Portugal vs. Germany
I expect this to be really cagey. Big Phil and Cristiano have both tried their best to scuttle Portugal's chances with their extra-curricular activities. But both Portugal and Germany put in pretty labored performances in their most recent outings.
posted by gooner71 @ 7:50 AM
123 Comments:
Right, this is when it starts to get serious. And we've got a cracker of a first quarterfinal - Portugal vs. Germany, which many pundits were predicting as a semi-final fixture. It could be a cagey affair, as Gooner mentioned, but someone's got to go home.
Here are the sides for today:
Portugal: Ricardo, Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira, Petit, Joao Moutinho, Ronaldo, Deco, Simao, Nuno Gomes
Subs: Nuno, Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Fernando Meira, Raul Meireles, Hugo Almeida, Miguel, Jorge Ribeiro, Quaresma, Veloso, Nani, Postiga
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Rolfes, Ballack, Hitzlsperger, Klose, Podolski
Subs: Enke, Adler, Jansen, Fritz, Westermann, Frings, Gomez, Neuville, Trochowski, Borowski, Odonkor, Kuranyi
Portugal are unchanged from the side that started the tournament after the second team disappointed against Poland the other day.
Whereas there are three changes to the German side. Frings is out for the tournament, so Rolfes has replaced him. And Low has decided to go with Hitzelsperger and Schweinsteiger. I wonder if the Germans will be taking long potshots at Ricardo, then?
Adding to the usual drama of a big European international are two further subplots:
1. After having been sent off by the overly fussy ref the other day, Joachim Low will be consigned to the stands again today.
2. After the pitch was wrecked by a rainly slogfest the other night, FIFA ordered it replaced. It looks as patchy as the parquet at Boston Garden. Neither side is happy with it.
My prediction for today? Never bet against the Germans when it comes to the latter stages of tournaments. Germany to go through and I wouldn't be surprised by penalties either.
Has anyone else noticed that FIFA has chosen The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" as the theme for the team walkouts? An odd choice that, but the fans seem to have taken to it and they're roaring along with it at this point.
The big change up front for the Germans is that my worst player of the tournament Mario Gomez is out and Podolski has been pushed forward alongside Klose.
Lucas Podolski gives Simao a "welcome to the match" love tap and gets a bollocking from the referee.
Ronaldo's first action there. He ran down the side and crossed straight into Mad Jens's arms. They'll take that all day long.
The pitch seems to be holding up with both teams taking time to stroke it about for a bit and test out the surface.
There seem to be four Germans crowding Ronaldo every time he gets the ball.
Good passing move from the Germans ends with a foul by Deco on Ballack. First chance from a free kick here...
Hitzelsperger hits it from forty yard straight into the bottom of the wall. A bit ambitious and wasteful.
Hitzelsperger finds some space from a throw in and tries to beat Ricardo from an acute angle. No lack of confidence in this boy.
The Germans have had a bright start here.
Schweinsteiger's providing some decent width here for the Germans.
This has certainly been a more open first fifteen minutes than I'd expected. Both sides have had a couple of half chance, the latest there for Nuno Gomes who nearly latched onto a cross from Boswinga.
Ronaldo has started to roam about the pitch looking for the ball. The Germans have done a nice job shutting him down so far.
Deco picked out Simao well but he took it too wide and then tried to beat Lehman at the near post.
Schweinsteiger's exposing Paolo Ferreira's weakness on the left side, but then took too long to cross it.
So, how has it been.
You said that it was a bright start from the Germans
Another nice move there from the Portuguese but Friedrich just nicked the ball off Ronaldo's toe in the area. Great tackle!
The pitch looks a little iffy
Oooh, he should have put that away
A good chance there for Joao Moutinho there from another great cross from Boswinga. In the end, he couldn't make his mind up whether to volley it or head it and just kind of kneed it over the bar. Best chance of the match.
GOAL!!!!!
Welcome, Dave. Yeah, I think the Germans have just edged it so far but that chance for Joao Moutinho is the best that there's been. The Germans have four players round the new Real Madrid man Ronaldo every time he touches the ball.
nice goal
GOAL! Schweinsteiger! Great move down the left ends with Podolski crossing to the Pig Sticker who sticks it in the net.
Germany 1-0!
Shut it with your Ronny comments
Andy's right that Paolo Ferreira's been exposed. He's played out of position in this team and he just let Schweinsteiger get into the danger area there.
You sound like Sir Trev last summer talking about how Tevez was going to be loyal to Upton Park. Erm, no, he's not. Money talks and players walk.
He is not going anywhere!!1
That goal should open up the game nicely.
Petit picks up the first yellow card of the match and gives the Germans a tasty free kick opportunity.
Two nil!!!!
Where was the marking????
Klose with the nice header
GOAL! Klose pops in the second German goal from the resulting free kick. The Portuguese defenders totally lost him and he was left with an easy header from three yards out.
Germany 2-0!
Can the guys in red come back from this?
Come on, Andy! You can't expect a player like Ronaldo to be marking up at a corner. That's not what he's meant to do. He's meant to be at the center of the Portuguese midfield "silk factory." (I like that metaphor).
Ron going down like a sack of spuds
I still think there are plenty of goals to come. This could get really good.
So what's the reception at Old Trafford for Cronaldo when he returns in a Real Madrid kit next season?
The German crowd having a good sing-song with "Deutschland Uber Alles." They haven't had this much fun since the Nuremburg Rally.
Andy is talking like he played.
He would have dived at someone's foot to head that in
SHUT IT!!!
More pretty play there from the Portuguese but it's cleared out for a corner.
That's definitely his commentary style. Every time a striker goes up for a header, you can almost hear him jumping out of his chair in the studio to bash it in.
The Portuguese have had a lot space down their right
Wby did Nuno Gomez go down there??
Was Nuno Gomes hauled down there? I'd like to see that again. If he wasn't, then he should get a yellow for his efforts.
I agree, the Germans are weak on the right. Philip Lahm is great going forward but he leaves big gaps at the back.
Go on, Bollocks, have a crack!
Why are the Portuguese even bothering to play crosses in. Deco's never going to beat the likes of Mertesacker in the air, is he?
More Andy Gray brilliance - "you tell me why that challenge would put you on the ground for any length of time?"
I agree with him - teams should just start playing on.
Portugal get one back!!!
Ron should have buried it before hand
GOAL! Nuno Gomes said he would score before the match and he's done it!
Nice move from right to left, leaves Ronaldo alone one on one. He should have done better against Lehman but Nuno Gomes has hit the target with the parry.
Germany 2 Portugal 1!
Totally agree with you about players going down
I'm really tired of this rubbishy anthem that they're playing after each goal. It's nearly as bad as the lame pop songs they play at MLS games to pump up the crowd.
The Winner of this match has to be favorites for the Final
What do you think about Incey going to Ewood Park?
Ooh, Ballack nearly beat Ricardo at the near post there.
Yeah, you'd think so, although Croatia have been surprisingly good.
Nuno Gomes becomes the fourth player to score at three different European Championships.
Who are the other three?
Good move for the Guvnor going to Ewood Park.
Ron goes close but it is half time.
Good half
Half-time: Germany 2-1.
Terrific match so far. More of the same please. This could easily go either way at this point. Surely there will be more goals in the second half.
Second half starting up...no changes as of yet.
Joachim Low looks like a bad schoolboy who's been put in the corner.
What on earth is going on with Ronaldo now? He looks absolutely epileptic!
Lahm dwells on the ball and picks up a yellow for hauling down Simao.
I missed it. The boys were looking at the goals
Hitzelsperger gathered a lovely cross ball from Klose but he snatched at his shot and it sails over the bar.
He was trying to con the ref that the German player had stamped on him. Hey, it worked against Rooney two years ago, right?
He was stamped on
Never got near him!
Pepe should have put that away
Portugal have come out the brighter this half. They're exploiting the space down the right flank.
Pepe should have scored there.
Pepe picks up a yellow card for a cynical challenge on Klose. He's had a poor game today.
Bollocks with an easy header.
Where is the marking???
GOAL! Ballack finds himself free in front of goal and nods home from the resulting free kick. It's another bad goal for the Portuguese.
Germany 3-1!
Shut that bloody music up!
What was the keeper doing? He came out with hands no higher than his chest
I still think that the Portuguese are capable of scoring two goals in the last half hour.
Have you seen the new schedule for next season in the Prem?
The last game isn't until May 24th!!
Yeah, Ricardo was useless on that one. He's certainly one of the weak links in the side.
I reckon that the Portuguese probably have the same problem that the Brazilians traditionally had with producing goalkeepers. Anyone who was any good at footie wanted to play up front so they put the rubbish kids in goal.
I haven't seen it yet. When does it start? Who have United got first weekend?
Nani is getting ready to come on. He's your obvious replacement for Cronaldo. He'll be as good as Skippy is three or four years, mark my words.
Nuno Gomes is coming off. A strange choice that. He's the only striker that they have. Just how many midfielders does Scolari want to crowd on the pitch?
Cronaldo tries one of his specials. It was straight enough but couldn't come down. Lehmann would've had that covered in any case.
Nice run by Nani
Looks like Chelski will be even more boring next season
You notice that the Portuguese don't have anyone to aim at in the middle of the box any more. They're playing three bloody wingers!
Yes, definitely. Expect to see one striker up front. And two holdings mids and lots of niggly fouling. That's the Big Phil way.
Deco sets Petit up for a nice daisy cutter straight into Lehmann's arms.
Two changes coming up here. Borowski is coming on for Germany and Helger Postiga is coming on for Portugal. Big Phil's listening to me then.
The Portuguese should play short corners. They don't have anyone who's going to beat the Germans in the air.
The Portuguese don't have their shooting boots on tonight.
Ronaldo gets hit right in the face!!
What a shot from Podolski! Just wide.
cooh that was close
I'd hit him in the mush too!
Has it rained at every game???
I love the look on Scolari's face. I look forward to seeing more of it next season.
Just about - not exactly a travel brochure for Switzerland and Austria, is it?
The Pigsticker is coming off now. Fritz to take his place.
Lehmann's down now clutching his face. A fair amount of playacting in this match.
Ronaldo looks knackered and fed up.
That's what is like to play with Iberians, Ronny!!
Lehman isn't hurt a lick
GET UP
Five minutes left plus stoppage time. I'm really surprised by this match. I predicted Germany to go through but I thought it would be cagier and I certainly didn't expect Portugal to be outplayed the way that they were today.
And Portugal get a life line!!
GOAL! Well, well, well! Postiga has put Portugal back in this one. The German defenders went to sleep for once and it's game on now!
Shut that bloody music up!
Corner flag time for the Germans.
Risky move here. Klose is being withdrawn. Jansen on. If Portugal nick another goal, I fancy that this might go to penalties. You would think that Klose would be one of the first five to take one.
Into stoppage time. A few more chances perhaps for the Portuguese.
Ron is just doing a lot complaining
Nani goes for goal - a bit overambitious.
That's it.
Germany are in the semis.
I like the Germans more than I did but I still don't want them to win it
So, when will Ron say he is staying in the Northwest of England?
Give it up, mate. He's already looking at Madrid real estate.
Full-time: Germany 3-2!
Germany are through to the semi-finals after a powerful performance and you can certainly see them in the final now.
German-Dutch final? "Give us back our bicycles!"
Even though you're just sticking it in where it hurts, have a good evening.
I am off to work at the college
Cheers
BTW, Tony has been having trouble receiving emails from me and getting on this. He is still following though.
Take Care
I'm just trying to let you down easily. It's an intervention. You're going to have to learn to accept life with the Portugeezer because he's a mercenary and he's gonna go where the cash is flashed around and that's not Northwest England, is it?
Cheers, have a good class mate!
Sorry Davey, I'm with the Gator on this one. He's ditching Old Trafford.
But you guys have Nani and Bob and I have been saying that the potential of that kid may be even brighter. By the next WC, he may be the star of the Portuguese and Cronaldo may be the sort of disappointment that Henry was many big games.
Still, I feel your pain. This is what the Gooner goes through every summer.
That was a really entertaining quarter final and the result was very satisfying too. I didn't get the money shot of Skippy crying, but he and Ricardo sure looked cheesed-off. Good riddance to all of them.
The Germans were just too powerful and their size advantage came into play for each of their three goals. But I don't fancy them against a team of size and quality. They look better without Gomez and bringing in the Pig-Climber(not sticker, steig is mountain I believe). But they owned the skies today and would be best advised not to depend on that approach if they meet the Croats in the Semis.
I've read this morning that Big Phil's said that Chelsea's ridiculous decision to announce Phil's arrival at Chelsea during these games played a big factor in the Portugeezers failure.
I haven't heard anyone on Skippy's reckless behavior courting Real during the finals. Backlash coming?
I heap a lot of the blame on Big Phil's shoulders. Sure there were distractions during the tournament. However, his side was playing well in the first two matches. Then he cynically rested his stars for the third group stage match, allowed the Swiss to win an easy 2-0 victory and they lost a lot of momentum.
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