germany 5 netherlands 0
i watched germany thrash holland 5-0 yesterday.
holland played well for the first 40 minutes or so, having numbers behind and really stifling the german attack, which found little joy.
they did score with probably their only clear-cut chance in the first 30 minutes, birgit prinz slipping a perfect pass into the path of celia okoyino who clinically slotted it home. then on the 43rd minute, holland failed to clear the ball from the box, and the ball fell to laudehr at the edge of the box, who promptly curled it brilliantly with her left foot into the far corner, beyond loes guerts' despairing reach.
the problem with trying to defend against a team like germany is that sooner or later, you will start making mistakes and will pay the price.
indeed, it became much easier for germany to carve out chances in the 2nd half, though holland did produce 2 promising moves. but you could argue that it was late in the game, and germany had already taken a foot off the pedal.
for teams up against germany, i have good news and bad news.
the bad news is that they have 18 quality players.
the good news is that only 11 can play at any one time.
what the game showed is that you need to attack against germany to have any chance.
and because you might not be able to attack much, you need to be really clinical and efficient. holland wasnt. they lacked the idea in the final third. they were capable of stringing nice passes from defence to midfield, but lacked that idea in the final third.
i still don't know who silvia neid will play, or if she will even have a fixed starting 11.
celia okoyino really impressed, playing from the start.
it has been argued that for germany, it is easier to play coming off the bench because the player you are replacing has already softened the opponent for you. there is some truth in that. but celia okoyino, making a rare start, grabbed her chance with both hands, impressing with her pace, runs, technique and strength.
to be honest, i have never really believed in the prinz-grings partnership. perhaps that's because in 2009 prinz was really a pale shadow of herself. this time round, grings hasnt been on top form.
i would play okoyino and prinz, since prinz is the captain and it is unthinkable that she won't start. and looking at yesterday, maybe silvia neid will play that too. that would mean bad news for the opposition.
i do think silvia neid knows who she wants to play, but is pretending that it isnt, to fire up the players and especially to shake things up a little, because maybe a few players were thinking their place in the starting 11 was safe.
the one player who really didnt make an impact was bajramaj. perhaps it was the pressure, but she hasnt have had a stellar season as well. yet, i won't write her off.
germany made an interesting change yesterday, switching to a 4-3-3 in the second half, but with a twist. a bit more like a 4-1-2-3.
it really gave them alot of impetus in attack, because you have okoyino and popp who are explosive forwards, and laudehr and behringer in central midfield who are capable of playing on the wing. so it's like you have 4 players ready to run up from midfield. it is a very direct approach, and because the germans are strong and fast, it plays to their strengths. they can overrun a weak opponent like this easily.
the last game against norway next week will be interesting, because they will be playing against a team that is playing in the world cup. italy and netherlands, both thrashed 5-0, arent.
holland played well for the first 40 minutes or so, having numbers behind and really stifling the german attack, which found little joy.
they did score with probably their only clear-cut chance in the first 30 minutes, birgit prinz slipping a perfect pass into the path of celia okoyino who clinically slotted it home. then on the 43rd minute, holland failed to clear the ball from the box, and the ball fell to laudehr at the edge of the box, who promptly curled it brilliantly with her left foot into the far corner, beyond loes guerts' despairing reach.
the problem with trying to defend against a team like germany is that sooner or later, you will start making mistakes and will pay the price.
indeed, it became much easier for germany to carve out chances in the 2nd half, though holland did produce 2 promising moves. but you could argue that it was late in the game, and germany had already taken a foot off the pedal.
for teams up against germany, i have good news and bad news.
the bad news is that they have 18 quality players.
the good news is that only 11 can play at any one time.
what the game showed is that you need to attack against germany to have any chance.
and because you might not be able to attack much, you need to be really clinical and efficient. holland wasnt. they lacked the idea in the final third. they were capable of stringing nice passes from defence to midfield, but lacked that idea in the final third.
i still don't know who silvia neid will play, or if she will even have a fixed starting 11.
celia okoyino really impressed, playing from the start.
it has been argued that for germany, it is easier to play coming off the bench because the player you are replacing has already softened the opponent for you. there is some truth in that. but celia okoyino, making a rare start, grabbed her chance with both hands, impressing with her pace, runs, technique and strength.
to be honest, i have never really believed in the prinz-grings partnership. perhaps that's because in 2009 prinz was really a pale shadow of herself. this time round, grings hasnt been on top form.
i would play okoyino and prinz, since prinz is the captain and it is unthinkable that she won't start. and looking at yesterday, maybe silvia neid will play that too. that would mean bad news for the opposition.
i do think silvia neid knows who she wants to play, but is pretending that it isnt, to fire up the players and especially to shake things up a little, because maybe a few players were thinking their place in the starting 11 was safe.
the one player who really didnt make an impact was bajramaj. perhaps it was the pressure, but she hasnt have had a stellar season as well. yet, i won't write her off.
germany made an interesting change yesterday, switching to a 4-3-3 in the second half, but with a twist. a bit more like a 4-1-2-3.
it really gave them alot of impetus in attack, because you have okoyino and popp who are explosive forwards, and laudehr and behringer in central midfield who are capable of playing on the wing. so it's like you have 4 players ready to run up from midfield. it is a very direct approach, and because the germans are strong and fast, it plays to their strengths. they can overrun a weak opponent like this easily.
the last game against norway next week will be interesting, because they will be playing against a team that is playing in the world cup. italy and netherlands, both thrashed 5-0, arent.
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