Final Preview
Germany vs. Spain
A simplistic view might profess that we have two countries coming at Sunday’s final from two very different perspectives. While Germany will look to embrace their football history, Spain will be fighting to overcome theirs.   

But, as with many things, the simple view fails to consider the many subtleties at play. For, if Spain is the great under-achiever of European football, then Germany (and the former West Germany) must be the great over-achiever. That may strike some as a strange comment when a scan of the World Cup and European Championship record books show Germany as a six-times winner; runners-up on another six occasions and beaten semi-finalists four times.

When you include Sunday’s final it all adds up to reaching the final four seventeen times from a possible twenty-seven tournaments. And although there have been some outstanding German sides (1970-76 era being a stand out) there are a number of editions that, if described as average, it would be overly generous. It has been the habit of average German teams making it to the latter stages of major tournaments that fits the description of overachievers.

In Germany a side lacking top class talent in all positions isn’t an excuse for failure at the international level. Build a team around what you have, stay organized, wait for the breaks and always fight to the end even though on occasion it may be a bitter one.

And what Germany has had over the last half century or so has been at least one world class player around whom a competitive side could be built. From Fritz Walter to Uwe Seeler, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Mueller, Gunter Netzer, Bernd Schuster, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Mattheus, Jurgen Klinsmann, Mattias Sammer, Steffan Effenberg the mantle was passed until it reached Michael Ballack at the beginning of this decade.

All the German greats with the exception of Uwe Seeler won a major international and/or club trophy during their careers. Sunday may be one of the last chances for Michael Ballack to join them. And nobody is more aware of the need to win a major competition than Ballack. Before the Champions League Final he said, “People remember the trophies you win, not the quarter-finals or the semi-finals.”

He might have added finals as well. In 2002 while with Bayer Leverkusen they lost in the German Cup Final, the Champions League Final and completed a horrible treble by blowing a significant lead in the Bundesliga. Then only a few weeks later Ballack had to undergo the anguish of sitting out the World Cup Final against Brazil after picking up a suspension for bookings. Ironically without Ballack it is doubtful whether a poor German side would have made it to the final match.

After moving to Bayern Munich Ballack never got past the last eight in the Champions League and at the 2006 World Cup Germany lost 2-0 to Italy after the semi final went to extra time. This past season another case of “close but no cigar” with a penalty shoot loss to Manchester United in the Champions League Final in Moscow.

Whether or not Ballack can finally hold aloft a major trophy come the final whistle on Sunday will largely depend on his own performance and that of Torsten Frings. No matter if Joachim Lowe opts to play 4-4-2 with Ballack and Frings centering the midfield four or a 4-2-3-1 (more likely) with Frings offering cover as part of a defensive pairing behind Ballack , Podolski and Schweinsteiger the problem that German must solve is how to disrupt Spain’s rhythm.

Eyebrows may have been raised when Luis Aragones replaced David Villa with Cesc Fabregas (midfielder for a striker)  but it turned out to be an inspired tactical change that only served to to solidify Spain’s solid start to the semifinal.

With Marcos Senna providing the defensive cover the midfield foursome of Iniesta, Xavi, Silva and Fabregas were free to dictate the pace and tempo of the game. Russia had no answer. If Germany is to win the final they have to control the midfield and that involves closing down space and shutting down passing lanes. If they don’t it will be a new reign for Spain and their first international trophy for 44 years. If Germany does it will be one more example of why you should never under estimate an over-achiever.


Comments of the Day
"Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win," - former England forward and now BBC presenter Gary Lineker.

“Sure, it’s going to be easy for us; all we have to do is to beat Sweden who historically have better results than us, down Greece who are the reigning champions and then Russia and all that will be easy,” – Luis Aragones before the group stage.


Stat Facts
1.    Spain is unbeaten in 21 matches (18 wins and three draws) since losing to Romania in November 2006. The Spanish record is 31 matches.  
2.    Aragones is the oldest coach to lead a team to a European Championship Final. He is 69 years and 337 days old on Sunday.
3.    We have already seen 19 goals in the knock stage, that number blows away the 13 goals we were limited to four years ago.
4.    Germany has scored six goals in the quarter and semi final games; all six goals have come from crosses delivered or moves started on the left side.

That was a much better second half. What a performance from Bastien Schweinsteiger - 2 cracking goals and the architect of Petit's own goal.

Did we see Schweinsteiger stepping up to be Germany's new main man. He turns 22 soom while Michael Ballack will soon be 30.

Nuno Gomes goal was also a cracker. Great work from Figo on the wing - what a terric cross.

Argentina will be very happy at how this one stands after 45 minutes. They've held the ball, slowed the game down and taken the sting out of Gemany. When Germany gets the ball in midfield or up front Argentina is shutting them down very quickly and forcing the Germans into mistakes.

Schweinsteiger and Schneider are so occupied with Rodrigues (on the German right) and Tevez and Sorin on the other side, that they are having trouble getting involved in the game going forward.

Argentina is going to play the same way in the second half and wait for their one chance while Germany needs to speed the game up and to start controlling the midfield. If Germany can get the first goal then Argentina will have to move to plan b very quickly and that will give Germany chances on the counter attack. If Germany go 1 up then Messi will be on the park soon after.

I can't see any changes at half time unless someon has picked up a knock.

You certainly know these two have some history - definetly a derby atmosphere.

Poland has a jump about their game that we didn't see when they played Ecuador.

Germany has created three clear cut chances and they may regret these misses if Poland can get their nose if front.

Klose should have put away two relatively easy chances while Podolski should have broken his WC duck.

All these chances have been created from the German left and when - or if - they score it looks like it will come from Lahm and Schweinsteiger on that side.

 

Only seconds left to kick off.

 As an aside - as I made my way to the FSC studios this morning I was informed by the world wide leader in sports (radio version) that the FI-FA (as oppossed to the FE-FA) World Cup kicks off today. Cute or what!

 No surprises for Germany - Ballack on the bench. Germany with a bright start. Good effort from Frings as Costa Rica is caught in possession.

Philipp Lahm turns a negative into a positive. Lahm and Sweinsteiger are both right footed players playing on the left side which makes the German a bit unbalanced. But it does allow Lahm to check back inside onto his right foot and he hits an absolute corker. Great start for Germany.  

Back come the Ticos. Well worked goal from Wanchope. Looks like Friedrich played the striker onside. Suspect defending from Geramny as they are caught very square.

Two goals in first 12 minutes - not a bad start.

Oh yes what a fantastic start to the tournament - another goal. Schweinsteiger given too much space as he arrives late - shot come cross and Klose gets a goalscorers goal. Schweinsteiger could be one of te stars of this tournament. Costa Rico has Gomez playing deep so they are really playing a 4-5-1. However they seem to be dropping back to quickly and giving Germany far too much time on the ball.

The first yellow card of the game to Fonseca but this one has been an easy game so far for the ref.

 The game has settled down - will Germany look to hold what they have or are there more goals? Here's a chance as a Germany get the their first free kick within shooting distance.

Podalski is a bit high with his effort but maybe it will help him get his range should the chance come along. Back to back corners - from the left it was poor - the second more dangerous. Into the last couple of minutes of the half - important time.

Half time arrives and time to take a breather. If Germany continue to push there are more goals in this game. They have the option of shutting the game down but the defense has not looked solid. In fact both back fours look more than capable of driving a coach to drink or beyond.

Underway again... ball drops to Podalski who rips one just over the bar. Corner for Costa Rica and a bit of slack marking allows a free header but the ball goes wide. Germany is starting to press again - the Ticos defense is giving Germany acres of space to work in.

 Coming up to the hour mark and the game is drifting with neither team able to create a clear cut chance. Ooops drifting no longer - Lahm turns provider and Klose score his second. Borowski gives Lahm a clear run to the goal line and this time the full  back crosses on the run with his left peg. Klose gets the header in - the keeper saves but Klose puts the rebound away. 3-1 Germany. We haven't seen as many goals as this in a world Cup opener since 1962 - I think - one more and it will exceed the 62 opener when Chile beat Switzerland 3-1.

Borowski comes off and on comes Sebastian Kehl. I don't he did himself any favours with his display.

Costa Rica back in this one - Friedrich decides to play his own offside trap and gets caught not playing with the other members of the back four as Mertesacker and Metzelder step up and the full back doesn't. Friedrich came into the tournament as a player who plays well north to south but is poor east to west. It's cost Germany two goals. Oh by the way - Wanchope got the goal.

78 minutes - Klose off and Neuville on. Germany create a couple of chances straight away but Costa Rica clear the danger.

Into the last five minutes and Frings has just put this game away. Square ball played into his path and he just put his foot right through the ball. Not bad for a holding midfield player!

 Whistle goes - all Germany celebrates but there will also be a sense of relief. Costa Rica kept it close with their two goals but the German defense looked bad on both of them. Even the slighest bit of pressure indecision spread through the German back four like a bad outbreak of the flu. For the neutrals - six goals is not a bad start and two of them (Lahm and Frings) are earlier contenders for goals of the tournament.

Man of the match for me - Philipp Lahm. A great goal and a good cross for the third one.