Posted on Tuesday 27 June 2006
With a couple of off days until the Quarter Finals get under way on Friday, I came across a site that has compiled some interesting stats to help kill the time. It’s obviously very subjective, but they’ve got the numbers on such things as dives, tantrums, faking injuries, even the number of the team members not singing their national anthem. It won’t kill the entire two days, but it might help. The US actually faired well in most of the catagories.
Also listed under: World Cup
The best game in the tourney is now nearly ready to start up.
I think we can all agree that Argentina has a better team than Germany although Germany’s outstanding Cup performance has raised the estimation of this team in the eyes of many pundits. I had Germany as a favorite before the tourney began but even on a neutral pitch, I think Germany would be in the same position, young guys like Lahm and Lukus Podolski have really emerged as top flight players.
Today is not only the game of the tourney but there I am convinced that this game will have a potential impact on the way teams are run in the future (see question 3). A few points of question that will be solved today are:
1. Question How critical is crowd support.
Answer. I would argue it is like having another man on the field. Advantage Germany
2. Question: Just how good is Germany’s defense.
2 Answer: Many experts have been critical of the German’s defense. I feel like when the money is down, Germany have been impossible to score on. Argentina is the top offensive team in this tournament, we will know for sure after this game if Germany’s d is real
3. Question… Are Klinsmann’s modern coaching methods an anomoly or the wave of the future?
3. Answer….If Germany win today, my bet is that a lot of teams will start using sports phychologists to help their players as Klinsmann has in this tourney.
Argentina dominates time of possession in the first half but only takes one shot the entire half. Contradiction and one heck of an effort by the German side.
Can Germany continue like this…
Wow… a bit less inspiring a game than I hoped in any case. The entire first half the players were anchored to the midfield….