Will the real Super Mario please stand up.
To be fair, it must be present certain psychological difficulties to a side who last trailed in a competitive match in their third-place game...at the 2010 World Cup (or some 1,313 minutes ago).
The Italians put the comeback even farther out of the mental reach of the Germans when Balotelli doubled his tournament total with a smashing solo effort into the top right hand corner in the 36th. At once both l'enfant terrible and transcendent talent, Balotelli's brilliant brace all but assured Italy's place even before the start of the second half.
And in very un-German-like fashion, Germany folded after a brief foray forward in the second half, their erratic defending and wanton finishing finally causing them to pay the full price for profligacy. Jogi Low could only rue the many missed chances, as Manuel Neuer bounded upfield to function as an auxiliary striker after Ozil's penalty gave Germany hope for a Hail Mary.
Just another golden opportunity and another missed chance for Deutschland's Tournea Mannschaft, who are beginning to resemble more of the Jim Kelly led Bills of the 1990s than an actual title contender.
Yogi Low is to blame for Germany's loss against the Azuris.
ReplyDeleteSchweinsteiger and Podolski have to be on the bench when the game starts. Boateng deserved to join them.
Reuss and Klose have to be the starters - with Gomez it was just a matter of time till he would need 10 chances for one goal again like normally.
The other problem in their game was the constant senseless, unsuccessful kicking in the ball from the extended 18yard line. Observed since the beginning of the tournament, but not resulting in a loss because of the weaker competition. With Italy being a bit better then the other teams Germany played not bringing the ball down to the extended goal line and then aiming the ball back into the 5 yard box was a sure way not to win this game. Granted Germany had about 3 chances to take the lead in the first 20 minutes of the game and would Buffon not have had one of his best games we might not have this discussion. But he did. Germnay's defense (the concern before the tournament) and with Mertesacker (The Arsenal central defender, who had been out since February after ankle surgery and returned to action only a few weeks ago, collided with Jérôme Boateng in training before leaving for the Euro.) being replaced by Badstuber (2 years too early) they were never in command of the ball as German defenses normally is.
The way they performed after having 60 minutes time to overcome a 2:0 deficit was sad. Italy after being ahead did not look tired at all (having had 2 days less of rest)
but Germany, not looking tired, did not do enough and did not show effort that this was a must win situation.
It was a sad day because timing was right to overcome the Italian Curse. AN opportunity wasted and might not come again till the Worldcup in Brazil in 2014.
Way too long to live with the shame!
This was a major setback for Germany.
People are questioning Yogi Loew as a coach.
Think this is overkill.
He is the best man for the job since the man above him is actually employed coaching the USA team.