It almost felt like 2008. Germany went to the final due to sheer will that more than talent and based on this performance, they might need to do the same this year.
First of all, Joachim Loew made two brave decisions prior to the game. Both paid off for him. He took out Per Mertesacker for Mats Julian Hummels of Borussia Dortmund. He took out the veteran Miroslav Klose for Mario Gomez. Despite the fact that there were question marks over the fitness of both the Arsenal defender and the Lazio striker before the tournament began, Loew’s decisions have to be applauded.
After the match, a reporter asked Gomez how it feels to be a match winner for the first time. Gomez was taken aback and asked the reporter what he meant. He almost barked at the reporter. In truth, he reporter can almost be forgiven for such an error. Gomez really rarely scores match-winners for Germany. This is the first time he came to the fore for the national side on the big stage.
Four years ago, in Vienna, with the goal gaping at his mercy, Gomez sent the ball away from it. Germans fan never quite forgave him for that miss. During the Euro 2012 qualifiers, he partially redeemed himself when he scored a match-winning double against Austria. However, he undid all his good ‘deeds’ in the Champions League final.
Gomez’s misses saw Bayern fail to win on their home ground, despite creating a tonne of chances, of which a third fell to the half Spaniard. On Saturday, Gomez at the last moment turned luck in his favour. Miroslav Klose was about to come on when Gomez scored with virtually his last chance. He had already squandered two heading chances in what was a really tough match.
Nobody divides opinion quite like Gomez in Germany. In his conferences and interviews, he comes across as a funny and good natured person. However, the chances he misses would be taken by any other world class striker. He would have easily been the one to blame more than anyone else had this match finished in a 0-0 draw. But Mario Gomez has given himself a chance in the national side; the next few matches will tell us whether he takes on the role of ‘Mr Reliable’ from a 34 year old Klose.
Speaking of reliability, Per Mertesacker has been a fixture in the heart of the German defence since 2006. Today, Hummels stood alongside Holger Badstuber at the back. Hummels time and again put in a foot at the right time to deny Portugal. Jerome Boateng and Badstuber also committed some vital tackles but Hummels was the best defender for Germany.
The Dortmund man has not impressed in a Germany shirt but when put under the spotlight, he put on a performance worthy of his reputation at club level. Germany was on the verge of conceding quite a few times and it was amazing to see the back four and Manuel Neuer deny the Portuguese in the last few seconds.
Things didn’t really click for Germany on the night. Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller both had rather poor nights. Bastian Schweinsteiger, appearing for the first time since the 19th of May has had better days. Joachim Loew however will be really pleased with the three points as well as the performances of the two players whom he put his faith in and thrust into the lime-light.
German football is changing. It has been undergoing a change in style since 2008. After a decade, when Miroslav Klose is seen sitting on the bench, you really know that German football is changing.
After all these years, maybe, just maybe, the Germans have a new front-man and a new central defender to rely on.
After the match, a reporter asked Gomez how it feels to be a match winner for the first time. Gomez was taken aback and asked the reporter what he meant. He almost barked at the reporter. In truth, he reporter can almost be forgiven for such an error. Gomez really rarely scores match-winners for Germany. This is the first time he came to the fore for the national side on the big stage.
Four years ago, in Vienna, with the goal gaping at his mercy, Gomez sent the ball away from it. Germans fan never quite forgave him for that miss. During the Euro 2012 qualifiers, he partially redeemed himself when he scored a match-winning double against Austria. However, he undid all his good ‘deeds’ in the Champions League final.
Gomez’s misses saw Bayern fail to win on their home ground, despite creating a tonne of chances, of which a third fell to the half Spaniard. On Saturday, Gomez at the last moment turned luck in his favour. Miroslav Klose was about to come on when Gomez scored with virtually his last chance. He had already squandered two heading chances in what was a really tough match.
Nobody divides opinion quite like Gomez in Germany. In his conferences and interviews, he comes across as a funny and good natured person. However, the chances he misses would be taken by any other world class striker. He would have easily been the one to blame more than anyone else had this match finished in a 0-0 draw. But Mario Gomez has given himself a chance in the national side; the next few matches will tell us whether he takes on the role of ‘Mr Reliable’ from a 34 year old Klose.
Speaking of reliability, Per Mertesacker has been a fixture in the heart of the German defence since 2006. Today, Hummels stood alongside Holger Badstuber at the back. Hummels time and again put in a foot at the right time to deny Portugal. Jerome Boateng and Badstuber also committed some vital tackles but Hummels was the best defender for Germany.
The Dortmund man has not impressed in a Germany shirt but when put under the spotlight, he put on a performance worthy of his reputation at club level. Germany was on the verge of conceding quite a few times and it was amazing to see the back four and Manuel Neuer deny the Portuguese in the last few seconds.
Things didn’t really click for Germany on the night. Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller both had rather poor nights. Bastian Schweinsteiger, appearing for the first time since the 19th of May has had better days. Joachim Loew however will be really pleased with the three points as well as the performances of the two players whom he put his faith in and thrust into the lime-light.
German football is changing. It has been undergoing a change in style since 2008. After a decade, when Miroslav Klose is seen sitting on the bench, you really know that German football is changing.
After all these years, maybe, just maybe, the Germans have a new front-man and a new central defender to rely on.
