Euro 2012 Group B preview: Germany vs Portugal

Germany have an early chance to underline their title credentials at Euro 2012 when they face Portugal in Lviv on Saturday.

Joachim Loew's men are one of the pre-tournament favourites in Poland and Ukraine, but face a stern test first up in Group B.

With a clash against the Netherlands to follow before a meeting with Denmark, a strong start is a must for Germany in what has been labelled the 'Group of Death'.

The return to fitness of Bastian Schweinsteiger is a boost for Loew's team ahead of the opener, with the Bayern Munich midfielder returning from a calf injury.

Portugal are expected to be heavily reliant on Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo if they are to be successful in a tough group.

The attacker was their top-scorer in qualifying and will have support from the likes of Manchester United's Nani and Real Zaragoza forward Helder Postiga in the attacking third.

Germany captain Philipp Lahm is likely to start at left-back while Jerome Boateng could start on the right, with the pair crucial if Loew's side are to keep Ronaldo and Nani quiet.

The problems for Portugal during qualifying were in defence, conceding 12 goals in eight matches in a group they were expected to top but came second in.

Real Madrid duo Pepe and Fabio Coentrao will lead the back four, with Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Patricio the first-choice ahead of Eduardo.

Without former Chelsea defenders Jose Bosingwa and Ricardo Carvalho, who both fell out with coach Paulo Bento, Portugal's back four could be exposed by Germany.

Lazio striker Miroslav Klose is again likely to be preferred ahead of Mario Gomez up front despite the Bayern Munich goalscorer's exploits this season.

Behind the lone striker are a dangerous attacking trio, with the likes of Mesut Oezil, Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos and Lukas Podolski competing for a starting place.

With one of the world's best goalkeepers in Manuel Neuer in goal, Germany deserve their tag as one of the pre-tournament favourites.

They get the opportunity to show what they are capable of in their opening outing against a dangerous Portugal outfit.

 

soccerway.com

International friendly preview: Switzerland vs Germany

Germany begin their quest for a first international title since 1996 when they travel for an international friendly with Switzerland on Saturday.

Joachim Loew's young players were very impressive at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before being knocked out by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.

The majority of that 2010 squad is still involved and Loew will be preparing them to go a couple of steps further at this year's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

But Loew will first have to give his Bayern Munich contingent a boost.

There are eight Bayern players in Loew's provisional 27-man squad and seven of them played in last weekend's Champions League final loss to Chelsea.

Germany's coaching staff know that kind of disappointment will have an impact on the Bayern players.

"We have no magic potion that will rebuild everyone at once," Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said on Monday.

"There is a process and we have to give the players a few days.

Switzerland host Germany at St Jakob-Park on Saturday.

"We will build the boys up again, the change of air will do them good, with us they can still win the title."

Germany have three international friendlies scheduled before Euro 2012 begins.

Switzerland are the Germans' first opponent and they have their own international tournament to prepare for.

The Swiss have qualified for the Olympics after finishing second at the 2011 Under 21 European Championships last year and five of the players involved in that tournament, plus another three that could be involved in London, have been picked to play against Germany.

The star of Switzerland's next generation is playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri, who will join Bayern Munich from Basel at the start of next season.

Shaqiri is a strong attacker who generally plays on the right, which allows him to cut in and shoot with his powerful left foot.

In 2008, in the last match between these two teams, Germany thrashed Switzerland 4-0 with Mario Gomez scoring twice.

Gomez, who was poor against Chelsea on Saturday, will be keen to get back on the pitch and show that he is still in form.
The 26-year-old scored 41 goals in 52 matches for Bayern Munich this season.
Switzerland will host Germany at St Jakob-Park in Basel.

 

soccerway.com

 

Mario Götze

• Full Name : Mario Götze
• Nationality : Germany
• Date of birth : 3 June 1992
• Country of birth : Germany
• Place of birth : Memmingen, Germany
• Position : Midfielder
• Height : 176 cm
• Weight : 64 kg
• Foot : Both

Gotze made his name at Dortmund in 2009-10 when Shinji Kagawa was injured and emerged as one of the most talented young players in Europe.

Joining the Dortmund academy at the age of eight, he rose through the youth ranks and caught the eye of the international set-up, whom he represented from U-15 level up to his senior debut against Sweden in 2010.

Either on the flanks or through the centre, Gotze's creative talent quickly made him the star of the Dortmund side and he picked up his first title in his first full season in the side. Much more is expected of a player that Dortmund legend Matthias Sammer proclaimed as "one of the best talents that we've ever had" 

Strengths: He has an ability to run at the opposition with pace and skill, which is helped by the fact he is naturally two-footed. Technically excellent and with a good eye for goal. 

Weaknesses: Still learning the game, he occasionally picks the wrong pass and is not the biggest physically. 

Career high: Winning the 2010-11 German Bundesliga title and scoring six goals in 29 starts and making 15 assists. 

Career low: Forced to wait for his chance in the Dortmund first-team. 

Style: Tricky, technical, fast; a potential phenomenon. 

Quotes: "It is not possible to stop Mario Gotze. There is no one playing better than him. He runs through opponents as though they aren't there. He has the same assets as Lionel Messi in terms of his technique and understanding of the game. He is an instinctive footballer - just like Messi." German legend Franz Beckenbauer on Gotze.

 

Trivia: Gotze has the nickname 'Gotzinho' in the dressing room and lives at home with his parents. 

Youth career :
1997–1998 : SC Ronsberg
1998–2001 : FC Eintracht Hombruch
2001–2009 : Borussia Dortmund

Senior Carrer :
2009–.....  : Borussia Dortmund 

Germany Squad for Euro 2012

koclokindoblog, 8 Mei 2012, Joachim Loew has named a 27-man Germany squad to compete for Euro 2012.

With many star players arriving late because of club commitments, Low has selected an expanded team to travel to Sardinia on Friday.

And given the opportunity to experiment, Loew has selected Monchengladbach's Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Schalke's Julian Draxler.

Having only celebrated his 20th birthday last week, goalkeeper Ter Stegen earns his first call-up, as does the 18-year-old winger Draxler. Additionally, Loew has recalled Ilkay Gundogan.

Low opted not to recall Patrick Helmes, Mike Hanke, and Stefan Kiessling, choosing Cacau as his third striker alongside Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez. Additionally, Marko Marin, Simon Rolfes, Christian Trasch and Dennis Aogo will miss out on the tournament.

The coach will without many of his key players as he begin preparations later this week.

Sven Bender, Mario Gotze, Mats Hummels and Marcel Schmelzer will be with Dortmund untilMay 12, when the DFB-Pokal final takes place.

As well, Real Madrid duo Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira will not join the national team until after their final Liga match, on May 13.

But the greatest loss Low will suffer is the absence of eight Bayern Munich players - including captain Philipp Lahm and deputy Bastian Schweinsteiger - who will be with their club until after May 22, when a friendly with the Netherlands is scheduled.

Accordingly, he has named an expanded squad, which will be trimmed to 23 on May 29.

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Monchengladbach), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover).

Defenders: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Dortmund).

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Leverkusen), Sven Bender (Dortmund), Mario Gotze (Dortmund), Ilkay Gundogan (Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).

Strikers: Cacau (Stuttgart), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Koln), Marco Reus (Monchengladbach), Andre Schurrle (Leverkusen).

 

soccerway.com

Wenger denies Podolski deal

koclokindoblog.blogspot.com, 24 maret 2012,

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has dismissed reports that the club have completed a deal for Cologne striker Lukas Podolski.

It had been reported that the Germany international recently passed a medical with the Premier League side ahead of a summer move to the Emirates.

However, Wenger has moved to deny the rumours and insisted that a timescale could not be put on Podolski's arrival.

"Nothing is done. No, he has not had a medical," Wenger told the club's official website.

"I don't master the timing (of any announcement) because that does not just rely on us. It could happen soon, it could happen later, I don't know.

"It is always a concern (that someone else could come in for him). The speed in which you do things is important, but at the end of the day it is always the player who makes the decision.

"It is about how much they want to join you."

The 26-year-old has scored 16 goals in 22 Bundesliga appearances this season and has 95 international caps for Germany.

soccerway.com

Lawan Prancis, Miroslav Klose Kapten Jerman

koclokindoblog.blogspot.com, 23 maret 2012,
Klose dipastikan menjabat kapten Die Mannschaft untuk laga persahabatan kontra Prancis sesaat lagi.
Ketiadaan kapten utama Philipp Lahm dan Bastian Schweinsteiger sebagai deputi untuk uji coba kontra Prancis sesaat lagi membuat arsitek timnas Jerman, Joachim Low, memberikan posisi tersebut kepada striker Miroslav Klose.

Sementara guna menambal absensi Lahm dan Schweinsteiger di lapangan, sang pelatih memutuskan menurunkan Dennis Aogo sebagai starter di sektor bek kiri dan Toni Kroos di pos gelandang bertahan.
eran sayap kiri yang biasa ditempati Lukas Podolski pun jatuh kepada Andre Schurrle karena pemain Koeln yang disebut pertama itu tak dipanggil. Di sisi berlawanan, Marco Reus mengungguli Thomas Muller yang harus rela mengawali laga dari bangku cadangan.Seperti yang telah diperkirakan, posisi di bawah mistar pun diamanatkan kepada Tim Wiese. Sedangkan back-four di depannya dihuni Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, serta Holger Badstuber, selain juga Aogo.

Berikut susunan starting XI Die Mannschaft untuk laga di Weserstadion melawan Les Blues:
Jerman (4-2-3-1): Wiese; Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Aogo; Khedira, Kroos; Reus, Ozil, Schurrle; Klose
Cadangan: Neuer, Schmelzer, Howedes, Trasch, Rolfes, Muller, L. Bender, Gomez, Cacau

goal.com




 

Miroslav Klose Berharap Masih Bisa Bermain Di Piala Dunia 2014

koclokindoblog.blogspot.com, 23 maret 2013,
Miroslav Klose tidak pernah tergiur dengan kehidupan malam Roma, dan menghabiskan waktu di arena pesta sampai dini hari.
Striker Miroslav Klose mengatakan akan mencoba mempertahankan tempatnya di tim nasional Jerman dan tampil di Piala Dunia 2014, tapi jika fisiknya memungkinkan.

"Jika saya merasa fit secara fisik, saya yakin akan berangkat ke Piala Dunia 2014 di Brasil," ujar Klose kepada 11Freunde.

Klose kini telah berusia 33 tahun. Ia telah mengenakan kostum timnas Jerman 114 kali, dan mencetak 63 gol untuk die Mannschaft.
Ia memutuskan pindah ke Serie A, dan memperkuat Lazio, untuk menemukan performa terbaiknya. Pilihannya tidak keliru. Ia kini menjadi pemain reguler Biancoceleste, dan mencetak banyak gol.

Situasi inilah yang membuatnya merasa layak memperpanjang karier internasionalnya. Terlebih, Jerman saat ini adalah tim yang bisa bermain dengan berbagai sistem berbeda.

"Jerman saat ini adalah tim yang lebih fleksibel," ujarnya.

"Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger, dan Mesut Ozil, dalan pemain hebat yang membuat Jerman bisa bermain dengan sistem apa saja," lanjutnya.

Menjawab pertanyaan soal kebiasaan berlatih di Italia, Klose mengatakan; "Di Italia, sesi latihan tidak ditonton banyak fans. Saya bisa lebih konsentrasi."

Satu hal lagi, Klose tidak pernah tergiur dengan kehidupan malam di Roma dan menghabiskan waktu berpesta sampai dini hari.

"Saya bukan lelaki yang suka menghabiskan waktu malam hari di diskotek. Saya hanya ingin fokus ke sepakbola," demikian Klose.

goal.com