UEFA Euro 2012 Poland-Ukraine: Germans Glowing with Anticipation

[The Larch]

Why not Llorente instead of Torres?

I think that Del Bosque will stick it out with Torres as starter and Llorente as an upsetter once the match sets on. Besides, Llorente's form in the closing stages of the league hasn't been great, while Torres improved a lot.

[Zanza]

Germany nominated its team:

GK: Neuer, Wiese, Zieler
D: Badstuber, Boateng, Höwedes, Hummels, Lahm, Mertesacker, Schmelzer
MF: Bender, Götze, Gündogan, Khedira, Kroos, Müller, Özil, Podolski, Reus, Schürrle, Schweinsteiger
A: Gomez, Klose

[Tamas]

Why not Llorente instead of Torres?

Torres showed clear signs of improvement late in the season.

His ambition also seems to be returning after his de facto ultimatum to the Chelsea board shortly after the CL win. The release of Drogba and Kalou also indicates they expect him to be the #1 striker at the club next season, which should get him the drive needed.

[Maladict]

One day to go and this thread is down to page 3, wtf?
Anyway, apart from the snoozefest tomorrow, some potentially great matches in the first few days.
Saturday: Germany-Portugal
Sunday: Spain-Italy
Monday: England-France

[Hansmeister]

I have to meander over to the French detachment to see if they are able to watch the EC there, otherwise I will miss the tournament. 

[Maladict]

I have to meander over to the French detachment to see if they are able to watch the EC there, otherwise I will miss the tournament. 

I think it's very likely they're able to watch.

[Martinus]

I have to meander over to the French detachment to see if they are able to watch the EC there, otherwise I will miss the tournament. 

Is "meandering over to the French detachment" some kind of dirty euphemism?

[Viking]

Germany has the best balanced team and  has quality in depth in all positions.

Spain, The Netherlands and Russia are also candidates for success.

[Josquius]

Did anyone see that panorama documentary last week?
It was about football in the area and how anti-semitic and violent the fans are. Warning black British fans not to go over.

[Liep]

I somehow managed to be working on the days Denmark are playing, during the final as well.. not that those two will coincide.

[katmai]

Tyr, i've heard about that Doc and Sol Campbell's warnings, but haven't seen it.

[Hansmeister]

Germany has the best balanced team and  has quality in depth in all positions.

Spain, The Netherlands and Russia are also candidates for success.

I'm not quite confident in the German defense.  They've been quite shaky and how Germany will do will depend largely on if they find a starting for that can harmonize.

On midfield and offense the German team is second to none.  Heck, most countries would kill for Germany's offensive bench.

[The Larch]

I beg to difer regarding midfield. :p

You may have a point with the strikers, though.

[Hansmeister]

I beg to difer regarding midfield. :p

You may have a point with the strikers, though.

Germany has backup players such as Goetze, Reus, Schuerrle, Kroos in the midfield, which gives them more depth in the offensive midfield than any other country, imho (and they're all very young).  Only Spain and the Netherlands are competitve to Germany in midfield, and neither have as deep a bench.

The problem for Germany is that on their defensive four they only have one great player - Philip Lahm, the rest are not that consistent.  Of course Germany being a tournament team I'm hoping it will all come together just in time for the tournament.

The amazing thing is that the German team is still so young on average, with only one starting player (Klose) over 30, and with a huge number of younger players already applying pressure on the more established players.

On another note I wouldn't be surprised if France did quite well this tournament.  The rebuilding they've done could pay off quite well for them and could lead to them getting very far.

Portugal will suck ass, and so will England and Italy.

[Viking]

Apparently the "Paul the Octopus" of Ukraine is a Pig.