Comments on: 10 Conclusions: Wales 0-2 Germany

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:02:46 +0000

Michael Ballack had an excellent game for Chelsea and Schweinsteiger was the only German national team player who was part of Bayern’s debacle. Two good news to get you into the vibe for the post.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:06:23 +0000

I just watched the Bayern-Barca game and the Liverpool-Chelsea match. Optimistic article for German national team coming right up!

By: Bradpete

Bradpete — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:50:08 +0000

I’m Filipino from Philippines who loves soccer!

By: Bradpete

Bradpete — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:49:00 +0000

Germany one of the powerful soccer nation. Amazing win.

By: Double Pivot

Double Pivot — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:13:19 +0000

Okay I went to the man himself and asked Rafael Honigstein. He said it was meant as a 4-2-3-1 but that Wales played so deep that he could see where the 4-3-3 confusion could have been found. A very diplomatic way of telling me I was wrong.

By: A Kap

A Kap — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:40:56 +0000

It seems to me that Ballack is slowly going the Matthaeus route when it comes to being a bit overbearing. It doesn’t help when the person on the receiving end is petulant.

I do agree with Jan, though, that the main problem the team is facing is one of chemistry and attitude. The rift caused because of the Ballack-Frings-Loew affair seems to have affected everyone else more than people think and Loew doesn’t seem to yet have full control over the team.

By: Double Pivot

Double Pivot — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:50:23 +0000

Well I know my thoughts that it was a 4-3-3 are in the minority (of 1). So I have sent an e-mail to Herr Honigstein to get his opinion. I am sure he will side with you on the 4-2-3-1 but I will summarize his reply when he responds and accept his terms

By: diana

diana — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:16:24 +0000

You are not going to scare me away, Jan. Not!

Anyhow, every article I read all point to a 4-2-3-1 formation. So, there you go.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:59:48 +0000

What I like about Germany’s usual 4-4-2 formation is the flexibility on the wings. The combo Lahm-Trochowski-Podolski worked well. Podolski as a central striker can still move to the wing and play with either Lahm or Trochowski, with the other providing cover or even all three could combine together and you still have the second striker waiting in the box. For yesterday’s setup you really need the right players. Podolski also has problems backtracking when playing in midfield, which was evident during the Euros (in both 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations). Podolski has the added benefit, that he can also fall back a bit in a two-striker setup and help force the way through the middle – best seen in the game against Russia. Something which is more difficult if he is tied to the wing. Maybe I would have been more impressed with yesterday’s formation with a different set of players. And Germany’s biggest problem at the moment isn’t the tactical formation but the chemistry and attitude within the team anyway I guess.

Though, I’m probably a bit overly critical and negative at the moment. There are certainly also a lot of promising aspects and players to look forward to. Maybe you fancy writing a post collecting all the things which are good and promising about the team? Before we run the risk of scaring all readers away.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:54:23 +0000

Jan if you think about it the tactics were not all that bad. I am even coming around to understand what Hitz does in this team. All right, at first I thought the lineup was an April Fool’s joke, but it looked like a 1-5-4. In any event using Ballack in an advance position payed off. Gomez caused trouble for the opposite team and aside from Tasci’s lucky blunder the defense was not too horrible. We can also see that Beck took at least some pressure off of Lahm – who had a wonderful game. Enke proved his worth too. Most importantly the pressure is all on Russia now to not lose any points before we meet them in Moscow. Seeing how they barely beat Liechtenstein, chances are all we need is a draw to qualify directly.

Granted our victory was against a Wales B-team and the Ballack goal was a bit dodgy, but I feel this formation works. We have two fullback wingers from a pool of Lahm, Beck, Scaefer and Hinkel, a pair of attacking midfielders in Schweni, Troch, Marin or Jansen and sometiems Podolski, and strikers consisting of Klose and blank. Of course there is Ballack in the middle and all of a sudden we look a lot more dangerous than we have in a while. This all depends on Ballack of course. Anyway, I feel Loew knows what is going on and also knows how much the team still depends on Ballack. For now the 3 points will do.

Go Wales! Go Finland!