Euro 2008 - Day 6: Croatia Exposes Germany's Defensive Woes with 2-1 Win
June 13th 2008 01:01
And it wasn't that close. With a Croatian team determined to prove something after their average showing against Austria (where they had one shot on goal – a penalty kick), the Germans were caught by surprise, unable to build plays in the midfield, and sunk down by terrible defending.
It was obvious from the start that this wasn't going to be an easy match for the Germans. Their midfielders were constantly stifled by Croatian pressure and their long balls to striker Gómez never found their recipient as the forward was repeatedly caught offside. The Germans were facing a very intense and focused Croatian team which bore some resemblance to the 1998 squad that finished third at the World Cup. They won the individual battles, they were always first on the ball, and puzzled Gemany who didn't quite know how to react since everything they tried failed. Germany had already showed signs of weakness at the back in their opening match, it was only a matter of time until the Croats exploited those flaws.
At the 24th minute, Croatia's left back Danifel Pranjic curled a superb cross to Lehmann's second post. The ball slighty brushed Mertesacker's hair before right midfielder Darijo Srna beat Marcell Jansen to kick the ball in the back of the net. Jansen was completely taken aback by Srna's play when he shouldn't have. Indeed, the midfielder had spent a long while hidden behind the defender's back without him noticing. A simple look over his shoulder would've told Jansen where the threat was, but he stayed focused on the ball instead of the play, consequently letting Srna surprise him. No more goals came in the first half but it was obvious that Germany was in trouble. Conceding the first goal wasn't the real concern in the locker room, the problem was that the tournament's favorites couln't get any attack going.
Joachim Löw used his first substitution at half time. Midfielder/winger David Odonkor was in while Marcel Jansen was out. The change brought some movement in the formation as right back Phillip Lahm was sent to the left and right midfielder Clemens Fritz moved to right back. I didn't really understand this change. Odonkor doesn't really bring much to the team except pace but he couldn't use his speed anyway because there wasn't any space to run to. Schweinsteiger would have been a much better option and yet Löw waited until the 66th minute to put the blond midfielder in the game. At that point, Croatia was already 2-0.
The blue team's second goal was, again, caused by the German defenders' slow reaction. Ivan Rakitic's cross was deflected by Lukas Podolski, the ball hit the post - despite Lehmann's best effort to put it into corner – and came back into play between Metzelder and Metersacker who both hesitated. Like a Jack-in-the-box, striker Ivica Olic sprung between the two defenders to tap the ball into the empty net, giving his team a comfortable two-goal lead.
That's when Schweinsteiger entered the game in Gómez's place and forward Kuranyi replaced Fritz as the German decided to play with three defenders to get some offense going. The damage was already done however, and frustration seeped into Germany's play. Lukas Podolski saved Germany from complete humiliation by volleying Ballack's header past Pletikosa at the 79th minute. With ten minutes left to play, German fans started to hope for a comeback but it was not to be as Schweinsteiger got a red card in extra-time for reacting to a tackle by Jerko Leko. The young player was clearly frustrated by the events and left the field without much of a protest.
So, Germany isn't eliminated yet of course but there is a sense of doubt in the air now. They weren't able to stop Croatia, how will they stop the big guns?
My man of the match: Josip Simunic. The whole Croatian team deserves the award but I'll go with Simunic because he was instrumental in intercepting German passes in the final third of the field.
Honorable mention: Phillip Lahm. Though both goals started from his side of the field, he was the best player of his team by a wide margin.
It was obvious from the start that this wasn't going to be an easy match for the Germans. Their midfielders were constantly stifled by Croatian pressure and their long balls to striker Gómez never found their recipient as the forward was repeatedly caught offside. The Germans were facing a very intense and focused Croatian team which bore some resemblance to the 1998 squad that finished third at the World Cup. They won the individual battles, they were always first on the ball, and puzzled Gemany who didn't quite know how to react since everything they tried failed. Germany had already showed signs of weakness at the back in their opening match, it was only a matter of time until the Croats exploited those flaws.
At the 24th minute, Croatia's left back Danifel Pranjic curled a superb cross to Lehmann's second post. The ball slighty brushed Mertesacker's hair before right midfielder Darijo Srna beat Marcell Jansen to kick the ball in the back of the net. Jansen was completely taken aback by Srna's play when he shouldn't have. Indeed, the midfielder had spent a long while hidden behind the defender's back without him noticing. A simple look over his shoulder would've told Jansen where the threat was, but he stayed focused on the ball instead of the play, consequently letting Srna surprise him. No more goals came in the first half but it was obvious that Germany was in trouble. Conceding the first goal wasn't the real concern in the locker room, the problem was that the tournament's favorites couln't get any attack going.
Joachim Löw used his first substitution at half time. Midfielder/winger David Odonkor was in while Marcel Jansen was out. The change brought some movement in the formation as right back Phillip Lahm was sent to the left and right midfielder Clemens Fritz moved to right back. I didn't really understand this change. Odonkor doesn't really bring much to the team except pace but he couldn't use his speed anyway because there wasn't any space to run to. Schweinsteiger would have been a much better option and yet Löw waited until the 66th minute to put the blond midfielder in the game. At that point, Croatia was already 2-0.
The blue team's second goal was, again, caused by the German defenders' slow reaction. Ivan Rakitic's cross was deflected by Lukas Podolski, the ball hit the post - despite Lehmann's best effort to put it into corner – and came back into play between Metzelder and Metersacker who both hesitated. Like a Jack-in-the-box, striker Ivica Olic sprung between the two defenders to tap the ball into the empty net, giving his team a comfortable two-goal lead.
That's when Schweinsteiger entered the game in Gómez's place and forward Kuranyi replaced Fritz as the German decided to play with three defenders to get some offense going. The damage was already done however, and frustration seeped into Germany's play. Lukas Podolski saved Germany from complete humiliation by volleying Ballack's header past Pletikosa at the 79th minute. With ten minutes left to play, German fans started to hope for a comeback but it was not to be as Schweinsteiger got a red card in extra-time for reacting to a tackle by Jerko Leko. The young player was clearly frustrated by the events and left the field without much of a protest.
So, Germany isn't eliminated yet of course but there is a sense of doubt in the air now. They weren't able to stop Croatia, how will they stop the big guns?
My man of the match: Josip Simunic. The whole Croatian team deserves the award but I'll go with Simunic because he was instrumental in intercepting German passes in the final third of the field.
Honorable mention: Phillip Lahm. Though both goals started from his side of the field, he was the best player of his team by a wide margin.
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Comment by Anonymous
I really think they can go far this time...