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.
Very little in this one. Germany is clearly the fitter team but they haven't turned that advantage into many clear cut chances. Podolski got free on one but Buffon saved.
If Italy is going to score it looks most likley to come from catching the German back four square.
After conceeding two early goals, having a player sent off in the first half and missing a second half penalty it is fair to say that Sweden has seen a better day than this.
Kudos the Germany - they hit Sweden with everything but the kitchen sink early on and deservedly scored twice.
The running and movement from Klose and Podolski was exceptional and the German midfield dominated large portions of the game. Frings has had an excellent tournament so far.
For Sweden a place in the last 16 is probably a fair outcome. It will probably be Henrik Larsson's last international appearance and it is a pity that such a fantastic player missed a penalty in his final game.
Germany just blew the doors off this one in the first 15 minutes. Podolski gets two well worked goals and then Lucic's sending off has put this game beyond the reach of Sweden.
Germany killed this game off early. Simply put - Ecuador just did not turn up for this one. Whether this was down to being overawed, the changes they made, or just taking a day off - who knows.
Schneider, Frings, Ballock, and Schweinsteiger ran the midfield and Klose and Podolski were given far too much room to operate. The pass from Ballack - played with backspin - to set up Klose for the second goal was a peach.
I would not underestimate the value of Podolski's goal. When goal scorers are not scoring it affects the rest of their game and I think we could now see more goals from him. The standard of Group A was poor.
However, three wins will have boosted German confidence and as had been said on many occasions - you can only beat what is in front of you. Defensively there are still questions about Germany. One day Huth will become a very good centre back but I do not think at present he is close to the finished article.Fragile might be the best description.
Ecuador will really have to pick their performance up whether they play Sweden or more likely England.
Under the category of "why don't you let sleeping dogs lie but what the hell I'll ask anyway". The "challenge" by Valencia on Ballack around the 50th minute mark looked "strikingly" similar to Mastroeni’s challenge that he was red carded for on Saturday. Valencia received a yellow.
Germany killed this game off early. Simply put - Ecuador just did not turn up for this one. Whether this was down to being overawed, the changes they made, or just taking a day off - who knows.
Schneider, Frings, Ballock, and Schweinsteiger ran the midfield and Klose and Podolski were given far too much room to operate.
The pass from Ballack - played with backspin - to set up Klose for the second goal was a peach.
I would not underestimate the value of Podolski's goal. When goal scorers are not scoring it affects the rest of their game and I think we could now see more goals from him.
The standard of Group A was poor. However, three wins will have boosted German confidence and as had been said on many occasions - you can only beat what is in front of you.
Defensively there are still questions about Germany. One day Huth will become a very good centre back but I do not think at present he is close to the finished article.Fragile might be the best description.
Ecuador will really have to pick their performance up whether they play Sweden or more likely England.
Under the category of "why don't you let sleeping dogs lie but what the hell I'll ask anyway".
The "challenge" by Valencia on Ballack around the 50th minute mark looked "strikingly" similar to Mastroeni’s challenge that he was red carded for on Saturday. Valencia received a yellow. Anyone see a marked difference in the challenge?
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