Germany v Greece

GavRedKing

Germany to take this at a canter, they will have to much around the pitch for Greece to deal with IMO.

Germany 3 - 0 Greece

The second match of the quarter-final stage of the Euro 2012 tournament takes place between Germany and Greece on Friday.

The favourites to win the competition, Germany come into the game having topped their group with a 100 percent record while Greece looked certain not to qualify after failing to win against Poland and the Czech Republic. However, a goal against Russia secured their place in the knock-out stage.

Germany are favourites to win the competition and have never lost to Greece in their eight previous clashes. They have also won every European Championship quarter-final game that they played.

Criticised for playing defensive football so far in the tournament, with many saying that it is far from the free flowing Germany from the 2010 World Cup but manager Joachim Loew denies that this is the case and is not planning on changing his tactics.

"You have got to try and keep a clean sheet, but without just building a wall," he said.

"There has been no wall-building here and we have been creating chances. Our attack remains our priority, but you have to find the right balance," he was quoted as saying on Sky Sports."

Germany have been well organised and are patient in waiting for goals to come as they showed against Portugal, Holland and Denmark.

Defender Jerome is back from serving a one match ban and will take over from Lars Bender at right-back, in what is likely to be the only change to the side that beat Denmark 2-1 on Sunday.

Greece will be hoping that they can replicate their 1-0 quarter-final win over France at Euro 2004, a game in which they were also underdogs in a tournament which they proceeded to win.

The Greeks are in a fighting mood ahead of the game with midfielder Kostas Katsouranis saying that they were not thinking about their underdog image.

"We're going to play Germany. What do you think we are thinking? That we're going to lose? That's why they are going to have a tough time. "What do they think? That we're just going to stand there and look at them? We're going to play them. We have proven that through the games so far,” he was reported as saying on France 24.

Striker Dimitris Salpingidis was in a similarly fighting mood.

"If you come to the dressing room, you will see 22 fighters, ready to fight. It doesn't matter to us what anyone says," he said.

"In 2004, we proved we can do it. What we're going to do is fight, and try to go through to the next round."

Greece will be without captain Giorgos Karagounis - who scored the goal against Russia to see his team through to the quarter-finals - and Jose Holebas, who are both suspended, while goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias is unlikely to recover from a hamstring injury in time for the game.

helimachoptor

A good mate of mine is Greek so will be cheering for them.. (and the hot blonde) but cant see past a German win here tonight, 3-1 Germany

LuckyLloyd

National pride is one hell of a drug lads. Greece to shock the world imo.

Outkast_IRE

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

National pride is one hell of a drug lads. Greece to shock the world imo.

germany to dump them out of the euro the next day

pickarooney

Logically there's no way Germany can lose this.
Logically there was no way Russia could lose this year or that Greece could win in 04...

jester77

Schweinsteiger will pull the strings here. Germany are solid at the back and can't see them giving too much away. I think it will come down to how good the German attack is tonight. This is the one area where Germany are not very strong imo, they don't have a potent striker or that killer instinct up front but when you have someone like Schweinsteiger behind them then it should be enough.

Renn

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

National pride is one hell of a drug lads. Greece to shock the world imo.

Wouldn't be that much of a shock tbh. Once you get to the QF stage then you can't really be discounted that easily.

Shame that Karagounis is suspended but here's hoping for a Greece win.

steelcityblues

Greece defend like madmen, and then hit a winner just before 90 mins.

kitakyushu

I think I'll play safe and predict a narrow 2-0 win for Greece.

theteal

jester77 wrote: »

Schweinsteiger will pull the strings here.

was it not reported yesterday that he's out due to injury?

steelcityblues

theteal wrote: »

was it not reported yesterday that he's out due to injury?

No greater loss for them, if he is.

theteal

steelcityblues wrote: »

No greater loss for them, if he is.

i'm looking for where I read it yesterday in vain, i've seen a couple of probable team lists just there and he was included in all of them. . .i think the menopause might be kicking in

bpb101

i say a surprise might be in store
Greece 1-0 Germany says this scholar

DubDani

If Germany win tonight they will set a new world record of winning 15 competitive games (i.e. excluding friendlies) in a row.

Their last loss was against Spain in the WC 2010, and since then they have won every competitive game, scoring 42 and conceding only 11.

drumlover22

jester77 wrote: »

Schweinsteiger will pull the strings here. Germany are solid at the back and can't see them giving too much away. I think it will come down to how good the German attack is tonight. This is the one area where Germany are not very strong imo, they don't have a potent striker or that killer instinct up front but when you have someone like Schweinsteiger behind them then it should be enough.

Is Mario Gomez not a potent striker? I think he's had the ball for around 1 minute and scored 3 times!

Hoki

jester77 wrote: »

Schweinsteiger will pull the strings here. Germany are solid at the back and can't see them giving too much away. I think it will come down to how good the German attack is tonight. This is the one area where Germany are not very strong imo, they don't have a potent striker or that killer instinct up front but when you have someone like Schweinsteiger behind them then it should be enough.

Eh Gomez is probably in the the top 3 most clinical strikers on the planet right now - joint top goalscorer at the Euros yet you say he is not potent

cgpg5

4-0 Germany I reckon, think they'll blow them away. Think germany will reach a new level in the knock outs

xtal191

Hopefully the Greeks can win this one

kitakyushu

A good bit of Greek support on this thread it appears. It'd be an interesting poll (not who you think is gonna win, but who you'd like to win).

~Rebel~

Hoki wrote: »

Eh Gomez is probably in the the top 3 most clinical strikers on the planet right now - joint top goalscorer at the Euros yet you say he is not potent

I can guarantee you that Mario Gomez is far from impotent!

...wait...

ben.schlomo

pickarooney wrote: »

Logically there's no way Germany can lose this.
Logically there was no way Russia could lose this year or that Greece could win in 04...

Big difference between Russia and this German side though.

Hoping for a German win, they are a very entertaining side and i want to see them in the final with Spain, the two best sides in Europe by a distance for me.

kitakyushu

~Rebel~ wrote: »

I can guarantee you that Mario Gomez is far from impotent!

...wait...

Gomez is both a lover and a fighter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lXe9aWt5P8

(sorry for the horrible "humourous" dubbing in that clip)

Idbatterim

Klose is also a very potent striker... If Germany win here and England beat Italy, it will be a Germany v England semi final!!!

tigger123

I heard Julius-Caeser-Angela-Merkel will be in attendance herself... I would love nothing more than for Greece to cause a shock and nick a 1 - 0 win

Orando Broom

Politically and from a story perspective, I'd love to see Greece slap the Germans one. From a football perspective Germany and by a lot. I would love to see an exhibition from the Germans tonight.

Greece to take a shock lead and Germany to wake up and steamroll them

Germany 4-1 Greece.

kryogen

Be very surprised if Greece can pull of an upset here without their out ball, and talisman to be honest.

Germany will find a way to score, where is the Greek goal going to come from?

Nuri Sahin

BILD have Klose starting instead of Gomez tonight.

Aenaes

I'm hoping to see Germany win, I love watching them play.
Greece won't be laying down though and it could be tough for Germany.

The fact Karagounis is missing for Greece is gonna weaken them considerably. It's a joke his suspension still stands really. A review panel should be set up to strike off decisions like his yellow card vs Russia. At the very least, Greece should be able to appeal the suspension.

Germany to win 1-0, Gomez header.

Nuri Sahin

Germany XI vs. Greece: Neuer - Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm - Khedira, Schweinsteiger - Reus, Özil, Schürrle - Klose according to BILD.

I love that front four

Can't see Loew dropping all 3 players (Gomez, Podolski and Muller) though.

kitakyushu

-Ade- wrote: »

Germany XI vs. Greece: Neuer - Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm - Khedira, Schweinsteiger - Reus, Özil, Schürrle - Klose according to BILD.

I love that front four

Can't see Loew dropping all 3 players (Gomez, Podolski and Muller) though.

Germany must be very confident of a win if they go with that team.

Reminiscent of 1954

Aenaes

-Ade- wrote: »

Germany XI vs. Greece: Neuer - Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm - Khedira, Schweinsteiger - Reus, Özil, Schürrle - Klose according to BILD.

I love that front four

Can't see Loew dropping all 3 players (Gomez, Podolski and Muller) though.

Yeah, that really doesn't look right. Unless he's greatly underestimating Greece.
Gomez and Podolski wouldn't deserve to be dropped. Granted, Muller has been quiet but still should play. As for Reus and Schurrle, I'd imagine Kroos would start ahead of them.

DubDani

Aenaes wrote: »

Yeah, that really doesn't look right. Unless he's greatly underestimating Greece.
Gomez and Podolski wouldn't deserve to be dropped. Granted, Muller has been quiet but still should play. As for Reus and Schurrle, I'd imagine Kroos would start ahead of them.

All the major German Media outlets confirm the above team. Makes complete sense to me. Podolski has been poor in all 3 matches so far, and Schuerrle brings much more creativity and danger to the game.

Klose is more of a playing striker, which should work much better against the deep standing Greeks.

Reus on the right should be able to to cut the Greeks open and get dangerous balls into the box for Klose to convert. While Mueller has not been terribly poor, he hasn't really done anything special either in the last 3 games.

Very offensive team with loads of players that have the creativity to decide a game with something special.

darkman2

Gonna be a little bit of tension around this match i'd say:eek:


The borrower is playing the lender of last resort.

kryogen

-Ade- wrote: »

BILD have Klose starting instead of Gomez tonight.

Gomez carrying a knock?

Oat23

Müller, Poldi and Gomez' benching is tactical. Disappointed to see Gomez benched but delighted that Reus will be starting.

kryogen

Oatesy23 wrote: »

Müller, Poldi and Gomez' benching is tactical. Disappointed to see Gomez benched but delighted that Reus will be starting.

I would think so too, its a case of getting a few players more likely to be able to unlock a very good and stubborn defence for this game. Germany should have the lions share of possession and will need clever players to get past the Greeks

tolosenc

Germany are the best team in Europe at the moment, and are lightyears ahead of Greece. Wouldn't be surprised by a 3 goal margin.

sReq | uTeK

jester77 wrote: »

Schweinsteiger will pull the strings here. Germany are solid at the back and can't see them giving too much away. I think it will come down to how good the German attack is tonight. This is the one area where Germany are not very strong imo, they don't have a potent striker or that killer instinct up front but when you have someone like Schweinsteiger behind them then it should be enough.

Hope you're taking the piss?

No threat up front...pew pew

Moneymaker

Can't wait to see how Schurrle and Reus perform on the big stage.

Greece may well give them some problems tonight, going to be hard to break down. 1-0 win for Germany, goal coming in the last 20 minutes.

Don't write off Greece.

sReq | uTeK

tolosenc wrote: »

Germany are the best team in Europe at the moment, and are lightyears ahead of Greece. Wouldn't be surprised by a 3 goal margin.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that, they've looked the best in this tournament so far, but they've not really had a tough test to be honest they came up against a VERY poor dutch team, looked good against Portugal and didn't look all the GOOD against Denmark and lets not forget if that penalty on Bendtner is given it could well be someone else in the quarter finals.

A good team? Yes, one of the best in the tournament? Yes.

Best in europe? I wouldn't say so.

Dempsey

Oatesy23 wrote: »

Müller, Poldi and Gomez' benching is tactical. Disappointed to see Gomez benched but delighted that Reus will be starting.

Germany looking for more ball retention and better passing in tight spaces?

Pity I didnt see that coming, it upsets my fantasy football team :pac:

Francie Barrett

Germany will smash Greece to bits, 3-0 for me.

Spread

Can see Greece nicking it with a late goal

darkman2

The tension is rising!:D





"All Greek beers 30% down in price, all German beers +30%"

Jimmy Iovine

Does anyone know how quickly RTE put the coverage up onto the Player? Will they do it tonight or will they wait till tomorrow?

I'm going off playing soccer at 8.30, so if I could catch the second half on the Player later that'd be great.

darkman2

Jimmy Iovine wrote: »

Does anyone know how quickly RTE put the coverage up onto the Player? Will they do it tonight or will they wait till tomorrow?

I'm going off playing soccer at 8.30, so if I could catch the second half on the Player later that'd be great.

I goes up round 11pm I am pretty certain. Last night's game was up around that time.

Professional Griefer

It should be up after the game/show. Not 100% though.

Jimmy Iovine

Perfect. I'll just have to avoid Facebook, Twitter and Boards until 11 then. Easier said than done.

Oat23

The set where ZDF are broadcasting from in Germany is fantastic.

http://omg.wthax.org/vlcsnap_2012_06_22_18h31m49s67.png

Where To

Oatesy23 wrote: »

The set where ZDF are broadcasting from in Germany is fantastic.

http://omg.wthax.org/vlcsnap_2012_06_22_18h31m49s67.png

You've accidentally linked to 1974.

Nuri Sahin

-Ade- wrote: »

Germany XI vs. Greece: Neuer - Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm - Khedira, Schweinsteiger - Reus, Özil, Schürrle - Klose according to BILD.

I love that front four

Can't see Loew dropping all 3 players (Gomez, Podolski and Muller) though.

Confirmed Germany starting XI ^