Germany has put up another four goal game – this time, eliminating a team that had become one of the favorites, sending Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi out of World Cup 2010. The Germans advance to Wednesday’s semifinal to face Spain, who barely advanced past Paraguay thanks to David Villa’s fifth goal of the tournament.
To talk about those matches, I was joined by Kartik Krishnaiyer for this edition of the World Cup Buzz Podcast.
Not sure how you can dismiss Trochowski, he was the incumbent for the shirt, Muller only sealed his starting spot in the Bosnia friendly directly before the World Cup. The problem is Trochowski doesn’t have the dynamism of Muller, but he can work Capdevilla as a winger, and can take long shots which if spilt, Klose can knock in.
Big choice for Low to make though, I’m sure he will find a solution to this problem.
The Germans have been the most imrpessive team in this World Cup because of their results against England and Argentina, however, in both cases the other teams were chasing the game making it easier for the Germans to execute their counter attacks in efficient and ruthless manner. They key for Spain is to take the lead and see how Germany will react.
Speaking of rivalries, Argentina and Brazil are indeed rivals but in the case of the World Cup the two teams never met in a Final and this means if we are considering the World Cup clashes then Brazil and Italy would be considered rivals. The Selecao dismissed Italy 4-1 in the Final of WC1970 and the Italians struck back by beating one of the most talented Brazilian teams ever assembled in WC1982. The two teams would meet again in WC1994 Final when penalties earned Brazil the title. The Selecao have 5 stars and the Azzurri have 4 so even in terms of titles those are the two teams which are closest in terms of honours. I’d also add the fact that historically Brazil stood for offensive and attacking football as opposed to the defensive school which Italy represents with great success (except for this WC when the Azzurri were a shadow of the historic defensive teams in previous editions of the WC).
On another point, I do not think the Germans consider the Dutch as rivals since the Germans have 3 stars to Holland’s none. In addition, in recent years Argentina and Germany have developed a rivalry with the teams meeting in QFs of WC2006 and 2010 after meeting in the Final twice in WC1986 and WC1990. Argentina ahave 2 stars and are thus closer to Germany in terms of titles won than the Dutch are.
The Dutch probably consider Belgium and Germany as rivals but I don’t think the Germans consider the Dutch as genuine rivals. Germans respect the Netherlands and give them credit but do not necessarily consider them as rivals. I think closest team to being a rival for Germany is Italy because the Azzurri eliminated Germany in WC2006 in the semi-final in a game most of the critics and many fans considered as the game of the tournament. Add to that two games between them from previous editions which rank inside the top 15 games ever played in World Cup history and one can see why the 2 nations have a genuine rivalry. Just have a look at their match during WC1970 and then the one in the Final if WC1982.
The Germans HATE the Dutch. They respect the Italians, French and the English. They never rated Spain until recently. Big difference. While Italy, England, Argentina France are all “rivals,” Holland is the enemy. It’s like a war when they play.
It’s not the competitiveness but the hatred. Besides, the rivalry hit a new level in the Euro 88 Tournament where Holland deprived Germany victory on home soil. They also met in Italia 90 and Euro 92, although in the later tournament Denmark shocked both of them. But the Germany-Holland rivalry was such that when the Dutch as always went out on PKs vs Denmark in the semifinals, the Germans let their guard down. They wanted to avenge 88 and the thrashing the Dutch had given them at the group stage.
Talk to German football fans and they’ll almost all describe their hatred of the Dutch. The same works the other way around. A true rivalry, based on mutual hatred more than results.
I believe a rivalry is born out of playing consistently and constantly for top awards just like Nadal and Federer do in Grand Slams, and Lakers & Celtics do in the NBA.
In this case, the two only met on the big stage in the 1970s while the rest of the big matches have mostly involved Brazil vs Italy or Germany vs Italy or Germany vs Argentina.
I must say I am amazed at how consistent the Germans are. While Brazil and Italy won more titles, it’s impressive to see how many times the Germans have reached the latter stages at the World Cup and if anything is common between Brazil, Italy, Argentina and England, then it’s Germany because all of these teams have played the Germans on a number of occasions in the World Cup.
It’s strange because the Germans I know rarely ever mention the Dutch. In some cases I gather politics, society, cultures and other aspects offer additional incentives to create a rivalry. I was mostly focused on the World Cup as a stage and that’s why I didn’t consider the Dutch as a rival to any of the big teams to be frank. I do, however, agree with what you are saying and the other perspective.