Friendlies

[Myrmecophile]

I´ve concidered Germany better than netherlands for a long time. They are both top teams, but Germany has in my opinion been totaly awesome ever since 2006, they´ve just lacked some luck.

Well, no, they've just not been good enough.

[FCBarca]

Well, no, they've just not been good enough.

Yep...But now, they are formidable

[gingerless]

germany only score sweaty goals

[Trillske]

Well, no, they've just not been good enough.

Keep your opinions yours, its a terrible thing to lose.

[Myrmecophile]

Keep your opinions yours, its a terrible thing to lose.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

In '08 and '10 they were good but not good enough. Spain beat them fairly comfortably both times without luck. In other words, Germany were not unlucky or controversially put out of the tournament they just came up against a superior team. I don't see how anyone can disagree with this

[gingerless]

i think he means they were unlucky in the sense that they versed a better team and got outplayed

amirite?

[Myrmecophile]

Not being as good is not down to luck it's just quality shining through. Right?

[Trillske]

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

In '08 and '10 they were good but not good enough. Spain beat them fairly comfortably both times without luck. In other words, Germany were not unlucky or controversially put out of the tournament they just came up against a superior team. I don't see how anyone can disagree with this

Spain was better, their defense was out of this world both euro 08 and wc 10.
Its just that I never mentioned anything about spain.

In my opinion Germany have jumped between the number 1 and 2 spot for a good while. Netherlands have often been called the second best team in the world after the last wc, and while its a really good team I really dont agree.

[BerkeleyBernie]

A nice open attacking game. I think Netherlands and Germany are about the same, and still the edge to Netherlands. Last night Germany was more patient, pressed better and Holland was a bit sloppy on their passes. No Robben, RVP, Van der Vaart. Excellent movement by Germany, and about perfect with their counterattack aerial game. Netherlands just weren't reading each other well- at least twice on the attack a player let a ball through for another player who was already moving to another position. The intent was excellent, but the timing was a hair off. Many of their moves were excellent, classic Dutch slick passing.

Like Spain's losses/ties in friendlies since WC2010, I wouldn't take this as too representative.

[AnfieldEd]

Alas before 08 and 10 Spain took friendly games far more seriously and far more intensely thus getting their preparation just right.

You keep in losing in friendly matches you lose your momentum and come tournament time it is a struggle to regain that momentum.

[Yugi]

they cant jump out of rythm, 3/4 of the starting XI is playing for the same team and rest are super quality players that fit the system...

[AnfieldEd]

they cant jump out of rythm, 3/4 of the starting XI is playing for the same team and rest are super quality players that fit the system...

Doesn't matter. It is a totally different mind set and different psychology when playing for the national side again. You remember those previous defeats and it becomes harder to regain the momentum once you lose it.

[barcelonista]

Doesn't matter. It is a totally different mind set and different psychology when playing for the national side again. You remember those previous defeats and it becomes harder to regain the momentum once you lose it.

What "momentum"? The Euro Cup doesn't start next week, it begins in 7 months. I don't think Xavi will be psychologically battered then (after lifting a treble ) because Spain drew a match against Costa Rica almost a year ago. The problem of del Bosque not seeing what the whole world sees is the far bigger problem here:

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/11/...ine-euro-2012/

[barcelonista]

Stat of the day.

In the last 4 games Spain scored 8 goals.

- 8 with Busquets as a lone holding midfielder on the pitch.
- 0 with Xabi Alonso on the pitch.

...

[xaviniesta]

Hamburg XI – Ronaldo, Zidane & Friends

featuring former stars like zidane, ronaldo, davids, barthez, makelele, pieres, figo etc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=WaZJTV_koCg
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmy...t=1#from=embed