Wow, Portugal who has never won anything is gaining your faith. I'm not sure I would put any stock in them.
Matthieu Chollet
· 1 year ago
Italy hasn't beaten France in normal or extra-time in a competitive match since 1978. That's 30 years!
they only beat france on penalties at the World cup 2006, then lost 3-0 at Stade de France and drew 0-0 in Italy for their European qualifiers.
If your prediction for a semi-final France-Italy is correct, France has more chance to score 1-0 than Italy. If it goes to penalties, then Italy has a bigger chance to win because of Buffon.
As a Frenchman, I am going for France of course!
Paul Bestall
· 1 year ago
I don't think France will get out of their group or Italy get to the semi's personally.
betsy's bolton bum baster
· 1 year ago
where will the goals come for germany? do you even watch football? lucas podolski led them in scoring, mario gomez had the 2nd most goals in the bundesliga while scoring in 6 of his first 9 caps for germany. bastian schweinsteiger ring a bell? torsten frings if a defensive midfielder but he can shoot from long range as well. they will miss bernd schneider on the right side of midfield but they are not lacking goal-scorers.
Kartik
· 1 year ago
Gomez had a great Bundesliga season as well. Podolski struggled with Bayern, but Germany's beauty is that they can score from midfield. I think Torsten "handball" Frings (I am an American) is potent going forward and on set pieces as is schweinsteiger.
Germany is the team to beat.
Lonnie
· 1 year ago
IMHO, Podolski only "struggled" because Luca Toni soaked up most of his playing time. Podolski sat on the bench most of the season but when he did get some starts he did produce. He ended up with 5G and 4A from 8 starts and a bunch of second-half cameos.
The German midfield is going to be formidable and if Ballack stays healthy and in form there will be another source of goals.
I'm going to take an opportunity to give another plug to the Bundesliga. The Bundesliga will have the most players competing at the tournament with more than 50. The EPL and La Liga are a ways back with about 40 players. Serie A is contributing around 35 players.
This is based on a quick scan I did of final rosters on the UEFA.com site.
Michael
· 1 year ago
Betsy, as Kartik said, Podolski really struggled at Bayern Munich this season, I'm not really convinced by Gomez, Schweinsteiger is good, and Frings does shoot from long distance but that's extremely hit-or-miss.
I'm not saying that those guys can't score, I'm saying I don't think they will with Portugal's strength in the center of their defensive third. Ballack and Toni are a notch above the players you just mentioned and can score in a variety of ways, and if Germany does manage to score, it will be through one (or both) of those two.
Michael
· 1 year ago
As Kartik pointed out, Germany is capable of scoring from midfield, but Portugal is even more capable of doing so with Ronaldo, Deco, Simao, Nani, Quaresma, Joao Moutinho, etc..Portugal's wing play is superior to that of Germany and will be where they win this game.
All Comments
they only beat france on penalties at the World cup 2006, then lost 3-0 at Stade de France and drew 0-0 in Italy for their European qualifiers.
If your prediction for a semi-final France-Italy is correct, France has more chance to score 1-0 than Italy. If it goes to penalties, then Italy has a bigger chance to win because of Buffon.
As a Frenchman, I am going for France of course!
Germany is the team to beat.
The German midfield is going to be formidable and if Ballack stays healthy and in form there will be another source of goals.
I'm going to take an opportunity to give another plug to the Bundesliga. The Bundesliga will have the most players competing at the tournament with more than 50. The EPL and La Liga are a ways back with about 40 players. Serie A is contributing around 35 players.
This is based on a quick scan I did of final rosters on the UEFA.com site.
I'm not saying that those guys can't score, I'm saying I don't think they will with Portugal's strength in the center of their defensive third. Ballack and Toni are a notch above the players you just mentioned and can score in a variety of ways, and if Germany does manage to score, it will be through one (or both) of those two.