Re: Ze German Thread

[rwo power]

Well, I still hope that Holger Badstuber will return to full fitness in due time as then we'd have a pretty good left CB for a three CB defense line, too. Too bad that he was never outstanding as LB, even though he was still useful.

[VivaStPauli]

He was okay, but had the same shortcomings Benny Höwedes had - he's just an obvious CB, way too slow to take on the duties of the LB.

Though Badstuber does have passing skills along the lines of Hummels, even ahead of Boateng, or at least he did. He did miss one and a half years of football, where Boateng kept evolving, and improving. Let's wait and see.

But Badstuber - Hummels - Boateng would be an incredible 3-CB-line, if 'Stubsi can regain his old form. Though if paired with Boateng and Hummels both, Mertesacker is a viable choice as well. But I guess at this point it makes sense to always go for the youngest option, if everything else is roughly equal.

I can really see the 3 CBs working, it's just that the entire midfield has to be tweaked to accommodate this. And we certainly have the players for it.

With Reus and Müller on the offensive flanks, we have the cover we need, and with Khedira, Gündogan, and Schweinsteiger we have the CMs that can give you numerical advantage all over the pitch. Add to that Kroos as a playmaker that tends to sit deeper, and we should be rock solid defensively, with lots of creative outlets, like so:


--------- Neuer
Boateng - Hummels - Badstuber
------ Schweinsteiger
Gündogan --- Kroos ---- Khedira
Müller ----- Götze ----- Reus

Not sure about the (false) 9 position though, but the general shape could work. Kroos, Piggy, Gündogan and Khedira can basically interchange, form a line of 4, attack in turns, or have one sweeping in front of the defense, if they have the tactical discipline to do so. Which they do.

[RealGunner]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BtLpRRTIAAA2TDa.jpg

[Hapless_Hans]

I was just about to post how I remembered Flick is leaving to Sportdirektor and how that makes it more likely Jogi will call it quits...
...
then I read that Jogi is staying till 2016

[Onyx]

Is Jung not good enough for RB?

[rwo power]

Is Jung not good enough for RB?

Actually I read an interview with Sebastian Jung very recently where he declared he wanted to try and replace Philipp Lahm for the NT. Well, we will see - but if he continues developing nicely - why not?

[rwo power]

After defeating Austria U19 4:0 in the semi final, the German U19 NT has reached the final of the U19 Euro. They will meet Portugal U19 on Thursday to compete for the European crown.

[VivaStPauli]

Also, on the topic of Jung: he did look very promising, but it's not as if you really get to shine in a struggling Frankfurt side, though they did get excellent tactical know-how from Veh, and he looked like he struck a good balance between attacking and defending.

In the meantime, Bayern seem set to play Rode in a role similar to a wing-back, so it looks like two of the Frankfurt youngsters might be candidates for the mysterious fullback slot.

[Hapless_Hans]

so far I think Rode has not played wingback, but central midfielder, where he was pretty great in the T... Cup.
Also I don't really think we will play the 3 defense regularly in the league

[urbaNRoots]

It's going to be Höwedes/Boateng clearly, Durm as LB. These kids like Jung/Sorg/Rode have proved nothing so far except raw talent.

[VivaStPauli]

Of course not, but how could they have proved anything yet? They played for Frankfurt, and they had two impressive seasons, but mostly they just showed us that 1) they're talented and 2) they can follow complicated tactical instructions. Those two things are almost the two most important traits of great players, let's just hope they can improve now that they've moved to bigger clubs.

I frankly don't expect Rode to play all that much for Bayern, they're just too deep, but Jung should be a regular at Wolfsburg.

[rwo power]

U19 Euro in Hungary - Final

Portugal vs Germany

Portugal: Moreira - Riquicho, Nunes, Duarte, Rafa - Podstawski - Guzzo, Marcos Lopes - Gelson, Rodrigues - Silva

Germany: Schnitzler - Akpoguma, Stark, Kempf, Holthaus - Öztunali, Kimmich - Brandt, Stendera, Mukhtar - Selke

Goals:
39.) 0:1 - Mukhtar (assist by Stendera)

FT - Portugal U19 0:1 Germany U19

[VivaStPauli]

Akpoguma, Stendera, and Kempf, remember those names, forget about Selke and Öztunali!

Platinum Generation to follow the Golden Generation, FFS!

[Onyx]

Klose retires from the NT. 71 goals in 137 games.

[rwo power]

Miro Klose is a real legend of German football. He will be sorely missed in the NT.

[Onyx]

[rwo power]

German NT Call-Up for the friendly against Argentina and the Euro qualifier against Scotland:

GKs: Manuel Neuer (Bayern München), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96)

Defense: Jerome Boateng (Bayern München), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Großkreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Antonio Rüdiger (VfB Stuttgart)

Midfield: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Thomas Müller (Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Arsenal London), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal London), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schürrle (FC Chelsea)

Strikers: Mario Gomez (AC Florenz), Mario Götze (Bayern München)

Source: http://www.rp-online.de/sport/fussball/nationalelf/joachim-loew-nominiert-marco-reus-und-mario-gomez-aid-1.4486829[/b]

[Kick]

Wow, such weak FB spots.

Unless Low plans on continuing Howedes there?

Also, will Neuer be the captain?

[rwo power]

Well, Erik Durm was good for Dortmund. so I guess Jogi Löw will slowly but surely introduce him as LB. Benni Höwedes obviously is still an option, too, even though he seems himself more as a CB.

The captaincy was Lahm - Schweinsteiger - Neuer so far, so I would assume it will become Schweinsteiger - Neuer - Hummels in the future and with Bastian Schweinsteiger injured, Manuel Neuer should IMO wear the armband. Löw hasn't said anything yet, though.

[iftikhar]

I guess this was the best time to change Low. But how can you fix something that ain't broke !!!

[rwo power]

DFB press conference:

Today Oliver Bierhoff and Manuel Neuer will feature in the DFB-PK.


First Oliver Bierhoff talks a bit about the World Cup 2014. Jogi Löw will tell who's his new assistant coach tomorrow.


Manuel Neuer was asked whether he would like to become the new NT captain, but he elegantly evaded the answer.

Live stream: http://tv.dfb.de/video/pk-der-nationalmannschaft-aus-duesseldorf-mit-oliver-bierhoff/9301/

[rwo power]

Today the German NT had a public training in the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf in front of an audience of 45 000 people

Video: http://tv.dfb.de/video/oeffentliches-training-in-duesseldorf/9413/

http://www.dfb.de/news/detail/oeffentliches-training-mit-14-weltmeistern-oezil-reist-spaeter-an-104774/

[rwo power]

DFB Press Conference:

Today Jogi Löw will feature in the DFB-PK.



As Hansi Flick ist the new sport director of the DFB, Löw needs a new assistant coach. The new assistant coach will be Thomas Schneider from VfB Stuttgart.

Löw thanks Philipp Lahm, Miro Klose and Per Mertesacker, and says that while he regrets their departure, it is also a chance for new players.

Bastian Schweinsteiger will be the new captain of the German NT for the next two years (as Löw only plans until then for now). Spielerrat (="players'  council"): Manuel Neuer, Sami Khedira, Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels. Against Argentina, Manuel Neuer will wear the armband. For now there will be no explicit vice captain, but when Bastian Schweinsteiger can't play, one of the player council will step in.

Jogi Löw states that he will not let every player play every game as he wants to give them the chance to rest a bit as they didn't have a proper pre-season and he he doesn't want to risk them to burn out and get injured.

Jogi Löw states that it was great that all players played for the team in the World Cup and that he specifically thanked each of the players who didn't play as they fully supported the team as well and didn't stir up unrest when not chosen to play.

Mario Gomez will become the successor of Miro Klose in the NT as Jogi Löw values him greatly.

Live stream: http://tv.dfb.de/video/pk-der-nationalmannschaft-aus-duesseldorf-mit-joachim-loew/9302/

[rwo power]

Germany vs Argentina
Friendly match in Düsseldorf, 03 Sep 2014

Germany: Neuer (c) - Großkreutz, Höwedes, Ginter, Durm - Kramer, T.Kroos - Schürrle, Reus, Draxler - Gomez

Spoiler:

Subs:
34. Podolski  for Draxler
46. Weidenfeller for Neuer
57. T.Müller for Schürrle
58. M.Götze for Gomez
71. Rudy for T.Kroos
77. Rüdiger for Höwedes

Argentina: Romero, - Zabaleta, F.Fernandez, Demichelis, Rojo - Mascherano (c) - Perez, Biglia - di Maria, Aguero, Lamela

Spoiler:

Subs:
46. Augusto for Perez
68. Gago for Lamela
77. Campagnaro for Zabaleta
80. Andujar for Romero  
83. Gaitan for Aguero
85. R.Alvarez for di Maria

Goals:
0:1 - Aguero (21., assist by di Maria)
0:2 - Lamela (40., assist by di Maria)
0:3 - F. Fernandez (47., assist by di Maria)
0:4 - di Maria (50., assist by Mascherano)
1:4 - Schürrle (52., assist by T. Kroos)
2:4 - M. Götze (78.)

FT - Germany 2:4 Argentina


Several players are out for the Scotland game:

Julian Draxler got injured (muscle strain in the thigh) and can't play against Scotland on Sunday. Mats Hummels, Mesut Özil and Jérôme Boateng very likely won't be able to play either. Jogi Löw will call up some additional players for the Scotland match due to these injuries/problems. (Sami Khedira already arrived with an injury and was out right from the start.)

[VivaStPauli]

All woes aside, at least Rüdiger looked good, and despite not finishing, ironically, Gomez looks like he improved his first touch a tad, I actually liked what I saw from him, bar the finishing, which we know he has down, but the poor guy had basically zero match practice.

I want him to start again versus Scotland.

Hummels and Boateng missing is horrible, though. But I guess Ginter and Höwedes/Rüdiger could cover far better, if they played together a bit more. Where the defense really fell apart was in the midfield, no Khedira, no Piggy, no Gündogan - that's just not how we win matches.

[rwo power]

Well, the whole team needs some time and games to gel. One can't expect a bunch of youngsters who only had three days (!) to learn to play together to be world beaters right away.

But the loss of practically the whole defense (Lahm retired, Hummels and Boateng injured, Höwedes moved around again) and Midfield is of course not easy to cope with. I hope this will suffice against Scotland anyway.

BTW, Jogi Löw called up Schalke's Sidney Sam for SCotland.

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