I think I'm definitely to blame for last night's fiasco. I was watching with a friend and at 4-0 up I jokingly said "I'm a Germany fan through and through but I have a soft spot for Ibra--I hope he scores just to save face."
30 minutes later...oof. And you know, I don't even worry about results like these--I think it's been clear for a while that Germany have some defensive weaknesses--except for the fact that I love Jogi so much and obviously a result like last night's puts a lot of pressure on him.
Now that that's said...Mesut's goal was a beauty. I'm just so happy for him every time he finds the net for Germany, because his season here in Madrid hasn't been the best (so far...there's still more than enough time for him to get going!).
Nothing but painful draws. (And France were robbed, if the highlights are anything to go by - and then Giroud scored and didn't french kiss anyone - which was a major disappointment).
Germany played like Brazil for 60 minutes (I'm not even kidding) and then fell apart. It was heart-breaking. People are claiming outrage. I just stared at those 11 scared looking boys and watched their legs get heavier and heavier and heavier. I vomited afterwards. I could watch club-football for 50 years and it would never meant the same thing to me as my national team.
I am focusing on the Bison's smile to help me get over it tbh
Yeah, I'm completely pissed off about this England/Poland Situation. We have the 12:45 kickoff Saturday and Lamps and Ash JUST got back from Poland. Grrrrrr
Actually, it works for me. My friend and I are going to Chicago to see the USWNT play Germany on Saturday, so since we're done by 10, we can head out early!
wasn't it heartbreaking? almost worse than italy. I was speechless. i'd gotten up at 2:30 to watch it and during half time i was considering going to bed but decided to stay up, although i had to work in the morning, because it had been THAT PERFECT a game up to that point. and even after halftime, till the 4:2, reall. just brilliant. that second goal with the all the double double passing? oh my. also mesut's goal - amazing.
but then?
is there actually "something wrong" with the team as oliver kahn thinks?
It was one of the worst games I've ever watched from an emotional viewpoint because it had been PERFECT - absolute PERFECTION to that point.
Passing, understanding, automatisms, speed, panache, Spielfreude - everything had been so bloody perfect.
I think the team needs to develop the next stage. They can dance around any penalty area in the world. What they need is that Mourinhesque ability to control games when necessary.
I remember a couple of games last year for Madrid (Rayo, Getafe, Betis, Mallorca etc...) where Madrid really struggled and should have dropped points. But they didn't. They scored a vital goal, or won 1-0 by controlling the match. They may not even have been the best team on the pitch, but they won anyway.
Loew should visit Madrid again - learn how to instill that.
a couple days later it doesnt seem like that much of a desaster to me. i mean, those first 60 minutes were basically brazilian! ive talked to various family members and we all agreed that this may be the wake up call the team needed. even löw said in an interview that despite/because of (?) their PERFECT attacking skills they never paid much attention to their defense, and even Mertesacker admitted that they simly "don't know how to defend". so maybe this was both their best AND their worst game, like a combination of the games against argentina and england in 2010 and the tragic italy loss. next time they're ahead that way they'll remember to keep going till the end. maybe.
What the team have to learn is not to defend (though that would be nice too) they have to learn to avoid even having to defend, or re-think defending. Loew stresses a game that presses high up the pitch and recovers the ball high up the pitch and for 60 minutes they did it perfectly. It's its own form of defence. Sweden has no ball: they can't pass, they can't score. If they get the ball, they are forced to pass in front of their own six yard area.
Last year, even when they weren't the "best" team, Madrid won the league. And they did it by scoring first, and then controlling the match.
yeah you're right, I think that's exactly what Löw's plan is, being so brilliant at attacking and pressing you don't need to defend. if they manage that, they're just perfect. i still think some decent defending would be nice, but maybe even more importantly the ability to turn a game around and regain control in situations like these. i don't think I've ever really seen them recover from a shock like that second swedish goal, or mario balotelli's topless goal celebration. ;)
but maybe this is the right moment for some key realizations??? löw's interview where he admits some mistakes made me sort of hopeful. did you see it?
Sami's is not very active. He does less online, is written up less, and gets many, many fewer match spams because making them for defensive midfielders is too difficult.
"I could watch club-football for 50 years and it would never mean the same thing to me as my national team."
I couldn't have said it any better; honestly that is exactly how i feel.
Problem is i never really find people who prefer country over club, so its nice when i find that i am not alone. What makes it even worse (and baffling to people) is that i am not German, i have absolutely no affiliations with Germany; yet i absolutely love everyone involved with the German NT from regulars to substitutes, the coaching staff, the PR/management people ...... my devotion to this team is at times ridiculous.
IMO the main draw of the German NT (and Spain too although i think the German style of play is less boring) they are able to draw people in from different walks of life because of the way they play, and no Germant NT has had as much of an impact on me as this current one has (they are just so effing entertaining, i mean like you said those first 60 minutes were as close to perfection as any team could get).
As such i realy hope Jogi gets his act together and starts fixing stuff because I don't want him to leave without winning something with this team and this group of players, it was his philosophy that brought this new fresh approach to German football and i think he is due for a just reward. He has managed to revitalise the mifield and attacking options but still has to fix that which has long been broken .... the German defense, and he has to because then i honeslty think the German NT will become unstoppable.
I feel exactly the same way about this team. And I am not German either (although I have strong roots!). But I look forward to watching them play more than ANYONE else- even meaningless friendlies. I don't know for sure if it's just because of the players involved, the style, the history, the ANGST of it all, Jogi,... I think it's everything combined, like you said. I'm still fairly new to this devotion (I didn't really even watch Germany in the WC because I was told to be a Spain fan!) but the love I feel runs very deep already. Following them through the Euro was the most exciting experience for me as a "new" football fan. And the disappointment at the end was absolutely crushing. But that's how I knew I'd indeed found "my team".
So this happens when I'm not wearing my NT jersey ... um, sorry?
Well, I decided to thoroughly enjoy the first 60 minutes and blame aliens for the rest. I have no other explanation for whatever happened yesterday. Also, I'm still bitter that I didn't get my Samisut hug.
What I noticed in this picture... the narrowed eyes of determination. -.-
I was so sad he had to come away from this match feeling so disappointed. Especially after scoring that goal. I missed 6 of the 8, but at least found some consolation in the fact that his was one I got to see.
Aww, seeing Mes walking off the field as soon as he could. :\ So disappointed, when he had played so well. Like he was angry about every missed opportunity.
Urghhh. Still trying to understand what happened. Germany are still sitting on top of their group nevertheless. But that result really sucked. Congrats to the Swedes who now have a new national holiday in their calendar. In fact, it was that ridiculously bad, it was somehow funny.
Not even me, who's swedish, felt happy about this. From a Swedish point of view it was truly horrible to watch the first 60 minutes (Well ok, I felt pretty good about it since I'm all about team Germany). Sweden played TERRIBLE, and the germanans played really well, and I'm surprised they didn't score more goals. Hamréns strategy to let the germans run freely on the edges... I don't see that working against any team, especially not a strong german team who just won with a 6-1 victory. Just stupid. After Ibras goal I thought to myself "Well if anyone can score a pity goal it has to be him" and then the goals just ratteled in. I mean, sure Sweden played better the 30 last minutes, but they didn't play THAT well. Well at least the result made this group a little bit more interesting (for now at least...)
no subject
Date: 2012-10-17 09:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-17 09:36 pm (UTC)30 minutes later...oof. And you know, I don't even worry about results like these--I think it's been clear for a while that Germany have some defensive weaknesses--except for the fact that I love Jogi so much and obviously a result like last night's puts a lot of pressure on him.
Now that that's said...Mesut's goal was a beauty. I'm just so happy for him every time he finds the net for Germany, because his season here in Madrid hasn't been the best (so far...there's still more than enough time for him to get going!).
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Date: 2012-10-17 09:39 pm (UTC)Don't blame yourself!
I am taking the philosophical view - and only watching the first 60 minutes!
They played like bleedin' Brazil for an hour. Mental frailty can be got over - and so can defensive mistakes.
Frankly, it just shows how important the "Sami" part of the Samisut is to the team.
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Date: 2012-10-17 09:49 pm (UTC)Truer words have never been spoken.
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Date: 2012-10-20 09:46 pm (UTC)Exactly. Everyone's going around "How could they not win?" Well, um, we have the answer to that question...
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Date: 2012-10-17 09:58 pm (UTC)*fondles ears*
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Date: 2012-10-17 10:12 pm (UTC)Also: his teammates seem more likely to ruffle his hair during celebrations!
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Date: 2012-10-17 10:14 pm (UTC)I missed all the football yesterday. *sad*
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Date: 2012-10-17 10:18 pm (UTC)Germany played like Brazil for 60 minutes (I'm not even kidding) and then fell apart. It was heart-breaking. People are claiming outrage. I just stared at those 11 scared looking boys and watched their legs get heavier and heavier and heavier. I vomited afterwards. I could watch club-football for 50 years and it would never meant the same thing to me as my national team.
I am focusing on the Bison's smile to help me get over it tbh
no subject
Date: 2012-10-17 10:49 pm (UTC)Yeah, I'm completely pissed off about this England/Poland Situation. We have the 12:45 kickoff Saturday and Lamps and Ash JUST got back from Poland. Grrrrrr
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Date: 2012-10-17 10:58 pm (UTC)Sucks. You'll have to be up too early!
I have to check when Arsenal are playing...
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Date: 2012-10-17 11:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-17 11:59 pm (UTC)Lira shouldn't be there though...injured.
:(
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Date: 2012-10-18 12:23 am (UTC)Mostly I'm going to feed my Hope Solo obsession. My friend lusts after Alex Morgan :D
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Date: 2012-10-18 12:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-18 12:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-17 11:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-17 11:01 pm (UTC)<3
no subject
Date: 2012-10-18 07:24 am (UTC)but then?
is there actually "something wrong" with the team as oliver kahn thinks?
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Date: 2012-10-18 07:28 am (UTC)Passing, understanding, automatisms, speed, panache, Spielfreude - everything had been so bloody perfect.
I think the team needs to develop the next stage. They can dance around any penalty area in the world. What they need is that Mourinhesque ability to control games when necessary.
I remember a couple of games last year for Madrid (Rayo, Getafe, Betis, Mallorca etc...) where Madrid really struggled and should have dropped points. But they didn't. They scored a vital goal, or won 1-0 by controlling the match. They may not even have been the best team on the pitch, but they won anyway.
Loew should visit Madrid again - learn how to instill that.
And Sami should NEVER be injured.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-25 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-25 02:37 am (UTC)It's all true.
What the team have to learn is not to defend (though that would be nice too) they have to learn to avoid even having to defend, or re-think defending. Loew stresses a game that presses high up the pitch and recovers the ball high up the pitch and for 60 minutes they did it perfectly. It's its own form of defence. Sweden has no ball: they can't pass, they can't score. If they get the ball, they are forced to pass in front of their own six yard area.
Last year, even when they weren't the "best" team, Madrid won the league. And they did it by scoring first, and then controlling the match.
This is why Sami is so important!
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Date: 2012-10-25 02:48 am (UTC)but maybe this is the right moment for some key realizations??? löw's interview where he admits some mistakes made me sort of hopeful. did you see it?
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Date: 2012-10-25 02:49 am (UTC)The youtube channel "wholelottaloew" is great!
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Date: 2012-10-25 02:55 am (UTC)i'm looking for it on DFB.de. so far no luck BUUUTTTTTTTT i found THIIIIIS:
http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=511739&tx_dfbnews_pi1[showUid]=37705&&tx_dfbnews_pi1[article_page]=1&tx_dfbnews_pi4[cat]=178&type=
sami's little brother!
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Date: 2012-10-25 02:57 am (UTC)Awwwww...
I'll post it at
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Date: 2012-10-25 02:59 am (UTC)but then, how will i ever get any work done ever again???!!
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Date: 2012-10-25 03:27 am (UTC)It's updated, if at all, about once a week.
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Date: 2012-10-25 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-25 02:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-25 02:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-25 02:57 am (UTC)the interview:http://www.goal.com/de/news/829/dfb-team/2012/10/22/3469513/joachim-l%C3%B6w-ich-muss-mir-auch-an-die-eigene-nase-fassen
no subject
Date: 2012-10-25 02:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-18 09:00 am (UTC)I couldn't have said it any better; honestly that is exactly how i feel.
Problem is i never really find people who prefer country over club, so its nice when i find that i am not alone. What makes it even worse (and baffling to people) is that i am not German, i have absolutely no affiliations with Germany; yet i absolutely love everyone involved with the German NT from regulars to substitutes, the coaching staff, the PR/management people ...... my devotion to this team is at times ridiculous.
IMO the main draw of the German NT (and Spain too although i think the German style of play is less boring) they are able to draw people in from different walks of life because of the way they play, and no Germant NT has had as much of an impact on me as this current one has (they are just so effing entertaining, i mean like you said those first 60 minutes were as close to perfection as any team could get).
As such i realy hope Jogi gets his act together and starts fixing stuff because I don't want him to leave without winning something with this team and this group of players, it was his philosophy that brought this new fresh approach to German football and i think he is due for a just reward. He has managed to revitalise the mifield and attacking options but still has to fix that which has long been broken .... the German defense, and he has to because then i honeslty think the German NT will become unstoppable.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-18 12:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-25 02:38 am (UTC)<3
no subject
Date: 2012-10-17 10:02 pm (UTC)Well, I decided to thoroughly enjoy the first 60 minutes and blame aliens for the rest. I have no other explanation for whatever happened yesterday. Also, I'm still bitter that I didn't get my Samisut hug.
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Date: 2012-10-18 07:29 am (UTC)at last, an explanation. :-)
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Date: 2012-10-18 02:14 am (UTC)I was so sad he had to come away from this match feeling so disappointed. Especially after scoring that goal. I missed 6 of the 8, but at least found some consolation in the fact that his was one I got to see.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-20 09:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-18 08:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-18 01:07 pm (UTC)From a Swedish point of view it was truly horrible to watch the first 60 minutes (Well ok, I felt pretty good about it since I'm all about team Germany).
Sweden played TERRIBLE, and the germanans played really well, and I'm surprised they didn't score more goals. Hamréns strategy
to let the germans run freely on the edges... I don't see that working against any team, especially not a strong german team who just won with a 6-1 victory. Just stupid.
After Ibras goal I thought to myself "Well if anyone can score a pity goal it has to be him" and then the goals just ratteled in. I mean, sure Sweden played better the 30 last minutes, but they didn't play THAT well.
Well at least the result made this group a little bit more interesting (for now at least...)