QF: Germany vs Italy (July 2nd)

Of course the Germans are superior, they always are, and they will certainly beat the Italians.

I've watched enough Germany vs Italy games to know that Italy wins 80% of them, no matter what.

I do not why this is, because on paper they're usually well matched... but it's just how shit is.

Italy's kinda meh lineup gives me an even worse feeling.

Well, Italy are our bestia azzurra ^^

Also, having no class striker against Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli... I mean I trust in Godmez, but goddamn if he isn't he going to have a tough day.

Only hope is a Mueller ghost run, with an actual good first touch, and then one of those outside the foot finishes

But most likely it will be a Khedira lost ball, Rossi passes to Giaccherini, who centers to Eder, scores: after Germany having 70% possession and Buffon Stalingradin' the shit out of his goalpost.

Katy Perry wrote:

Hapless_Hans wrote:No need to talk about it. We are done. Finished. It's over.

I'm sorry, I'm out of the loop. Can you elaborate on your reasoning behind your pessimism?

Neuer > Buffon
Kimmich < Florenzi
Boateng > Barzagli
Hummels > Bonucci
Hector < Chiellini
Kroos > De Rossi
Khedira > Parolo
Draxler < Giaccherini
Oezil > Candreva
Mueller > Eder
Gomez > Pellè

It's pretty clear to me how vast your superiority is. 8 out of 11 players are flat out better. Stats don't lie.

Conte > Low

Very interesting it is gonna be. Both are high on confidence.

Italians will take care of them arrogant germans.Their mediocre "Pirlo" Toni Kroos needs to be man markes and shut down.Same goes for Ozil and Muller,especially Muller must be kept out the box.As for Gomez he can man mark himself,he's just a little clueless kid against BBC.
As for Kimmich and Hector in wings I'm not worried,they are decent to say the least,if Italy managed to shut down Jordi Alba and Juanfran it should be easier with them inexperienced players.

Germany is head & shoulders above Italy in total quality team,with Italy winning on defesive side and Germans winning in attack and mid options.

I expect a similar strategy like vs. Spain but I think changes should be made in attack.As much as Eder gives in pitch,he's simply too limited to play against Hummels and Boateng.Pelle does good,he's physicaly good and wins lots of aeral duels but he's so damn slow.
Anyway I was hoping for this football classic to happen,even with a Italy without Marchisio & Verrati it would be much better than Germany vs. Spain.

juvealbanian wrote:Their mediocre "Pirlo" Toni Kroos needs to be man markes and shut down.

Pretty ironic comment considering it was Löw's decision to have Kroos man mark Pirlo that messed up our 2012 Euro encounter

*sighs*

Pretty simple against Italy: You can't let them get a lead. If they can sit back and protect a lead, they're lethal. So if I'm Germany, I'm more cautious. Let Italy have the ball and try to create play as opposed to counter attacking. I don't think they can create play against a set defense.

But Low is too arrogant and not good enough of a manager to be this pragmatic.

ITALY has been impressive

the way they defend, the way they create chances is extreme special

I bet on ITALY winning this tournament

Stop with scrub italys hype ffs. The end is near. Muller's about to open it up. 3-1 Germans will get revenge.

Sushi Master wrote:Also, having no class striker against Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli... I mean I trust in Godmez, but goddamn if he isn't he going to have a tough day.

Only hope is a Mueller ghost run, with an actual good first touch, and then one of those outside the foot finishes

But most likely it will be a Khedira lost ball, Rossi passes to Giaccherini, who centers to Eder, scores: after Germany having 70% possession and Buffon Stalingradin' the shit out of his goalpost.

Yes, it would be great if we could bring Paolo Rossi back!

Meh. Watching back Spain Italy, it's not that great of a game. Italy are not that good really. They are compact and well drilled, but they are still a mediocre team.
But yeah, Chiellini etc of course are GOATs for keeping ultimate scrubs Nolito, Morata and Aduriz at bay

I've changed my minds. I won't make a fuzz about the silly supposed Italy curse. We'll beat them, and we'll beat them comprehensively. 2-1.

You truthfully don't believe that Italy vs. Spain was not a masterclass from Italy?

I mean it wasn't perfect, in the second half there were about 15-25 minutes of intense Spain pressure but that was a beautiful approach from Italy. Of course I'm biased, but you're the first person I've seen criticize that performance.

Good performance no doubt, but that Spain team is devoid of any spirit.
Let's not forget van Gaal's Holland team thrashed them.

Repeat:
Van Gaal. Holland

Basically this yesterday was like a First Division team who can't be arsed meeting a highly motivated and compact 2nd Division side in a cup game.

And yes, I just compared Italy to a 2nd division team.

So because Spain was bested by Holland in the World Cup of 2014, it diminishes Italy beating them in 2016... but Spain also beat Italy in the 2012 final 4-0, but I guess the Holland game definitely cancels that out.

I mean Italy also beat Germany as you say, comprehensively, in the 2012 Euro. I guess Saturday will be easier than I thought. I mean before I thought it was going to be a very difficult match, but now it all fits together.

Whenever there is a Germany - Italy, the Italian community in Germany ( my sister lives in Nuremberg ) live it with apprehension .
Basically it'd be better  Never playing this match , because  " if we lose,  then the German ppl will make laugh of us forver " .

This reflects a different attitude of two ppl ( infact I don't get how Fuusball is the king of reverse jinx. probably Neapolitans origins . Time to change nick ffs )

: before of every Germany-Italy, the German fans usually act as "arrogant" , convinced to win  this , while Italians are fearful and under an underdog spirit.

Source :



Now ... It was being the contrary now, because the last 2 matches have created a different awareness

German fans fear Italy and not act as " we are going to win it definitely " , Italians look like optimist for it .
It was going to worry myself.

But then Hap restored the balance

Hapless_Hans wrote:Good performance no doubt, but that Spain team is devoid of any spirit.
Let's not forget van Gaal's Holland team thrashed them.

Repeat:
Van Gaal. Holland

Basically this yesterday was like a First Division team who can't be arsed meeting a highly motivated and compact 2nd Division side in a cup game.

And yes, I just compared Italy to a 2nd division team.

I might even say Germany being Germany just with Slovakia ( and , we 're talking about Slovakia ) anyway

I've seen you against Ukrain and Poland, and well, not impressed tbh . Ukraina was crap yet dominated the whole first time agaisnt you
if Germany it's unbeaten , it was because of Boateng ... and Milik

Lmao Robes

I feel that too. In every Germany vs. Italy match up I've experienced it's been "100% Germany will win", and then the match is played

Not in Germany though, there's always the collective "awww shit" going through the media. I know what you mean though, on forums like this, the international community, mixed through and through and english-speaking always acts like the Germans will win these ties easily.

Us Germans, though... We know that you should never be happy to have to face Italy.

I guess it's just where I've grown up then, but then again, where I've grown up there's a bunch of fans who only show up during major tournaments. They decorate their cars with flags of the countries they support and for the next month they don't shut up, and for some reason every non-Italian is against Italy

Anyways, as for the game. 2012 stands out as a game that Germany really got it wrong against Italy, as it was one they should have done better in. I don't know if it will be the same case on Saturday, I'm hoping it will be naturally.

Germany definitely played their best game against Slovakia and their attack really started to shine in that game for moments. I'm not too worried about Gomez against our defense if its him that starts. Muller, Ozil, Kroos, Khedira and Draxler (if he plays how he did against Slovakia), worry me most. As already pointed out, Germany has more quality than Italy but we have heart

Can't wait for this game, I think I'm going to re-watch the 2012 and 2006 meetings before then, if I can find them online.

Very possible that De Rossi misses the game, with Motta injured that throws all plans out the window.

If he doesn't make it, the 2 rumored options are Sturaro as a pure DM or switching to a 3-4-3 with Parlo and Giaccherini still in the middle, probably Darmian and De Sciglio wide, with I guess Bernardeschi (Candreva is also out) and Eder/Insigne flanking Pelle. The 3-4-3 sounds alright, but it was also the formation Italy payed against Germany in the friendly were we got hammered before the tournament. I should say that it also had Montolivo-Motta in the middle which is just a disaster, plus a makeshift defense (not BBC) that included Darmian as a CB.

I would also be fine (maybe even happier) with Bonucci playing there and Ogbonna in the center of the defense. Although maybe its best not to mess with the back 3 that work so well together.

I think a midfield 3 is quite necessary against Germany. It will be a massive blow if De Rossi is not available.

Sturaro will be servicable at the very least, its Germany, you can chuck in Migliaccio and Italy would still win

I lived in both Mannheim and Heidelberg as a kid, and I remember the locals were always convinced they would win any football match against any other national team. Maybe things have changed, but I doubt it.