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7 Reasons A German Victory Will Be No Surprise

June 28th, 2008 | By: Nick | 22 Comments »

Schweinsteiger gegen Portugal EM 2008

1. Germany is the underdog and thus the German players will be all the more motivated. The team has nothing to lose. Throughout the course of this tournament the favorite has always faced greater pressure and has played cautiously… almost always to their peril.

2. The German team has the quality up front to finish off what few chances they have. This is Germany’s sole advantage as they simply cannot wait and defend. Indeed, like always, everyone on the German team must help in defending because the best thing that can be said of Germany’s defenders and goalkeeper thus far is that they have done just enough. In fact, I would not be surprised if Low starts with a second striker in Gomez. It is about time Gomez redeems himself.

3. The Spanish are already entangled in thinking about their destiny. Though Spain may have won some confidence against Italy and Russia, when Germany puts them on the back foot, all that confidence will vaporize just like it did against France in 2006. It is Spain after all!

4. Michael Ballack is injured. At first glance this would not be something good for Germany. Yet not only is the wounded beast the more dangerous one, but also without Ballack Low will have no choice but to labor hard over the tactics. As the game against Portugal showed, when Jogi thinks hard, Germany wins.

5. Germany is physically fit. Germany has not played any game more than 90 minutes during the entire tournament. Thus when it comes down to the final half Germany should have the energy reserve to keep on.

6. Spain is weak on set pieces and simply put Germany is more physically imposing. Spain has yet to face an opponent that plays like Germany in this tournament… one that combines English pace, Dutch tactics and well German finishing.

7. Schweini.

Now this one is for all the underdogs out there who have dared to dream…

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Comments

By Michel-Olivier | June 28th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

it would of been nice to see gomez redeem himself against his father’s country.

Posted from United States

By FengFeng | June 28th, 2008 at 8:55 pm

Can we have the luxury in one tournament that our players who have rooted in other countries kill their root country for us?
Wow, just an illusion (or not :D)

Posted from Australia

By harriet | June 28th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

It will be great to see Gomez repeats what Bierhoff did 12 years ago.
Thanks, the video and the article is great, gives me more confidence when I’m going to watch this final with my sister who loves Spain.

Posted from Hong Kong

By bunchapooha | June 28th, 2008 at 10:53 pm

“but also without Ballack Low will have no choice but to labor hard over the tactics. As the game against Portugal showed, when Jogi thinks hard, Germany wins.”

Dude, that was all Bierhoff. When Low thinks hard he screws up, e.g. Croatia (they lose), Austria (he get’s sent off).

Posted from Netherlands

By Tuncay | June 29th, 2008 at 12:15 am

all the best to the german squad. i hope they will play at their very best. go germany! go!

Posted from Malaysia

By Mukhe | June 29th, 2008 at 12:51 am

I only hope our golie finds his form in the game. He played ridiculously against turkey, in which both of the turks goals could have been prevented. I agree that the defence were themselves fragile to the turks attack, yet a clean sheet was what i hoped for after lehmann gained some pretty good match confidence against portugal.

Posted from Nepal

By Claudia | June 29th, 2008 at 2:08 am

I’m nervous already… I hope you’re right and that all of these circumstances will help them win.

Posted from Netherlands

By Intan | June 29th, 2008 at 2:47 am

I am loooving the fact that the Germans are the underdogs–this team has a knack for proving people wrong. Still, this is a darn tough game and most people wouldn’t be surprised if Germany loses, especially if you compare their performances against the Spanish squad in the tournament. On paper, the Spanish has no visible weaknesses–and especially if you compare the Spanish and German defense, you can’t help but to be worried.

And about no. 3, while I agree that the Spaniards would be under tremendous pressure, but I think the very thought that they have the power of undoing their lack of silverware curse is something huge that can drive them to perform at their very best tonight.

Posted from Singapore

By diana | June 29th, 2008 at 5:18 am

‘Dude, that was all Bierhoff.’
Bierhoff? I thought it was Flick?

FengFeng, LOL! Podolski had did the damage against his country of birth Poland in the group stages. And in a way, I have to agree with Intan. The fact that Spain nearly did it 24 years ago against Michel Platini’s France (and Platini was saying yesterday that he has invited the goalkeeper whom he humiliated 24 years ago to the final in Vienna) is their main driving force in wanting to end the trophy drought which stretched back to 1964. But still, Germany are the underdogs coming into this match…

‘it would of been nice to see gomez redeem himself against his father’s country.’
Ah yes, Michel. I was having the same thoughts as well.

Nick, nice video you unearthed. This is the first time I have seen it.

Posted from Singapore

By diana | June 29th, 2008 at 6:23 am

Nick, I got another reason to your list.

Maybe it’s a little far-fetched but I still remembered back then I was watching ESPN Sportscenter Asia (we have the Asia feed on the pay-TV here) and back then when it was previewing the teams in Group B, one of the presenters was saying that ever since the European Championships began the group format, none in Group B has won. And the presenter also added something like ’so maybe it’s about time’. Germany was from Group B, you know…

Posted from Singapore

By Karl | June 29th, 2008 at 6:27 am

Of course it wasn’t Bierhoff and it wasn’t Flick (on his own) neither.
Tactics are not made half an hour before or during the game. It was Löw and Flick together (it’s a team) who choose the starting 11 and their formation.
Was just provokation from bamboocha.

Posted from Germany

By Jan | June 29th, 2008 at 6:39 am

Where did bunchapooha provoke? Judging by some press conference sound-bits Michael Ballack also had his say in going from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1.

By Karl | June 29th, 2008 at 6:45 am

“Dude, that was all Bierhoff. When Low thinks hard he screws up, e.g. Croatia (they lose), Austria (he get’s sent off).”

1. it’s wrong.
2. it’s provokative to me. (atm)

PS. Of course the capitano was also involved.

Posted from Germany

By Ken | June 29th, 2008 at 9:27 am

Weather will be a big factor. Humdity will be high. This will slow down the germans. Spain will out run the Germnans The Germans will have to use there hight advantage. Lots of corner balls and head shots will be needed.

German 3 Spain 2

Posted from United States

By Nobody You Know | June 29th, 2008 at 10:27 am

Ken, remember 2006? Hot and humid in Germany as well (Beckham passed out) - Will the Germans be outrun? Yeah why not. All I want to see is goals, sprinting is another story. I’ll say half the Spanish team will hang around Schweini… well, there are others that can shoot… So, it is a wide open game. I am for Germany but believe it can go both ways. (Wow, what an insight.. did everybody know that it can go both ways?)

By Juliet | June 29th, 2008 at 10:36 am

Schweini!!!!! I’m happy the Germans are underdogs — they play better that way. I am terribly nervous for this game, but you’re right — when Loew is forced to think hard, Germany wins.

Posted from United States

By diana | June 29th, 2008 at 10:46 am

‘Hot and humid in Germany as well (Beckham passed out)’
And I still remembered well back then the newspapers here at where I live almost had a field day of sorts over that incident. But then again, England has always been their adopted team. I can’t really blame them. Premier League so popular here and it translate to England on the international football scale.

Juliet, you excited Nick use a Schweini photo, is it?

Posted from Singapore

By diana | June 29th, 2008 at 10:57 am

Speaking of Loew…Sepp Blatter has given his views on Loew’s ‘ban’ on Austrian TV channel ORF. The FIFA President felt that Loew and Hickersberger’s bans were unjustified. Adding that both coaches ’should be allowed to get on with their job and be left in peace by the fourth official during matches’.

http://sport.sg.msn.com/Football/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1532221

Posted from Singapore

By bunchapooha | June 29th, 2008 at 11:52 pm

“1. it’s wrong.”

I made a mistake

“2. it’s provokative to me. (atm)”

Why? Just a little sarcasm.

“The FIFA President felt that Loew and Hickersberger’s bans were unjustified. ”

Wow. Sepp actually says something right for a change. Wish he did that more often.

Posted from Netherlands

By جک | June 30th, 2008 at 1:13 am

thanks