What happened to them!
Were they drugged? Or was it that they were not drugged (steroids)?
Did they party last night and got tired?
Did they take money to lose (I can’t be serious here, right)?
Did they get bored already? Or were they simply sleepy?
Did somebody tell them that the will of Octopus is the will of God?
Who is “they”? It is the LAZY Germans!
No seriously, what happened today?
Where did the counter attacks go?
Where was the spring in the feet?
Where was the organization and discipline?
Where the heck were the moves?
Where was the enthusiasm? They all looked so sad. Did someone die?
I did not have any favorites for this game and also I did not really wish for anyone to lose today. But man, I did not expect this performance from the Germans after what they did to Argentina in the previous game. Understood Argentina did not have the defense like the Spanish but Germans did not even seem to try. Germans were clearly stronger and faster vs the English. One could see the age play to their advantage. Youth oozed from every single run they made in that game … where were the runs today??
The way they played looked as if they just didn’t give a damn to the game and all they wanted was to go home!!
No one was willing to run, chase the ball, make a flow, and create a move. It was all so very dull. It was so dull that even though Spain was all into the game, it rubbed over them as well. There were so many moments in the game when the ball was in play and none of the Germans were even bothered chasing it. They were just simply standing.
I have read many blogs on this game before writing as I was wondering maybe it was just my sleepy head that felt like this and true enough I have not read many write on the lethargic nature of German play today but then why did I notice that only with Germans and not the Spanish considering I did not have any one to want to win or lose. Strange … but I find it so strange that the Germans were simply not in the game. They not only played as if they wanted to lose, they in fact played as if they just wanted these 90 mins to be over and done with.
So finally I resort to this overkill of an analysis. I think it was their discipline towards their strategy that did them in. They did not attempt any shots on the goals as they did not get the right openings. There by-the-book attitude made them not realize that attempting half-shots will help build pressure, might make Spain commit a mistake and might give them a lucky break. If nothing else, shooting a few attempts even if not near the target, well and strong, builds confidence, makes the enemy jittery at the back and eventually make it make a mistake. They should have at least made half-attempts at the goal. Things would/might have opened up. They did not even attempt.
They just kept following their goddamn book in the midfield and when they reached an impenetrable wall, they just gave the ball away.
It was boring football. It was sick. It was all freaking European. And to add to the misery of this world cup, the Latin Americans didn’t play like Latin Americans in this tournament.
The only saving grace for this world cup is the two beautiful goals scored yesterday in Dutch vs Uruguay game in a true European fashion – ironic.
What happened today to them? Anyone got any answers????
South Africa 2010 
Spain happened to them! Germany very rarely got the ball. Forget playing their kind of football. Viva Espana!
Happens that it was a Semifinal of the World Championship. Something that happens just one time in four years if you’re german, once in a lifetime if your Spanish. The youth germans feel the pressure of his men. And the most important fact is that Spain has something than other’s teams didn’t… the three best midfields in the world. Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc. if your run wild the pitch and one of this guys find some space, your’re dead. That happen to German.
I’m sorry about my english.
For me, it was Schweinsteiger marking Xavi. What that meant was that nobody was left to spread the ball around. Khadira wasn’t able to replace Shweinsteiger’s creativity and as a result there was barely any services to wingers/strikers.
Hahaha at the bit about Paul the Octopus. He’s been right every time so far, hasn’t he?
I think Germany was used to playing teams that give away the ball easily. If there’s one thing that Spain really REALLY does well, it’s moving the ball and more importantly, keeping the ball. Guys like Xabi and Iniesta and Alonso and Cesc know how to pass and don’t throw the other team gifts in the midfield. The Spanish also did a great job at getting possession back when they had lost it, and I think the defense was just too tight for Germany to penetrate.
This German side played really well, there’s no doubt about it. But against a team like Argentina, for example, they were able to just blast away at the goal on their counterattack because Argentina lacked a solid defense. Maradona had them playing such an attacking game that they couldn’t catch up with the Germans on the counter.
I think the absence of Muller in the game against Spain may have also contributed to their loss; it might have just broken their attacking flow, however intangible that sounds.
Anyway, I thought it was a good game (although I was perhaps biased toward Spain). And we should get two good games this weekend! And a new World Cup winner!