What really maters is June, but if they find the right lineup and playing at home don't see any special reason to say Germany cannot have a good tournament. One thing that puzzles for me regarding France is that as many top level players they produce I don't see where is the guy there to replace Griezmann, maybe I am wrong.
Internationals March (Euro Play-Offs + Friendlies)
- Thread starter Samid
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Some very good chances for even more goals these last few minutes
Everytime German had a horrible shirt, they won the tournament.
They look good, nothing like under Flick.
They look good, nothing like under Flick.
Realistically you are unlikely to replace Griezmann with one player. Their problem is they don't have *any* players to do it right now. Going forward, the combination of Camavinga-Zaire Emery might be their hope?
PS: Griezmann might be the most underrated player ever
How 
The most important player for France NT during the last 10 years, might be controversial but for me there's no easy replacement for him, even in France.
If you play like this on wednesday our boys should bring vaseline.
Yes because we were world beaters the last time Kroos was in our team. It's one match, in a friendly, where France have had plenty of chances themselves to score.
This could easily just be a false dawn.
Edit: Just remembered we beat France last year as well.
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Canada with a 2-0 lead to finish off Trinidad and Tobago. That means Canada will be in the upcoming Copa America.
Yeah my top tier rankings for the euros definitely something like:
Tier 1:
Might be early to deem Germany in the top tier, but I think they'll be motivated properly, will be home, nagelsmann is a good coach and the side is nicely balanced. I'd have them there and today will be big for belief.
Tier 1:
- Germany
- Portugal
- France
- Italy
- England
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Croatia
Might be early to deem Germany in the top tier, but I think they'll be motivated properly, will be home, nagelsmann is a good coach and the side is nicely balanced. I'd have them there and today will be big for belief.
German midfield/wing is stacked.
Kroos, Gundogan, Wirtz, Musiala, Havertz, Sane, Kimmich, Goretzka, Brandt, Gnabry, Muller
But as someone before posted you need an Andrich type of player for the dirty work for it to click. He played a good game and it wouldn‘t suprise me if he also has his spot in midfield at the euros.
2014 it was Khedira who played that part and they won it. Pretty similar players imo
Kroos, Gundogan, Wirtz, Musiala, Havertz, Sane, Kimmich, Goretzka, Brandt, Gnabry, Muller
But as someone before posted you need an Andrich type of player for the dirty work for it to click. He played a good game and it wouldn‘t suprise me if he also has his spot in midfield at the euros.
2014 it was Khedira who played that part and they won it. Pretty similar players imo
No we weren't. But we also saw double pivots like Kroos/Goretzka or Kroos/Gündogan which all where not as well balanced as Kroos/Andrich is.
Why aren't we scouting him more?
France had plenty of shots and chances themselves, the second half was much better from us but in the first half France could have easily been tied or ahead.
For me the solution isn't Kroos/Gundogan/Kimmich/Goretzka, it's Andrich. He's the only natural DM in the squad, and maybe the only decent level DM in Germany, so him being in the starting XI is imperative.
Play Andrich with any of the other midfielders and it will automatically look better.
Hum, no, Portugal cannot be so high if the Martinez plan is to start Cristiano and Pepe every match, obviously an England with Kane, Saka, Foden and Bellingham on top form will be different than today, and France has a top Mbappe.
The only thing I demand from Martinez is at least reaching the last 8 and to rotate the team without looking at names, but his Belgium spell doesn' tell me that. But failing the last 8 will be a huge failure regardless of who is playing anyway.
I fully agree, which is why I explicitly mentioned Andrich in the post before the one you quoted
In my eyes both Kroos and Andrich are just better at playing disciplined and keeping a team in shape than both Kimmich and Goretzka (at least in recent years).
But I think Pascal Groß also is a decent option, I wouldn't call Andrich the only natural DM in the squad, we have a backup for him.
Bruh.
Nagelsmann has really gotten this team to give two shits. They looked really really good tonight and Andrich is the key.
Thats fine, they shouldn't be in the way.
Exact reason he is my number one choice to replace Erik not clowns like Southgate/Potter
Connor Gallagher should never play another game for England again. He is everything that we should be desperately trying to move away from 2008.
I don't care that he runs around a lot for a bang average Chelsea side.
I don't care that he runs around a lot for a bang average Chelsea side.
I don't think Gross is a DM though right? I don't watch Brighton often but I never thought he was the DM in the team, it was more Caicedo before. Anton would be the only other player I think who can play that role. Honestly, it seems Tuchel is planning on playing Goretzka as a DM with Pavlovic so never know if Goretzka comes back in a different role.I fully agree, which is why I explicitly mentioned Andrich in the post before the one you quoted
In my eyes both Kroos and Andrich are just better at playing disciplined and keeping a team in shape than both Kimmich and Goretzka (at least in recent years).
But I think Pascal Groß also is a decent option, I wouldn't call Andrich the only natural DM in the squad, we have a backup for him.
Kimmich Goretzka as a double pivot would be fine if Goretzka went back to his fitness and energy. I don't buy this at all that they were horrible as a midfield partnership, atleast before Goretzka's latest injuries, given Bayern were plenty successful with them there. I honestly don't remember how much we even played Kimmich Goretzka as a double pivot for the national team.
It's even more baffling that Bayern Munich somehow found a way to sack him before he finished his first season there if Nagelsmann appears to have found a number of solutions with that German team.
Yet people off the main Utd fan channels say there is no stand out candidate for the job. Would be absolutely gutted if he ended up at Anfield as could see it happening if Bayern get Alonso
But does Ratcliffe like the cut of his jib
Mainoo came on and after 2 mins effortlessly glided past someone can’t remember who but that should tell Southgate every about who is the best player that position.
Wasnt even difficult he just did it.
Nagelsmann was sacked in his second season. In his first season he won the league, had an unnecessary CL exit against Villareal and a disastrous cup exit against Gladbach (0-5!).
In his second season Bayern were still in all three competitions and immediately after Tuchel took over exited the CL and cup...
Sometimes Groß plays as a DM, though not often. But definitely more often than Anton does. Pavlovic might be a candidate for that as well, if he is fit again and returns.
They definitely were not horrible in their prime, but it feels like that was some time ago already and never really returned to their best.
Who knows but little evidence so far
It wasn't just what he did. It was that far more experienced pros constantly looked for him the second they got the ball. They know far more than we do and one thing they clearly know is that he is one of the main players they can trust on the ball.
I tend to agree on Southgate but I think the players will just do their own thing, forget tonight, no saka, no Kane etc they will be Tier 1 France are in decline but I agree on Germany and Portugal plus I’d put Belgium in tier 3 as well. England are not the favourites but if they did win in spite of Southgate, no one would be that shocked either ?
Germany, France, England tier 1 and move Portugal to tier 2 but at the end of the day that won't matter much because it will depend on the conditions of the top players available and the decisions made regarding best 11 to approach a competition.
And there's always the knockout stage where a bad day off or a red card mistake and you're back home in the plane.
Obviously England first 11 will be way better than today but it's time to cut off the notion that a NT will arrive at a international tournament and be way above everyone else because there are always unexpected factors, like fatigue, shape of the players, injuries, red cards, stupid decisions by coaches, etc.
The Germans will have a great mixture of Ubber veterans like Kroos and Gundo, plain "young" vets like Joshua and Andrich and explosive and trully talented youngsters like Florian and Musiala. If they are well managed, they can have an excellent team.
I liked the way Brazil played from moments as brazilians (like flash in the break with skills and great passes) even not having the names of the past, they still are Brazil and it's a clear wake up call to England and the usual extreme over the top hype surrounding their players (due mainly to the EPL over the top hype). That hype NEVER helps, there is lot of quality, but the bubble most of them live in, it doesn't help at all.
Maguire really has no place in the NT.
I liked the way Brazil played from moments as brazilians (like flash in the break with skills and great passes) even not having the names of the past, they still are Brazil and it's a clear wake up call to England and the usual extreme over the top hype surrounding their players (due mainly to the EPL over the top hype). That hype NEVER helps, there is lot of quality, but the bubble most of them live in, it doesn't help at all.
Maguire really has no place in the NT.
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It's rather about having a defensive minded player in midfield. I don't think Pavlovic also exactly fits the description of a defensive midfielder and is closer to Kimmich/Kroos than Andrich.
Let's see how Pavlovic plays for Bayern from now but from that I've seen I think Goretzka is playing deeper of the two.
I'm not buying all this talk of Germany being tier 1, we've had these brief moments of 'we're back now' before and it's always fizzled out due to weaknesses in specific areas. Full backs remains a massive problem and while Musiala and Wirtz played well today on the wings, I'm still not 100% certain it will work in the long term because of how tight everything will be in the middle.
Pavlovic indeed is an open question, as he is just so young and inexperienced on that level.
Mittelstädt made an impressive debut today, so the left side could already be a solved problem. Kimmich on RB... well, if he keeps playing there for the rest of the season he should be a good option I think.
The lack of width could indeed be an issue, but taking off one of the three 10s for a more natural winger like Sane or Führich now should also not be a big problem
As I mentioned earlier I thought Mittelstadt really struggled defending one-on-one against Dembele in the first half, then you also had that horrific clearance that almost ended in an own goal. There's a reason he's played mostly as a wing back in his career, rather than a full back, and today was evidence. Really good going forward but suspect at the back.
It's a problem for us that every half-decent left back is better as a wing back. Raum, Mittelstadt, Gosens and even Max. Looking towards youngsters I think Gladbach's Netz fits the same category.
Germany have a good chance putting have been sleeping on them. With their players plus home advantage plus a point to prove they are looking good to win Euros.
I’m 100% sold already.
Came on and controlled things, but if I’m being hard lacked some urgency.
But perhaps that wasn’t important in This game.
When de Zerbi-ball was all the rage last year, MOTD (Lineker and whoever was on) were really pushing Dunk for the international team, as he was so comfortable progressing the ball out from the back.
I'm probably being harsh on Gallagher. He's a decent player. Christ, we'd love to have him in the Ireland midfield.
But I think he's promoted above his station by being an England midfielder in major tournament squads. Did he get even a minute of action in Qatar 2 years ago? And if he's brought to Germany, I can't see him being used either.