The German team lineup now is with Libero again, and without goalie. :hmmm:

First half: terrible.

After that: so-la-la. Convincing this all was not. Even if the stats were more clearly in favour of the Germans the longer the game lasted after halftime, it was not convincing. And the defence showed exactly the kind of weakness that I feared before the tournament. Mertesacker good, Boateng gambling, the other two defenders: were there two more defenders in the first 60 minutes?

Yes, they made it. But no reason to celebrate for how they won.

Congrats to the Algerians, they played incredibly strong in the first 60 minutes, then lost their physical stamina, it seems.

Manuel Neuer the best man on the green, by a huge lead.

Agreed.
They played like they were lost, absolutely no idea what to do with the ball when they had possession.
The passes converted were attrocious.
They played like a Under 21 team.


No he wasn't. He had a bad game, his lack of speed, which you allude to and i agree with was on show for all to see.
He made some bad errors and he was outpaced time and time again. Boateng was actually quite strong, with good saves, and good positional play.

Absolutely.
He showed why he is amongst the top 3 keepers in the world.
Had it not been for his reading of the game, Germany would have lost this game. There is no doubt about that.
71% of the earth is covered by water… …The rest is covered by Manuel Neuer.

Against France, if they play like this, they will get torn to shreds.
Man up!

The Vampire's apology:

http://media.tumblr.com/8c307355560c...4Wo1ryfaxj.png

Very entertaining match!

Great respect to Algeria for fighting to the end. No give up after setbacks just kept trying. Very different game compared to FRA - NIG match.

Algeria should consider themselves unlucky and the Germans must show rapid signs of improvement if they want to prcoceed further in the tournament.

Man of the match for me was the Algerian goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi.

Boateng gambled too often, Feuer, he compensated that with speed, granted, but several times he was on the brink of causing havoc by reacting too late, being undecided. Just one scene where he acted from first tenth of a second on with all detemrination and speed. Thats why I said he did a 50:50 job. Mertesacker was not good, but of the very shaky and underperforming defence still the best.

See how the author here sees it.

http://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/wm...und-Ideen.html

Neuer was best German man, but of the field players, Schürrle probably was the best.

The team lacks consistency. Since several years.

Now comes France, a highly emotional match between the too, after that it would probably be Brazil, and after that either Argentina or Netherlands. One more half like the first half yesterday, and Germany can say Farewell. A favourite for the title they are no more after yesterday.

Ah, and finally an article that puts Löw's stubborness into doubt.

http://www.focus.de/sport/fussball/w...d_3958208.html

I thought like that very often in recent months. And during the last tournament, the lacking tactical flexibility of Löw in a match, who never seems to have a plan B, and opposes any demand to form one, and who seems to be extremely clumsy regarding adaptation to changing or different tactical needs during a running match, has been object of discussion and cirticism already. Löw seem to live by the premise: "Either by my first idea for a way - or no way."

His choice of defenders for the final cadre I have criticised before the tournament. Trading two or three of the best German defenders in the league for three almost no-names, is quite much. And it shows its revenge already.

Skybird:

what do you think about Löw NOT fielding Klose when Germany were on the ropes in first half.
I thought that was a strange decision, considering the state of the game.
I know the ball wasn't really getting up into Algeria's box anyway, but even in the second half, No Klose????
Very strange indeed.
Didn't he do the same to Kose in 2010 wc? Play him off the bench?
His fitness is not questioned, at 36 he is supreme.
Klose i say because he is a out and out goal getter, like Thomas, but he is a talisman.
Lucky that Schürrle gamble paid off, great goal by him, made Jogy look good i think :D

Don't forget Hummels is coming back.
Hummels has proven himself in the group stage.
Probably best defender in die Mannschaft.

Interesting article, ty for link.

Maybe he did not wan to trade Müller for Klose.

I don't know.

What he needed, was more defence, not more offence, at least after the first half. And generally a faster pace of almost all players. They were lucky that mental concentration and phyiscla fitness of the Algerians detoriated from halftime on. In the beginning, the Algerians both outtraced and outdanced them.

Absolutely agree.
They were incredibly lucky to get out of that with a win.

I don't know enough about the French side to be honest.
Have you watched them recently?

Last time i watched the French was when balloon head (Fabian Barthez was still playing).

Obviously they are a good side, technically better than Algeria obvioulsy, but are their styles similar to Algeria?
Ie good counter attackers, quick, solid defense?

They will be a hard nut to crack.

Germany so far has been relying on the opponent to have a weak or weaker defense, so that they can score at least.
But if the French have a solid defense as well, and Germany cannot score, then the title race may well be over im Viertel Finale

Don'T know much about the French after their climax some years ago. Jiust that they technically are very good, always tactically disciplined, and always try set up a fight, especially against germany. I recall two great duels from 82 and 86 when I still was at school (82). especially the match from 82 was a nailbiter.

The total record of Germany against France is slightly negative. I rate them like the Italians: a traditional "Angstgegner" of the Germans. Often they both were simply more "abgebrüht" than the Germans. "Abkochen" we call it in German, don't we.

This Friday, after yesterdays match, I blindly give a tip for France, they are favourites. But if the Germans get back into swing until then, it once again will be a match between equals, I suppose. But that needs a massive German improvement as precondition. So, the chance that this Friday Germany will be out, is 50% . Or higher.

Just read that Bierhoff sees the French as favourites, too. That may be his team job' mandatory statement, maybe. But maybe it is his real opinion as well.

Going on both teams most recent games the French are a good way ahead but as we all know very well...anything can happen in a one-off encounter over ninety minutes.

France will play more openly like e.g. Portugal, so that gives the German team more room to play its game. I think that France should lose this match.

The Algerian coach did a great job and showed how you can beat the German team with Yogi Löw as coach who seems to be unable to make the necessary tactical changes. Mustafi and Höwedes as defenders must be put on the bench, Mustafi is injured anyway but Höwedes needs to be replaced because he is way too slow to match with players from NL, Brasil or France and he is unable play the position of a full-back.
Durm who is a real left full-back should replace Höwedes and Lahm should replace Mustafi by playing as right full-back. The back four with with four central-defenders does not work against teams who play like Algeria.
By putting pressure on every player but Mertesacker the Algerian coach used the same tactic that Borussia Dortmunds coach Klopp used to beat Bayern Munich imo when Dortmund attacked all players but Dante who did not know what to do with the ball.
The ball possession was always with Mertesacker who has the least technical skill and who is unable to play an opening pass.

I am sure that Löw will screw things up again. :salute:

Meanwhile in Brazil:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQR890g0AVc

Going put my neck on the line and say the US to win this.
So my apologies now for being a jinx.......