Comebacks, Line-up Changes, Last-Gasp Goals, A. Shevchenko, El Fenomeno & Samisut Sweetness!

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Ukraine 3  Germany 3 - Comebacks, Line-up Changes & Last-Gasp Goals & Some Andriy Shevchenko Too!
Also: Il Fenomeno (The Original Ronaldo!) Says Something Nice About Mesut!

The Mesuty Match-Report & Spam - Also: Beyond Adorable Samisut Out Of Hamburg!

I thought it would be fun to structure the Mesuty Match Report & Spam around an article in Kicker (thanks to sandrin2008 for the heads-up!) explaining the game, the bizarre tactical plan, said tactical plan's strengths and limitations, and the enigma that is Joachim Loew!

But first -

Il Fenomeno Makes An Observation



Ronaldo at Madrid!


Arguably the world's greatest striker, ever (if not the best player ever). Scorer of two goals in the 2002 final against Germany (and it was impossible to hate the sweet fellow when he did it), and multiple Ballon d'or winner Ronaldo the First made an observation today.

To quote Focus Online:

Mesut Ozil has won himself another superstar as a fan. The three-time world footballer Ronaldo likes the Real Madrid play-maker of the German National Team. "It's obvious. Ozil is the best German player at this moment," says Il Fenomeno. "He plays wonderfully for Real Madrid, is a wonderful player and has a huge future in front of him."


The Mesuty Match-Report & Spam!


Loew's Rearranged 11
Kicker Magazine, November 12
Link to the German
Translated by me, jenny_jenkins

Zieler's Historical Debut, Schmelzer Departs.
Loew's Rearranged (irritierte) 11 Shows Character





It was an interesting game which the German National Team played against the Ukraine in Kiev. With a new system that caused problems for one or other of the players, the three-time World Champions (that's us!) were contributing to their own defeat. The National Team showed character however and salvaged a draw. Debutant Zieler (the goal-keeper) showed himself especially strong of nerve.



Warming up before the game. Zieler (of Hamburg) is in the blue jersey.


The Hanoverian has entered the history books. Since Heinrich Kwiatkowski, no German goalkeeper has had to concede three or more goals. It happened to the 22 year-old Zieler within the first 45 minutes, which is why the coaching staff intervened during the break.


Hugs from the coaching staff before leaving the tunnel.


"He was awfully disappointed during the half," said national coach Joachim Loew. "Because he couldn't stop any of the balls from going in." The national team goalkeeper coach, Andreas Koepke had to prop him up verbally during the break. "You keep your head up" he told Zieler as he set off for the second half. The young man took it to heart.

He made a world-class save from Nazarenko in the 50th minute. In the final minute he rescued the team with a wonderful reflex save from a shot by Devic to prevent defeat. "He did great. We are absolutely satisfied with him," praised Loew.





Zieler himself judged his first appearance in national team dress positively - in spite of the 3 goals. "Of course it's annoying when you concede three goals before half-time. But I told myself during the break that I had to show courage (in German, literally - "go out with a broad chest"). That I managed to hold off that final ball at the end made me very happy, said the 22 year old - though he had imagined his first game with the A-Team "somewhat differently". Some cold comfort: Kwiatkowski had to fetch the ball out of the net some 8 times in his first World Cup duel in 1954 (my grandfather would talk about that game!) - 3:8 against Hungary (we beat them in the final too!).

At the end though the German 11 celebrated their first World Cup.






A Tactical Line-up Makes For Confusion

The German 11 seemed rather distant from a final in the Euro 2012 tournament. Though a three-man defence took the blame. "We didn't practice this system at all. We first heard we'd be playing like that during the team talk before the game," said defender Jerome Boateng, revealing the surprise of the German players over Loew's decision (Löw'sche Entscheidung!).

Quite obviously Loew's plan was to test his player's flexibility. "A good team has to have the ability to play different systems" said Loew.



The armband reads: "We're happy to be coming to the Ukraine in 2012".


However it wasn't only the defensive players - Boateng, Hummels and Badstuber - who seemed overwhelmed by the new floor plan. In the doubly occupied centre of midfield, Ozil and Goetze did not produce the desired effect. Striker Gomez, who led the team out as captain for the first time on Friday night could not produce the desired performance.





Loew's verdict was gracious: "I am very satisfied, though I may be one of the only ones. Two of the three goals came after corner kicks, when all of our defensive players were upfield (note: Boateng, Badstuber and Hummels are all used by their clubs during corner kicks because of their aerial abilities). The third goal was a shot from 30 metres out of nothing. This had nothing to do with a three-man defence. Mistakes happened, but not because we played three in the back.



3-1 down with half an hour to go makes for distraught looking German boys!


Nevertheless, the 51 year old should have realized that his team would be facing difficulties when trying to replace Lahm, Schweinsteiger, and Klose. Also: those in the "second tier" couldn't use their chance to fight for a place in the 2012 squad and probably lost some of their ground (in making a case for inclusion).

The Germans managed a draw after all - in the second half during which they showed their character. The players who were substituted in were responsible. World cup goal-scoring hero Thomas Mueller scored the 3:3 for example.



Mesut & Mario coming off. Loew professed himself pleased with them.
Germany had just scored the second goal off Mesut's corner kick.


Is Klose fit? Schmelzer Departs.

For the classic against the Netherlands on Tuesday evening (20:45 o'clock) in Hamburg, Loew wants to test out a 4-4-2. The precise set-up depends on whether or not Lazio striker Klose is fit. "In the game against Holland we won't be playing with 3 at the back. We'll see whether we can play with two up top. It dpeends on whether or not Miroslav Klose can train on Sunday," says Loew. The former Bayern striker is suffering from a torn tendon but nevertheless travelled to Hamburg with Reus.





Dortmunder Marcel Schmelzer will definitely be missing. The left-back departed the team from the Ukraine for home with a calf-strain.



Lip-biting, nose-swiping, coughing, crinkly-ear arranging, yawning, 
hand-clasping, head-scratching, smiling ado.orablness. This gif has it all!


On the subject of Joachim Loew, another article in Kicker today is entitled "I'm always good for a surprise" a direct Loew quote from after the game.



He's not fussed! Joachim Loew with his espresso: certified GQMF & International Man of Mystery!


The Andriy Shevchenko Corner!

Humour me for a moment, but as some of you will have realized, Andriy Shevchenko is andriy_7's favourite player - hence the user-name! To thank him for his usual relentless work for this post I've decided we should admire the Ukraine's talented number 7 and former great friend of Michael Ballack.

At practice, preparing for "ze Germans" -





During the game (next to Sami Khedira!) -





Celebrating Ukraine's rather pretty first goal (Bonus!Mesut - acting as a sort of centre half) in his number 7 shirt!





Sorry Ukraine couldn't pull it off against Mannschaft bloody-mindedness, my dear! Better luck next time! (But not too much luck if we draw them in the group stages!)


Some Observations

Well it was hardly ideal - giving little Goetze and Mesut their first outing together with such a totally bizarre line-up. Not only was the set-up distinctly weird but seven of the regular starting 11 were missing (Neuer, Mertesacker, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Klose, Mueller & Podolski). There were no wing-backs on the pitch (and no, Aogo doesn't count!) - every defender was a central defender.

There were no pacy wingers. Mueller and Podolski started on the bench. And up front, Mario Gomez was having a night to forget.




So does it work - Mario & Mesut together on the pitch, that is, not a winger-less, full-backless pitch with three in defence? My own verdict: yes, though it isn't likely to be our first choice line-up. Germany was dominating completely before Ukraine scored - and then scored again - entirely against the run of play. Both of Germany's "number tens" were passing delightfully through the lines in my opinion. And Germany scored twice while they were on the pitch together - which, as people forget, is rather difficult to do - the team that scores first normally wins. Germany played it's usual eerily calm game. There was no rush, no panic of any kind, even when down two goals - twice. And Loew refused to tinker with his line-up, keeping it three defenders to the last in what one newspaper has christened "The Kamikaze Line-Up".



From earlier this year - one of Loew's many tactical options in coming months.


And besides, you can always count on Thomas Mueller for a last-gasp goal!

Mesut spent the game looking faintly distraught, as can be seen from the gifs above, but that's hardly new. He always looks distressed while playing!

Update: What's more, in the time it took me to translate the article above and compose this post Sport1 has come out in favour of the "Goetzil" line-up as Bild likes to call it. Thomas Strunz, their reporter, blames the evening's result on an ineffectual Mario Gomez up front. He adds: Trotz der Kritik bin ich der Meinung, dass Mesut Özil und Mario Götze sehr wohl zusammenspielen können.


More Samisut Out Of Hamburg!

The boys just can't stop killing us with their sweetness!

And yes - That is Mesut! Who else spends practices wrestling ever-so-affectionately with Sami Khedira?


What is this wetness on my cheek?



They're killing me softly...everyday!



Oh my goodness! Just look at those smiles!


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Next game on Tuesday against those accursed Orangeman our dearest horrendous, horrible friends the goddamned Dutch in a fight to the death friendly match on Doomsday this coming Tuesday. 

Jenny will break an upper-floor window and slit her own throat with a shard of glass before tossing herself out of the window if we don't pull this off.


Love and kisses and hugs and everything nice for andriy_7  

Post written and researched by me, jenny_jenkins

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