogermanyloew&prov=reuters&type=lgns I read somewhere that even Austria coach Josef Hickersberger is not happy at the decision as well (he’s also affected, but it will be in place at Austria’s 2010 World Cup qualifying).

I don’t understand UEFA’s decision. The more I think about it, Jogi does not deserve this at all. It makes me, pissed. Usually I don’t react very strongly to such a ruling but…ugh.

Posted from Singapore

By Bobo | June 18th, 2008 at 11:59 pm

Diana, the referee for the Italy – Scotland qualifying match was definitely incompetent. What McLeish is fuming about is that the referee awarded Italy a free kick after an Italian defender fouled a Scottish defender, and Italy then scored on the setpiece in the dying moments of the game. His complaint is true in that a free kick shouldn’t have been awarded in that situation, but I’m guessing he’s trying to forget that the same referee also disallowed a legitimate Italian goal for offsides and then allowed an offside Scottish goal to stand. Be on the look-out for some controversial decisions tomorrow.

Posted from United States

By diana | June 19th, 2008 at 6:02 am

Bobo, thanks. My memory didn’t serve me too well. Thanks for the clear-up.

And the referee for the Portugal-Germany match…is also the same person who refereed the Holland-Italy match in the group stages. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s goal got many to sit up but UEFA stood by the referee’s decision given it’s something not many are aware of. The match had made it known to everyone after that.

Now I wonder what is going to happen in Basel when Portugal and Germany meet.

Posted from Singapore

By harriet | June 19th, 2008 at 6:32 am

Oh my. Actually I think that goal (Ruud van Nistelrooy) should not be counted. With such a referee…
“The more I think about it, Jogi does not deserve this at all. It makes me, pissed.”
Yeah. Jogi was just trying to coach!!
Let’s just hope for the best for the Mannschaft.

Posted from Hong Kong

By Nobody You Know | June 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am

Yeah, when the going gets tough, FIFA sees the need to eliminate a critical German player (2006 against Italy, it was Frings) and now in 2008 they even banned the coach. What will FIFA think up for Germany next time? Take their goal away or move it into the corner?

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