04/16/24
March 02, 2006
Hosts Germany set for early World Cup exit?: Not having to qualify for June's contest because of their host status may have made them soft. Or the team's just plain weak ("Ballack was bollocks"), according to this writer. Plus their coach lives in California (wtf?). The knives are out after yesterday's 4-1 "friendly" trouncing by Italy. How do you rate Germany's chances?
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 11:40 AM - 9 comments
Korea and Japan weren't expected to do as well as they did when they hosted it -- especially not BOTH teams. Being the host will help them a lot. In terms of motivations and, well, maybe a favourable call or two.
posted by mkn at 12:16 PM on March 02, 2006
Germany also don't have the toughest of draws in the group stage, with Costa Rica, Ecuador and Poland.
posted by holden at 12:21 PM on March 02, 2006
They will have a fair showing in their homeland. They will more than likely breeze through their group stage and then probably advance maybe one or two more games. Considering the lack of talent on this team as compared to the German teams of the past that is not too bad.
posted by CarolinaCowboy at 12:41 PM on March 02, 2006
I agree with the sentiments already expressed - home advantage and a relatvely easy group should be enough to see the Germans through to the knock-out stages. After that it's anyone's guess. A lot will depend on whether they top their group and who they will face as a consequence ie either Sweden or England if that group goes to form. They should be able to beat the Swedes but England would be a completely different kettle of fish.
posted by squealy at 02:04 PM on March 02, 2006
Speaking of Poland, did anyone else see the US-Poland friendly yesterday? I was pleasantly surprised by the US performance against a side that nearly won its qualifying group and did get enough points to avoid the second place playoffs. Landon and DaMarcus weren't as effective as I hope they'll be come 9 June but the backline stopped up the less than stellar midfield defending. Would have liked to see one decent shot for Dudek to handle, or one decent shot from Eddie Johnson for that matter, and the whole last 30 minute blizzard was good for a laugh.
posted by billsaysthis at 02:51 PM on March 02, 2006
Did anyone notice that one of the favourites - Argentina - also lost to Croatia? Worth remembering tht only once (1958 - Brazil in Sweden) has a Sth American team won the WC in Europe.
posted by owlhouse at 03:31 PM on March 02, 2006
Home advantage is always huge, and these early friendlies can't be relied on too heavily. I expect them to get to at least the semi-finals.
posted by afx237vi at 04:32 PM on March 02, 2006
Maybe if Germany played some exciting brand of football i would care whether or not they do well... YAWN...
posted by StarFucker at 10:37 AM on March 03, 2006
Playing on home soil will help this average German side immensely and I would think they'll make the semi-finals when it counts. Germany is known for throwing up a stinker or two in friendlies and despite the German press' critical reaction (nothing unusual), Ballack and the boys should be fine in June and July. Of course we also can't write too much into Germany's loss to the U.S. in 3 weeks time.