171 replies to this topic

[gkgyver]

Halftime.

It ain't over until the Portugese lady sings.

[Stefancos]

Dear God....no penalty shootout please!

[alicebrallice]

omggggg

this is unbearable!

[Stefancos]

Cassilas was brilliant, but Real's great players can't take penalties.

Bayern deserves their win!

[alicebrallice]

herzliche gratulation, gkgyver.

[Stefancos]

He can't hear you over the screaming and trowing of lager!

[Omen II]

Germans in penalty shootout victory shock!

In other news today, the Pope is catholic and bears shit in the woods.

[Stefancos]

It's not the first time Ronaldo messed up a penalty in a CL clincher.

[gkgyver]

herzliche gratulation, gkgyver.

Tack för det!

I can hear you quite well, but I'm going to Munich city right now, which is five minutes away.

[Stefancos]

Enjoy. Have one on me.

Bayern will hammer Chelsea at home!

[Chaac]

Lots of joy among the Barcelonists around here.

[Romão]

I don't think I remember seing a german team ever losing a penalty shoot out

[ChrisAfonso]

Mönchengladbach lost the penalties against Bayern in the German cup semis

[Omen II]

I don't think I remember seing a german team ever losing a penalty shoot out

It was no doubt before your time Merkel, but surely you have seen clips of Czechoslovakia's Antonin Panenka chipping his penalty over Sepp Maier back in 1976? One of the most famous penalties in the history of the game and, I believe, the first and only time the Germans have ever lost a penalty shootout.

Not that, as an Englishman, I have a complex about it or anything...

[gkgyver]

So, ladies and gentlemen, your bets for the finale?

Mine is 3-1.

[Pasi Tiitinen]

0-1.....!

[Stefancos]

2 - 1. Gomez and Robben score for Bayern. Drogba for Chelsea.

[Pasi Tiitinen]

0-1.....!

Only Drogba...

[Stefancos]

Gomez will score around the 27th minute. Robben just before halftime.

Drogba will score before the 52th minute.

[Pasi Tiitinen]

How about old-fashioned threat from 25-30 meter? Like Ronald Koeman? If Chelsea is
going to perform that turtle defense again, shouldn't Bayern try to shoot further...?

[Stefancos]

Chelsea doesn't have anyone like that....
Its still a miracle they went through

[Stefancos]

Shocking!

Man City take the English premiership by scoring 2 goals in the extra time. The usually supreme Manchester United has had nothing to show for all their efforts. Arsenal finish a very shaky year in third place, mostly thanks to Dutch boy wonder Robin van Persie.

[Pasi Tiitinen]

Where did he end up, 30 goals? I hope he will continue same kind of scoring in Euro Cup next summer...

[Stefancos]

I hope so too. but so far it's been pretty low...

[Romão]

I hope not

[Pasi Tiitinen]

Oh they are in the same group, Netherlands and Portugal. And what a group it is!

[Stefancos]

Yeah. I do think we have the psychological advantage if we beat Denmark at our first game. But we ALWAYS struggle against Portugal. And Germany...well...

[gkgyver]

Wow, what a pitiful performance by Bayern this Saturday in the cup finale. 5-2. Dortmund rolled over Bayern like an avalanche.

[Stefancos]

Woefull!

[Romão]

There are a few somewhat unknown players in Dortmund that are absolutely fantastic. Fantastic job by Klopp.

As for the Euro, we always lose agains Germany but normally win agains Holland. However, we have one of the weakest squads in nearly 15 years, while Holland has a particularly strong one, specially if those 4 talents are in shape (Robben, Sneijder, Van der Vaart and Van Persie). Plus, Huntelaar has been on a roll for both the national team and Shalke, while our main striker plays for Zaragoza... As for Germany, this is probably their strongest side since the 1990 World Cup win

[Omen II]

But we ALWAYS struggle against Portugal. And Germany...well...

I feel your pain.

The Netherlands looked good when they played England in the recent friendly at Wembley. We were celebrating with the Barmy Army in the home end when we got it back to 2-2 right near the end (or so we thought) and your lot just went up the other end and scored again (a slightly lucky deflection, but Robben doesn't need to be asked twice when he cuts inside on his left foot like that - our defenders really should have known better).

[Stefancos]

As for the Euro, we always lose agains Germany but normally win agains Holland.

True, however it's actually been years since our 2 countries played against eacht other. I remember that particulary dirty match in 2006, during the World Cup in Germany. that's the last time we met I think. Figo was still in your side.

However, we have one of the weakest squads in nearly 15 years,

Portugal was already pretty weak two years ago. None of the names ring a bell, apart from the outstanding and annoying C. Ronalo, naturally.

while Holland has a particularly strong one, specially if those 4 talents are in shape (Robben, Sneijder, Van der Vaart and Van Persie). Plus, Huntelaar has been on a roll for both the national team and Shalke,

Sneijder did not play much this year, and I hear he's injured. Robben...well he can break something any second now....

If they can manage to get Huntelaar and Van Persie play together effectively.....

[Romão]

That match back in 2006 was memorable for all the wrong reasons But you are right, a lot has changed since then. Portugal got weaker and Holland really got stronger.

Portugal as of now has very few top players. Ronaldo, naturally, Pepe (dirty as they come, but he is one hell of a defender) and Nani, while wildly inconsistent, at his best is a great winger. Moutinho and Coentrão could be nice surprises, I hope.

The problem with those top 4 Holland players is that they are all very prone to injuries, and that can really make or break Holland's performance. But if they are all in good shape, beware...

[Stefancos]

That match back in 2006 was memorable for all the wrong reasons

The Holland - Spain final of 2 years ago was a friendly match compared to that one. Really horrible.

But you are right, a lot has changed since then. Portugal got weaker and Holland really got stronger.

That's what I'm hoping for.

Portugal as of now has very few top players. Ronaldo, naturally, Pepe (dirty as they come, but he is one hell of a defender) and Nani, while wildly inconsistent, at his best is a great winger. Moutinho and Coentrão could be nice surprises, I hope.

Ah yes. pepe. Some of his trandgressions this year have been astonishing. He better stay away from Robben.

The problem with those top 4 Holland players is that they are all very prone to injuries, and that can really make or break Holland's performance. But if they are all in good shape, beware...

Robben is usually the problem child. Sneijder has had a particulary bad year.

[gkgyver]

Robben isn't injured, he's in good shape. He just has a weak phase right now. Kind of burned out it seems.

Germany really does have probably the strongest, and most even, team since several decades ago. However, I don't have complete faith in Löw's ability to really put the strongest players on the field in the right positions. He has the tendency to just go for the usual players while overlooking their current form.
Klose for instance was injured for two months now, and didn't play at all, and also hasn't really set the world on fire at Lazio in 2012. Plus, he is slightly injured right now. The statistics clearly speak for Mario Gomez, and have done so for the entire last year.
Thomas Müller is out of shape and has lost his permanent place at Bayern. Lukas Podolski always was invisible when it came down to crunchtime in semifinals or more.
The two strong tentpoles are Khedira and Özil.

And it's a mystery to me why Löw doesn't simply take the Bayern defense line Badstuber-Boateng-Lahm. They play together the entire season, and Bayern just barely missed the club record for received goals this season, which is 21 (they got 22 this season).

And don't underestimate the French, mes amies!

[Stefancos]

The French? I still laugh my ass of when I think of them during the World Cup. The French spirit died the moment Zidane left!

Germany has probably the strongest overall team, apart maybe from Spain. I'm actually glad now that we face then in the group stage. If we beat Denmark and Portugal, we can actually afford to lose from them!

Also, the type of game Germany now plays is fantastic to watch!

[Ren]

I wish the US would show more soccer, that's my sport. I could watch it all day.....

[Romão]

Robben isn't injured, he's in good shape. He just has a weak phase right now. Kind of burned out it seems.


And it's a mystery to me why Löw doesn't simply take the Bayern defense line Badstuber-Boateng-Lahm. They play together the entire season, and Bayern just barely missed the club record for received goals this season, which is 21 (they got 22 this season).

I can understand this, but Hummels is a terrifc defender. Perhaps they could return Boateng to one of the sides (both him and Lahm play well on either side). Also, Podolsky always plays great for the national team, leaning slightly on the attacking left

[gkgyver]

Hummels certainly is (coming from Bayern's youth btw), but he barely had playing time in the national team with a steady partner. Not as much as Boateng-Badstuber anyway.
Podolski bothers me because he tends to lose the absolute will when a game becomes difficult. And he doesn't really do much for defense.
Spain lost Puyol and probably David Villa for the tournament. I don't think the loss will be that hard to compensate, but you never know.

[Stefancos]

Ok!

I've put 50 Euro on Bayern winning the Champions League final tonight in a private bet with my GF.

GO GERMANS!