2014 FIFA World Cup: Group G (GER/POR/GHA/USA)

[edfmx86]

Germs and USA

my reasoning....
the order of the matches

usa vs ghana...will determine the outcome
usa wins, then they will advance

germany 2 wins, and theyr all ready in
they rest their starters in the 3rd match, vs usa
and usa wins

usa 2 W, 1 L and advance

portugal, 1 L vs germany
then, HAVE to beat both usa and ghana, to advance
if they falter in either game, usa advances
usa can play for tie or win vs portugal after having beat ghana
the pressure on portugal to beat usa will be very high after losing to the germs

YOURE GOT DAMN RIGHT.



USA USA USA

But in all seriousness, **** this group, we're gonna advance and Portugal is failing in the first round.

I hope so, I'd love to see at least one of the CONCACAF sides advance to the Round of 16.

[cgf]

germany 2 wins, and theyr all ready in
they rest their starters in the 3rd match, vs usa
and usa wins

I wouldn't build my confidence on that. German teams rarely do that.

Even if we uncharacteristically did our B team would still beat the US, hell our C team could've won that friendly, and if any of those players go to Rio it'll be to sit on the bench.

But now's not the time for realism, there will be plenty of time for that later, let them get psyched.

[and1GS]

germany 2 wins, and theyr all ready in
they rest their starters in the 3rd match, vs usa
and usa wins

I wouldn't build my confidence on that. German teams rarely do that.

Even if we uncharacteristically did our B team would still beat the US, hell our C team could've won that friendly, and if any of those players go to Rio it'll be to sit on the bench.

But now's not the time for realism, there will be plenty of time for that later, let them get psyched.

Could've won that friendly? But they lost? And IIRC, it was a mixture of A/B players. Same with our side.

[cgf]

I wouldn't build my confidence on that. German teams rarely do that.

Even if we uncharacteristically did our B team would still beat the US, hell our C team could've won that friendly, and if any of those players go to Rio it'll be to sit on the bench.

But now's not the time for realism, there will be plenty of time for that later, let them get psyched.

Could've won that friendly? But they lost? And IIRC, it was a mixture of A/B players. Same with our side.

We lost it 3-2 I think, but that was a B/C team with a lot of guys who don't play in serious matches, some debutants, I think Kruse and Sam got their debuts in that game, and Schurrle and Draxler where there. While they are full B's, they were the exceptions and don't actually get much PT with our NT either. So I'd feel pretty comfortable about a team composed of the 23 that go to Brazil beating the US in a game that it's important for them to win.

[Man of Steel]

I remember that being a side missing all of Germany's front line as well as a ton of others- no Gotze, Muller, Reus, Özil, and I don't think Schweini, Gundo, or Kroos were playing either. I also remember Ter Stegen letting in an O.G. so no Neuer either. Literally 0 Bayern players were called up for that one. Sounds like at least 90% B team to me and the scoreline was 4-3 (so technically more Germans scored on the night ). But if the Americans want to get pumped off that victory, who am I to stop them?

I kid, I kid. Canada's still some time away from qualifying for a WC so I can't really talk smack from that perspective. But I think once the WC rolls around, people will forget about how dependent Portugal are on Cristiano. He didn't have the greatest tournament last time either but we still made it past the group stage against Brazil and an Ivorian team with prime Drogba and Yaya Toure.

[and1GS]

Even if we uncharacteristically did our B team would still beat the US, hell our C team could've won that friendly, and if any of those players go to Rio it'll be to sit on the bench.

But now's not the time for realism, there will be plenty of time for that later, let them get psyched.

Could've won that friendly? But they lost? And IIRC, it was a mixture of A/B players. Same with our side.

We lost it 3-2 I think, but that was a B/C team with a lot of guys who don't play in serious matches, some debutants, I think Kruse and Sam got their debuts in that game, and Schurrle and Draxler where there. While they are full B's, they were the exceptions and don't actually get much PT with our NT either. So I'd feel pretty comfortable about a team composed of the 23 that go to Brazil beating the US in a game that it's important for them to win.

That may be true, still don't understand the 'hell our C team could've won that friendly' comment...because a side better than that lost it against a mixture A/B side that still really hadn't figured out who should be on the roster.

[and1GS]

I remember that being a side missing all of Germany's front line as well as a ton of others- no Gotze, Muller, Reus, Özil, and I don't think Schweini, Gundo, or Kroos were playing either. I also remember Ter Stegen letting in an O.G. so no Neuer either. Literally 0 Bayern players were called up for that one. Sounds like at least 90% B team to me and the scoreline was 4-3 (so technically more Germans scored on the night ). But if the Americans want to get pumped off that victory, who am I to stop them?

I kid, I kid. Canada's still some time away from qualifying for a WC so I can't really talk smack from that perspective. But I think once the WC rolls around, people will forget about how dependent Portugal are on Cristiano. He didn't have the greatest tournament last time either but we still made it past the group stage against Brazil and an Ivorian team with prime Drogba and Yaya Toure.

Portugal not dependent on Cristiano? Do you remember how they qualified? I'm a proud portuguese-american, but that's a textbook portugal team. They rely on their superstar to out-class the opponent once all the flair runs out.

[cgf]

Yeah, it was around the cup final, or maybe it was the CL final, so no Bayern or Dortmund players participated, Ozil and khedira weren't there either, and Keissling refused to go to, so we didn't even have the best non-Bayern or Dortmund players there for that one. And yeah MAtS really needs to stop doing things like that OG when he plays for the NT. At Gladbach he has games where he's just unbeatable, like I'd take him over any other goalkeeper in the world if I had to protect a lead when he's like that. He's been absolutely massive in gladbach's ability to beat the top two, but then he puts on the NT's jersey and he's guaranteed to have a disaster.

[Man of Steel]

I remember that being a side missing all of Germany's front line as well as a ton of others- no Gotze, Muller, Reus, Özil, and I don't think Schweini, Gundo, or Kroos were playing either. I also remember Ter Stegen letting in an O.G. so no Neuer either. Literally 0 Bayern players were called up for that one. Sounds like at least 90% B team to me and the scoreline was 4-3 (so technically more Germans scored on the night ). But if the Americans want to get pumped off that victory, who am I to stop them?

I kid, I kid. Canada's still some time away from qualifying for a WC so I can't really talk smack from that perspective. But I think once the WC rolls around, people will forget about how dependent Portugal are on Cristiano. He didn't have the greatest tournament last time either but we still made it past the group stage against Brazil and an Ivorian team with prime Drogba and Yaya Toure.

Portugal not dependent on Cristiano? Do you remember how they qualified? I'm a proud portuguese-american, but that's a textbook portugal team. They rely on their superstar to out-class the opponent once all the flair runs out.

Haven't watched the states recently but I don't think we'll be conceding off set pieces with Pepe and Bruno Alves at the back, and our midfield of Moutinho/Veloso/Meireles or whoever else we play as our box to box should be able to control the tempo of the game.

As brilliant as Ronaldo was against Sweden, the long ball Moutinho threaded through the defense for Cris was exquisite. Reminded me of Ozil's passing. And the crosses he gets when playing for the NT are often better than for RM. Of course he's our main finisher so he'll be the first to be marked, but I don't think that will completely neutralize the team. Alves the giant is always a threat on set pieces and Varela has begun scoring a bit more for the NT. Postiga too but he's getting older. I was talking about the last world cup. Even in our 7-0 thrashing of North Korea, Ronaldo only got on the scoresheet once (albeit with a rather cheeky effort). Portuguese players often get massively underrated when they ply their trade outside of the country, but they always step it up for the national team. Especially guys like Coentrao, Alves, Moutinho, and Varela.

[Det the Threat]

What they should do is hire Ailton to join the NT as a Brazil and PR specialist. Then release a reality show of Ailton and Bierhoff traveling Brazil with Ailton trying to tour-guide it up. We could go out in the group stages and that'd be sufficiently entertaining.

Yeah, I thought about this as well.
They could fill the show with his famous "Ailton macke Tor, Bremen gut"(Ailton make goal, Bremen good) quotes and it would be an instant hit.

That may be true, still don't understand the 'hell our C team could've won that friendly' comment...because a side better than that lost it against a mixture A/B side that still really hadn't figured out who should be on the roster.

It's pretty easy. We started out terribly in that game were down for good and still nearly got back in it, especially if we'd have made our chances.
We also played most guys that won't get any meaningful minutes this summer, as long as there aren't many injuries or suspensions.

Also, and that's the most important thing, it was a friendly(and one at the end of the season were everyone just wanted to go to holidays) and they don't mean anything.

Though, it will be a tough match with the US(as always) and we need to go all in to win it.

[and1GS]

I'm just sayin...you can't say your C team would've won that game when a better team lost it. You also act like the U.S. wasn't operating under the same circumstances. We didn't have our top squad and your holiday excuse goes both ways.

Germany lost to the USA and there's no real other way around that. At the WC level it comes down to heart, system and cohesion. Germany may be world's above us individually, but team vs team we have a good shot in this group.

[DD12]

It shouldn't be really that hard to say 'yes we lost against the U.S.' I mean it's not end of the world. Teams can lose against teams that they don't expect to lose. It happened before and it will happen in the future.

Also, A team, B team, C team really doesn't matter. What matters is that what scoreboard shows at the end of the match. You can try to justify how unlucky your team was or b squad played in that game. However, reality is that your team lost that match.

Same argument was used last year when Galatasaray played against Manu. They said, Manu didn't play the main guys, that was their C squad. I didn't care. All I cared was that 3 points where it gave us an opportunity to beat Braga to qualify and then beat Schalke to reach the quarter final. So now, no one talks about that Manu's C squad yet they talk about Galatasaray's match against Real Madrid which was ended 3-2.

So sometimes man up and accept the defeat. It is not that hard. The U.S beat Germany, it is as simple as it gets.

[cgf]

I'm just sayin...you can't say your C team would've won that game when a better team lost it. You also act like the U.S. wasn't operating under the same circumstances. We didn't have our top squad and your holiday excuse goes both ways.

Germany lost to the USA and there's no real other way around that. At the WC level it comes down to heart, system and cohesion. Germany may be world's above us individually, but team vs team we have a good shot in this group.

I'm sorry my snide remark has gone way off topic. We totally lost that game, but my point was that that was our c team filled with a lot of players who won't even go to brazil, and they still almost won had the finishing not sucked and MAtS not gone full - (Please Use More Appropriate Word). That's why I dickishly mentioned it when someone suggested we'd play a b team against the us giving them a good chance at winning.

It's just a friendly so it doesn't actually mean anything, but I was just being a smartass. Although I am pretty sure our actual b team in rio would still win, especially cause we'd likely need to to stay ahead of Portugal for first.

[cgf]

I remember that being a side missing all of Germany's front line as well as a ton of others- no Gotze, Muller, Reus, Özil, and I don't think Schweini, Gundo, or Kroos were playing either. I also remember Ter Stegen letting in an O.G. so no Neuer either. Literally 0 Bayern players were called up for that one. Sounds like at least 90% B team to me and the scoreline was 4-3 (so technically more Germans scored on the night ). But if the Americans want to get pumped off that victory, who am I to stop them?

I kid, I kid. Canada's still some time away from qualifying for a WC so I can't really talk smack from that perspective. But I think once the WC rolls around, people will forget about how dependent Portugal are on Cristiano. He didn't have the greatest tournament last time either but we still made it past the group stage against Brazil and an Ivorian team with prime Drogba and Yaya Toure.

Portugal not dependent on Cristiano? Do you remember how they qualified? I'm a proud portuguese-american, but that's a textbook portugal team. They rely on their superstar to out-class the opponent once all the flair runs out.

Haven't watched the states recently but I don't think we'll be conceding off set pieces with Pepe and Bruno Alves at the back, and our midfield of Moutinho/Veloso/Meireles or whoever else we play as our box to box should be able to control the tempo of the game.

As brilliant as Ronaldo was against Sweden, the long ball Moutinho threaded through the defense for Cris was exquisite. Reminded me of Ozil's passing. And the crosses he gets when playing for the NT are often better than for RM. Of course he's our main finisher so he'll be the first to be marked, but I don't think that will completely neutralize the team. Alves the giant is always a threat on set pieces and Varela has begun scoring a bit more for the NT. Postiga too but he's getting older. I was talking about the last world cup. Even in our 7-0 thrashing of North Korea, Ronaldo only got on the scoresheet once (albeit with a rather cheeky effort). Portuguese players often get massively underrated when they ply their trade outside of the country, but they always step it up for the national team. Especially guys like Coentrao, Alves, Moutinho, and Varela.

Yeah the rest of that Portugal team gets seriously down played because of Ronaldo but they hav sheen able to take it even Spain because of reason other than CR7. Moutinho as you mentioned is a brilliant playmaker, the other midfielders are tough and press well. Those CB's are tough and manage to avoid the idiotic decision making that can plague them with their clubs, coentrao's actually a stud for the NT and Patricio is a beast in net for them. They're very tough to play against with the maestro to launch counters once they gain possession...and the have Ronaldo up front

[Foye]

I can't believe you guys are still discussing the USA vs. GER game in the summer break.

It was a glorified friendly game. Half of the players didnt even show up for these friendly games for Germany. Probably half of the US players didn't show up either, I don't know. The only players giving a 100% in those games are the players that rarely get nominated for the NT and want to grab a permanent roster spot.

Can't believe you guys are seriously discussing about that. That friendly game was probably the worst soccer game(if you can even call it like that) I've seen in the last few years.

[Det the Threat]

I'm just sayin...you can't say your C team would've won that game when a better team lost it. You also act like the U.S. wasn't operating under the same circumstances. We didn't have our top squad and your holiday excuse goes both ways.

You won that game and it was a pretty bad game at the end of the season were everyone just wanted to pack his bags and go on vacation. On both sides.

Germany lost to the USA and there's no real other way around that. At the WC level it comes down to heart, system and cohesion. Germany may be world's above us individually, but team vs team we have a good shot in this group.

I know about the american fighting spirit and of course you've got a shot at advancing.
Though, in soccer, that fighting spirit is something attached to the Germans, cause as the saying goes, you've only beaten the Germans once the final whistle is blown.
Just look at the records and there are loads of games where we came back from deficits that no one thought we could come back from.

I mean there's a reason why we've got the record we've got.

WC:
appearances: 17
semifinals: 12
finals: 7
titles: 3

EC:
appearances: 11
semifinals: 8
finals: 6
titles: 3

I can't believe you guys are still discussing the USA vs. GER game in the summer break.

It was a glorified friendly game. Half of the players didnt even show up for these friendly games for Germany. Probably half of the US players didn't show up either, I don't know. The only players giving a 100% in those games are the players that rarely get nominated for the NT and want to grab a permanent roster spot.

Can't believe you guys are seriously discussing about that. That friendly game was probably the worst soccer game(if you can even call it like that) I've seen in the last few years.

+1


BTW: The US will get more help from Germany. Jürgen Klinsmann has added former German international and national team coach Berti Vogts to his staff. He'll help analyse the oppoents etc.

[Point forward]

Löw has just announced the preliminary German 30 man squad for the WC:

GOAL
Neuer, Weidenfeller, Zieler

DEFENSE
Boateng, Durm, Großkreutz, Höwedes, Hummels, Jansen, Lahm, Mertesacker, Mustafi, Schmelzer

MIDFIELD
Lars Bender, Draxler, Goretzka, Hahn, Khedira, Kroos, Meyer, Özil, Schweinsteiger, Ginter

ATTACKERS
Götze, Klose, Müller, Podolski, Reus, Schürrle, Volland

No Adler and no Gomez... kinda expected it. Surprised at Khedira and Jansen, and the big winner is Durm.

[truth18]

I'm still pissed that this is the group we drew. We are royally screwed, wish I had more faith in our squad.

Thinking very far ahead, I do like some of the younger players on the team. I think we could make a real run in Russia depending how things go.

[bbms]

How do you guys feel about an Ozil-Gotze-Muller-Reus front?

[Man of Steel]

How do you guys feel about an Ozil-Gotze-Muller-Reus front?

a little worried.