Euro 08 Quarterfinals: Portugal vs Germany

[Rasheeed!!!]

could be worse.....you could of been born in one of those countries that never wins and concedes 30 goals during qualifiers.

Anyways, can't wait to get the 1/4 final underway!

[Point forward]

This will be the first GER match in my life in which GER is the clear cut underdog. Apart from GK (which is about even), we are clearly worse in all team areas..

Really ? 2002 Brazil - Germany World Cup final
I never write off the germans neither should you.
i prefer Portugal- Croatia , bit have a feeling in my mind , that i the end it will be all Germany . .

I don't count friendly matches vs France, Italy or Brazil, where GER usually gets owned. Only tourney matches count for me. Prior to 1998, we were a superpower and feared nobody. When our super crappy Erich Ribbeck team crashed out in EC 2000, I was still confident we could take Portugal in the last match and move on (yes, I suck... we lost 0-3). With Brazil 2002, we were not the favorites (esp. b/c Ballack could not play due to 2nd yellow card), but I was still optimistic. With CZE 2004, we led 1-0 but still lost 1-3 after individual errors.

But this match? I honestly cringe when I see stiff Arne Friedrich trying to play defense on agile C. Ronaldo, or injured Frings tyring to guard Deco. Also, Klose vs R. Carvalho is not exactly a fair duel, Miro flat out sucked in whole 2008. My sole hope is BALLACK

[Sleepy]

German lineup:

------------Lehmann------------
Friedr.-Merte-Metze-Lahm
-------Rolfes-----Hitz----------
-------------Ballack------------
Schweini----------------Poldi
--------------Klose--------------

I really like that lineup, especially the tactical changes. Rolfes is probably the weakest link of the team, but the only real alternative to Frings.
Well, that lineup is as good as it gets. Löw did his homework, now the players need to get ready to kick some ass.

[Jedini]

Germany will prevail IMO.

[Sleepy]

Saugeiles Tor

Yeah Baby!!!

[Sleepy]

Saugeiles Tor

Yeah Baby!!!

Yeah Yeah Yeah!!!!!
Miro Klose

[magik9113]

Schweinsteiger with a hell of a half already

[magik9113]

2-1
second half should be good

[Sleepy]

Best of the guardian:

25 min: The quality of team football in this tournament has been breathtaking at times. There have been very few great individual goals but Holland, Russia and now Germany have scored from some epic, sweeping moves that have been almost impossible to stop.

43 min: This is already a minor classic. With Germany 2-0 up early on Portugal had no choice but to attack and luckily for us, that's what they do best. Apart from knock England out of major tournaments.

HALFTIME: I woke up this morning feeling a little sad after a dream where all my teeth fell out - a classic anxirty dream - but this has cheered me up no end. Euro 2008 is becoming the best tournament that I can remember. Where World Cup 2006 often became about teams coming together to stop the opposition scoring, this one's about teams coming together to make it impossible for other teams to stop them scoring.

Everybody Who can't watch the game, go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... .portugal1
It's worth a read.

[wilt]

good first half, from the 2nd goal on from both teams, Portugal seemed to be tentative zo attack too much too early and then that double strike changed that obviously.
Ronaldo now with 3 good scenes in like 10 minutes, that´s not good for the germans. On the goal we saw the weak link that is Podolski´s "defense" , especially in transition. But Ronaldo made a great and perfectly timed run, too , lehman actually with a great safe but then ...
Agree that Schweinsteiger has been really good, was about time .

Portugal won´t go down silent, they are a good team with a lot of offensive power playing against a (still) shaky defense.

And o yeah, Lahm = worldclass.

[Whiteman]

Good game so far. Germans playing better than expected, that 1st goal was excellent. Portugal have a lot of talent on offense though, I'd be very surprised if we don't get to see more goals.

[El Turco]

What a first half! Portugal came off over confident and played sloppy against best knockout team in european history and paid the price with two great, textbook team football goals from Germany. They pulled back one due to questionable formation from German defense especially when they were up by two.

should be a great second half.

[Sleepy]

Game gets rough and dirty. Horrible acting by Ronaldo, although it was clear foul. But waiting till the Refs whistle blows and THEN starting to scream is just

[Sleepy]

Sometimes, you just need to use your head!

[magik9113]

goal! Ballack coming through again.
I do not see Portugal coming back now...

[El Turco]

So much for Portugal having the best defense. I cant wait till Ronalda starts to cry.

[Sleepy]

Portugal subs out a striker? WTF?

[Sleepy]

So much for Portugal having the best defense. I cant wait till Ronalda starts to cry.

Well, game aint over till the Diva cries


Ronaldo should really cut that mullet... dude looks terrible

[Sleepy]

I don't get that sub either... Hitz was great, why take him out. Poldi is getting tired, he needs to be subbed soon


Nice corner

[BlackMamba]

this game is being won by germany's mentality.