I don't think Löw could've demanded anything more from Reus than what he showed in the friendly vs Saudi Arabia. It would be quite disappointing to see him on the bench.
Group F (Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea)
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Feck Low, Reus deserves the starting line-up not only on talent but also performances all round. Low sucking up to his favourites again.
It good also mean that Werner is on the bench and Müller up front. One of Özil, Reus or Werner will be out.
I go for:
Müller
Draxler Reus Özil
Khedira Kroos
Hector Hummels Boateng Kimmich
Neuer
@Acrobat7
No way.
Löw has not used Müller as a #9 in ages and playing Reus there would be a huge gamble as well, since the team has zero experience with that setup.
Werner will start.
If Draxler get to start because of Löw's loyalty then the same mechanism works even more strongly in Özil's and Müller's favour , so it's got to be Reus (who also promises the biggest impact as a substitution imho) sitting on the bench.
Either that or Özil isn't fit enough to play yet.
No way.
Löw has not used Müller as a #9 in ages and playing Reus there would be a huge gamble as well, since the team has zero experience with that setup.
Werner will start.
If Draxler get to start because of Löw's loyalty then the same mechanism works even more strongly in Özil's and Müller's favour , so it's got to be Reus (who also promises the biggest impact as a substitution imho) sitting on the bench.
Either that or Özil isn't fit enough to play yet.
No matter what happens from here on, Mexico have a fan in me for the rest of the tournament .
Love their football. Love their anthem. Love their fans.
Love their football. Love their anthem. Love their fans.
So Germany's tactics when they go behind is to play with real width and proper winters, or at least use their wider players as wingers. Mindless not to bring Sane, regardless of a few poor international friendlies, when the way Draxler is being used now is literally how he plays.
This! I don't know who I'm going to support this WC, so open to be persuaded. But Mexico have my pants down to the knees already
Mexico with great chance to win group now. Who'd they be likely to play if they finish first?
Germany to crash with Brazil in 16th round ?
Second place finisher in Brazil's group i.e Swiss or Serbs most likely
Blimey, would fancy Brazil to avenge 2014 if that happens. They won in Germany without Neymar just a few months back.
,Maybe we're seeing all the lacklustre Germany friendly results might actually have shown proper weaknesses in their side.
Runner-up of Brazil's group. Switzerland or Serbia
Serbia probably favourites for that 2nd spot in Brazil's group
Serbia got really old back 4 so Mexico would fancy breaking and running at that defence. Looks a good match up for them I'd say.
I have no words for how bad that was. The only players who did okay were Reus and Brandt.
I said many times before how Germany is in bad shape, bound to have problems against any opponent. Everyone kept telling me those preparation games didn‘t me.
I would test a new formation, the double pivot Kroos Khedira is not strong enough because the attackers and fullbacks don‘t want to help them.
Neuer
Boateng Hummels Sule
Kimmich Khedira Gundogan Kroos Hector
Muller Reus
I said many times before how Germany is in bad shape, bound to have problems against any opponent. Everyone kept telling me those preparation games didn‘t me.
I would test a new formation, the double pivot Kroos Khedira is not strong enough because the attackers and fullbacks don‘t want to help them.
Neuer
Boateng Hummels Sule
Kimmich Khedira Gundogan Kroos Hector
Muller Reus
Germany probably limp into the last 16 and proceed to knockout Brazil. 
Don’t count the Swedes out yet. They knocked Italy out and can give Germany a game.
You've certainly got the players mate. I personally think its time for a change in manager. Lowe's decision to not select Sane may cost him his job.
Muller was crap today.
Swedes and Koreans are surely fecked now. Worst-case scenario for both of them.
This has nothing to so with Sane. He was the worst player in the shit-shows against Austria and Brazil earlier this year. He deserves no place in the team based on his performances for Germany.
Yes he was, but Werner was much worse. Showed no fight and looked like the pressure came to him. Muller is at least used to high pressure situations and you have to use one CF. Don't want Gomez near the team, he fecks up every attack.
I disagree. Muller looked completely harmless against the Mexican defense. At least Werner had a couple of runs and chances.
But as meh as I thought Muller was, Khedira and Ozil were worse. Absolutely dreadful performance from those two. They simply cannot start against Sweden.
Right now I can see Löw not being German national coach in two weeks, if we fail to get out of the group. We were horrible in the last friendlies, and there was zero improvement today, even though we fielded almost the same team that delivered a great friendly against Spain in March. The issues seem to run deep and there is basically nothing to suggest they will be fixed within the next two crucial games.
The issue is not the coach primarily. He was not faultless of course, but he did very well with a young team in the 2017 Confed Cup.
Many of the older players lack the desire and concentration to win again, even though they should be in their prime. Ozil, Boateng, Hummels, Muller, Khedira, Neuer, Kroos, those guys can feck off if they can't bring their A-game to the national team. It's not like we couldn't build a good team without those guys
Ter Stegen
Tah Rudiger Sule
Kimmich Gundogan Goretzka Hector
Reus Werner Sane
That is not good enough to win the WC this year of course. It has a shot at winning the Euros 2020 or the WC 2022 though, if France continue to underperform.
We have many talents at the moment, especially at the flanks and at CB. I am sick of these tackles into nothing by Hummels or the Hollywood passes from Boateng into the opponent's feets.
Actually, I have very little hope for this WC being anything other than one big embarrassment for Germany. We can start to think about the future now, I don't care if with or without Low but I hope without those players who rested themselves on their World Cup fame the last 4 years.
I said before the tournament that this is Germany's weakest side since the 2006 WC. And the performances this year cannot be ignored even if they were friendlies. I thought Kimmich was shocking today. He is great player in the making but (obviously) not on the same level as Lahm in 2014.
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Nope, he isn't the problem. With Müller at the right wing, we are giving up the right side completely- if Kimmich doesn't push forward a lot. Of course, you need to have cover for him. Khedira was beyond atrocious.
When asked about the kit number swaps, what STY actually said was, "No matter what number he wears, they'll [Sweden] know who Ki is; likewise with Son. As for the rest of our players, Sweden will have a hard time distinguishing between them. There's talk that Europeans have a hard time telling Asians apart from one another. Of course, that may not actually be the case, but I wanted to confuse them a bit in order to give us even the slightest advantage..."
Hummels and Khedira with a shocking performance. Kimmich (why do people cirtisize him for being too offensive, that is what he is supposed to do in our 4-2-3-1 - That is the main reason why Sané is not nominated. Our players (Reus, Müller, Brandt, Draxler are not solely on the wings, but are facing towards the center (half-spaces? is that it?), while our RB and LB are running behind them (sorry I don't know the football terms in English). Kimmich did a great job offensively. Sadly Mexico defended well.
Özil tried to be the key player, sadly just didn't succeed. With Brandt and Reus in our game it became so much better. In my opinioen these are the ideal players for our system. They are more creative and have and awesome first touch.
Sadly our first half was very weak in general and our second half was not good enough. We were improving minute by minute, but it was not enough for a good Mexico!
I hope Reus and Brandt get more playtime in the next game. And I might swap Gündogan with Khedira, he is more offensive, but Khedira was horrible both in the defense and the offense. Hummels needs to play way saver in the defense. His stupid attack - although he should have just defended - caused the goal against us in the end. Still, respect to Mexico, well deserved win.
We need two wins now and are very much under pressure. 80 milllion people are close to a heart attack, pls let Germany win the next game(s)!
My (highly unlikely) Starting 11 for the next game:
Werner
Reus Müller Brandt
Kroos Gündogan
Hector Boateng Süle Kimmich
Neuer
I love you Swedes, but we will have to destroy you!
Özil tried to be the key player, sadly just didn't succeed. With Brandt and Reus in our game it became so much better. In my opinioen these are the ideal players for our system. They are more creative and have and awesome first touch.
Sadly our first half was very weak in general and our second half was not good enough. We were improving minute by minute, but it was not enough for a good Mexico!
I hope Reus and Brandt get more playtime in the next game. And I might swap Gündogan with Khedira, he is more offensive, but Khedira was horrible both in the defense and the offense. Hummels needs to play way saver in the defense. His stupid attack - although he should have just defended - caused the goal against us in the end. Still, respect to Mexico, well deserved win.
We need two wins now and are very much under pressure. 80 milllion people are close to a heart attack, pls let Germany win the next game(s)!
My (highly unlikely) Starting 11 for the next game:
Werner
Reus Müller Brandt
Kroos Gündogan
Hector Boateng Süle Kimmich
Neuer
I love you Swedes, but we will have to destroy you!
First half by Mexico was brilliant! Though I don't know what the feck were those subs in the second half. He took out both Lozano and Vela, whom might be their most talented and dangerous players, while leaving Chicharito on the pitch (he was being too wasteful) and to top it off he brings 39 years old Rafael fecking Marquez making the team void of pace and forcing them to sit back and pray to keep their minimum advantage.
Still Mexico has a good chance of topping their group if they can beat South Korea and that would be a big change as they could avoid Brazil and have a longer run in the cup. So the team should build around their first half and stop subbing off both Vela and Lozano when clinging only in a one goal advantage. Vela is a really skilled and intelligent player who was brilliant and highly rated in spanish while Lozano has good potential and could go to a big club after this world cup.
Still Mexico has a good chance of topping their group if they can beat South Korea and that would be a big change as they could avoid Brazil and have a longer run in the cup. So the team should build around their first half and stop subbing off both Vela and Lozano when clinging only in a one goal advantage. Vela is a really skilled and intelligent player who was brilliant and highly rated in spanish while Lozano has good potential and could go to a big club after this world cup.
I think he was simply trying to manage the fitness. Vela and Lozana had a supporting role and ran a lot, they missed some chances due to fatigue maybe, and Mexico still needs to secure the next game. I was very impressed. I hope South Korea learns from Mexico and just go for it too LOL yes I'm a big fan of that team.
This is why I don't rate Low very highly despite his success with the national team. He makes stupid mistakes and today was another one, what's more frustrating was that he had made the same mistake against Algeria in the last WC but was very lucky that they didn't take advantage of their chances (also Neuer was in brilliant form). Today his luck ran out and Germany lost because of him, putting their chances of topping the group on a knife edge.
What the hell was he doing playing so high up against this pacy and creative Mexico team, it was if he had no idea how they play:
1. Playing Kimmich and Plattenhart as virtual wingers rather then full backs. Why was Hector not playing?
2. Leaving Hummels and Boateng completely isolated with the wing positions completely open
3. Having no pure DM to help out Hummels and Boateng when they switch to protecting the open wing. Last WC, Schweinsteiger played that role to perfection but Khedira is not that type of player.
4. Not playing Reus, and when you do you play him as a right winger.
Clusterfeck from Low.
For the next match, for heavens sake play safer and not so high up the pitch. Also having Kimmich AND Plattenhart is suicide, Hector needs to play. Also, Reus for useless Draxler please.
What the hell was he doing playing so high up against this pacy and creative Mexico team, it was if he had no idea how they play:
1. Playing Kimmich and Plattenhart as virtual wingers rather then full backs. Why was Hector not playing?
2. Leaving Hummels and Boateng completely isolated with the wing positions completely open
3. Having no pure DM to help out Hummels and Boateng when they switch to protecting the open wing. Last WC, Schweinsteiger played that role to perfection but Khedira is not that type of player.
4. Not playing Reus, and when you do you play him as a right winger.
Clusterfeck from Low.
For the next match, for heavens sake play safer and not so high up the pitch. Also having Kimmich AND Plattenhart is suicide, Hector needs to play. Also, Reus for useless Draxler please.
1. Hector has a cold
2. That's the nature of a 4-2-3-1
3. Khedira was the pure DM - he just was bad
4. Reus or the team in general did great when he joined the team.
But yes, blame it on Löw, and not on Khediras and Hummels bad judgment.
2. That's the nature of a 4-2-3-1
3. Khedira was the pure DM - he just was bad
4. Reus or the team in general did great when he joined the team.
But yes, blame it on Löw, and not on Khediras and Hummels bad judgment.
Should drop Werner, play Muller through the middle and get another midfielder in there
Play safer when you need to win? It all depends of the team. Sweden doesn't have fast paced players in my opinion so that tactic would work. In my opinion, the defeat is going to create some negative psychology and that's what Low needs to fight first.
That won't help, if anyone would need to be dropped for the extra midfielder it would have to be Ozil, they need a pure DM in that role and they don't have any in the squad (Weigl is needed for this reason).
Ozil’s his boy, he ain’t dropping him
Yeah, luckily they held on the result otherwise they would had blamed on the subs he made but now it's a good thing they went off so they can keep both very fresh for next game.
Don't expect Germany to win easily vs Sweden and S. Korea but will still win these games.