I do not shift that much focus on how things were more or less time ago in the distant past, I focussed on the past months before the tournament, which were more indicative for what the status of the team was, then how they were 2010.

And the German team was in a weaker shape before this tournament, then in 2010, yes. As a team - not as individual players who obviously have won, for the most four years of experience since 2010. The team dynamics did not work too well in the past months, the past 4-8 months or so. The results in matches showed that, and how those matches were played.

The point is: they became stronger DURING the tournament. Like I described a post above. That was not to be forseen or taken for granted before the tournament - to have assumed that would have been speculation only.

Many, and you as well, point at the Germans being a "tournament team", but that again is a curious empirical finding that describes history, but makes no predictions for the future (that is irrational to assume), and the DFB holds no courses in how to be a "tournament team". The effect that this term describes and means, is the result of other factors that fall in their correct places in the German football landscape, and national team, and DFB environment. and the variables helping these effects to shine have been given the right treatment during the tournament, and it has helped the general climate in the team.

But before the tournament, the Germans were not favourites. I stick to that. Argentina and Brazil, Spain maybe, Netherlands certainly, possibly Italy - and then came Germany. My biggest fault was with what I expected of Portugal - I hopelessly overestimated them.

Seeing the Germans as favourites before the tournament was romanticising their present state at that time, like the Brazilians romanticised about the imagined strength of their team. The difference is: the Germans grew again during the tournament's so far 3 weeks. The Brazilians did not, they started weak, and remained weak. Their lack of technical and tactical class and mental strength was obvious, the high number of fouls and their physical roughness was the symptom. No Brazilian ball magic anymore. The 70s are over, dear Brazil - wake up to reality. Like Germany had to maybe 15-20 years ago, too.

I stick to it, when the things that were criticised before the tournament would not have been addressed during the tournament, we would not be in the finals now. the team there is now is in a better shape than it was in just some weeks and the past months ago. That is easy to see. And it is logical. If oyu tackle and switch off deficits and weaknesses, you become stronger. If you imporve the climate in the team, the better for you.

The only thing left to be corrected now is Özil.Loyalty all nice and well, but since 6 matches he plays weak, often even bad. It's the finals, Özil has had six chances. He must make room for somebody else. Mach's nicht wieder mit Coachingfehler kaputt wie 2010, Jogi!

Interesting comments by both Scholl and Kahn, who both said something like that the players have grown up now and no longer submissively just obey Löw, but stand up and play their own part in the game and take responsibility, interacting and managing the game on the pitch by themselves. This is the change to what I also criticised in past times when I said Löw's boy group were so nice and polite and clean and tidy, just good, well-behaved boys. It all was too much about Löw. It seems it is not like that anymore. Maybe that is why Löw gives so much more a relaxed impression, too. The kids have grown up, they must no longer be told by Daddy how to play the game - they now play it by themselves. That is at least true for the older players, and they seem to take care for the younger ones as well.

In a way it is the closing of the full circle that began with Klinsmann in 2006.

I forgot to tell you a funny story

OK here goes

I saw the first German Goal and just when the ball was over the goal-line for the second goal, my signal disappeared. I have Satellite tried some other channels they were OK. No signal to ANT2. Hmm made a check on this cable no damage

Then the picture came back-now imagine my face when I saw this on the TV-Screen
Brazil-Germany 0-5

Ok back to todays Semifinals between Argentina and Holland

Germany did as I told them to do, win the next to matches. Holland have won the first and hopefully the will win the second tonight.

MArkus

Well i was sitting here at my box... the wife and eldest were watching.
the wife came through to make tea, saying 1-0 to Germany.
'Well they're one of the favourites' was my comment.
Barely had those words left my mouth and my eldest shouted '2 Nil'..
'Alrighhht, it's not over yet' I piped..
'3 Nil'
'What !!!', both the wife and I ran though to the lounge...
'4 Nil'
'The Brazillians must be crying.... They were.. 5 Nil... Is the stadium still full ??'.

I seen this happen in all sports... a good side just falls flat for 'no apparent reason', but I suppose there are the reasons as mentioned.

Even the BBC was struggling to keep up last night, it was 2-0 at first when I checked, then Hunter mentioned on Steam that it was now 4-0, I checked back to the front page of the BBC which was still on 2-0. :haha:

Dam. Argentina goes through on penalties to meet Germany in the Final.

What a way to go out in a semi.

Congrats to Argentina.

I'm not familiar with Argentina's team, apart from Messi of course.
And that Argentina are a team that relies too heavily on Messi.
Shut down Messi, shut down Argentina?
Maybe not that simple, but would go a long way to victory.

Messi as a forward and Mascherano in the mid-field, are the backbone of the Argentine team.

Germany will be local in RJ, due to the football rivalry between Brazil and Argentina.

Three days before the Word Cup starts, I bet for Germany. I am regretting that now...

Will the best win!

PD: The last sentence is a lie, Argentina, Argentina!

Very boring match, I switched off in the middle of second half.

German chances have risen once again. I think Netherlands would have been more difficult for them to play against.

Historically, German record against Argentina is positive. And its the third time a world cup final is played by these two teams, yes...?

With that performance of the Dutch and Argentinians today I again say that the Germans must accept to be called clear favourites now. After the past matches of Argentina, as far as I have seen them, I cannot see them defeating a Germany that maybe plays not again as overwhelming like against Brazil, but better than against France. A German performance set between those two matches, should be sufficient for this Argentina of last evening's match.

Even more so when Hummels can play.

When you are too reliant as a team on 1 player (Messi), then there are clear opportunities for the opposition to triumph.

Even Maradonna has admitted as much.

He will be in the stands watching his beloved team.

I will agree, Germany as clear favourites.

On the back of THAT win, they will be hard to stop.

But, anything can happen.

A wc final will demand a different play style again, from say a semi final.

Getting to a wc final is the ultimate goal and dream for any team.

No-one wants to lose a final, once getting there.

Once you get there, teams have a tendency to play too conservatively, cautious gameplay, bordering on purely technical.

Will be interesting to see the first 15 minutes in this game, to see who dominates.
Or rather tries to.

The danger for a team is to sit back and play conservative, waiting for the counter.

Once again, i don't know much about the players of Argentina, their recent playstyle indicates what i said up top.
Too reliant on Messi.

That can play into Germany's hands.

Stifle and suffocate delivery to him, and perhaps that is half the encounter won.

Perhaps.

Sad to see Holland go out to Argentina, especially Argentina.

Pity about the substitution rules or Krul may have been able to come on and effect the change needed in a penalty shootout.

Not surprised Cillessen has never saved a penalty in his professional career.....doesn't look like he ever will.

Hopefully Argentina wil make a worthy apponent to Germany in the final but I put the Germans down to win by two or more clear goals.

:)


Before the start of the tournament my prediction was Argentina to win the world cup.


They have made it to the final now, so my prediction was not that bad.


The fact that they are playing the final against my country Germany?:hmmm:


The match is completely open.


Deutschland! Deutschland!

Going out via penalties in a semi is cruel.
Although the dutch only did 1 thing well. Shut down Messi.
To be honest, neither team deserved to win. But a winner it had to be.

:haha: True that.

I think they will. A final is a final.
Where teams play with all on the line.
The hard work has been done. To get there.
Now, by playing wreckless perhaps or even too defensivley (waiting for the opposition to make a mistake) is dangerous.

Argentina on the whole are a better team than Brazil.
They will give Germany a good contest.
They will need to be on their guard.
The Germans have already said they expect a much tougher opponent in Argentina than Brazil.

Brazil is a shell of its former self.
Argentina is not.
Defensively they are a lot more cohesive. More compact.
Their attack, well, Messi.

My prediction Germany 2 Argentina 0 or 1.

I hope.

The Dutch had a strong attack. And they dried out on the pitch against Argentina. Argentina has dried out many teams in this cup. They play defensively, and with great discipline, from what i saw. Tough and sturdy defense, pulling Robben's, Snjider's and van Persie's teeth. And they are not as confused and emotional as the Brazilian players were. I think it will be difficult, very, for the German attackers.

Since the Argentinian attack meets a German defence that showed to be solid in past two matches, too, it could become a long match. Maybe even one that gets ended by tossing coins (penalties). Which would be bad. I only hope there is no problem with Hummels, they do not report about him anymore. Is that a good or a bad sign?

It won't be as easy as against Brazil. I expect a chewy meal to be served. Favourite or not, the match is open. Chances I rate as 52:48 for Germany again, like against Brazil before their match.

I hope for a ref that is up to the job.

Edit:
Very good German comment and warning:
http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball...-a-980230.html

Well, all I could say is that I saw the German`s training match against Brazil and a I´m worried, as 99 % of the Argentine population who is following the Word Cup.

Germany is a superb team. Period.

But Argentina has good tactics (improving every match), Messi and we have the Argentine Pope, who surely is praying in our behalf. A pitty Benedictus retired and ended the "direct line" with the Guy above...

Regards!

Mercantilian, your team's case is not so hopeless as you depict it, because it excels in destroying the other team's play, and always remains a force to count with in counterattacks. Such a destructive tactic is not beautiful to watch, and is not joyful for the audience - but it is effective, and that is what counts. In the end there is no B-note for artistic impression, only victory - or defeat (Van Gaal - I do not like this man one bit - is right when he says he hates matches for 3rd place, and that they should not be played. I think the same. Almost nobody recalls third and fourth places of past tournaments, they are immediately forgotten, but it is considered to be not nice to state the obvious). While probably the German team has technically better players on most positions, your team'S way of playing can destroy the German tactical team coordination that they describe as the "German machine" in the press currently. And if that happens - then we will see to what degree the individual technical advantages still mean something.

The "German panzers" will either do samba - or end like Kingtigers in the Bulge - having run out of fuel.