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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Germany will Impose Themselves on Italy - Joachim Löw

"We did well against Greece but Italy are a different proposition," said Germany coach Joachim Löw, who urged his players to "seize the initiative" in Thursday's semi-final.

Germany coach Joachim Löw has underlined again that he wants his team to "seize the initiative" when they tackle rejuvenated Italy in Thursday's semi-final.

Seen as being a defensive side prior to the tournament, Italy have played a more expansive game during UEFA EURO 2012 even if they required penalties to eliminate England despite having 64% possession – a statistic Löw does not want to see repeated in Warsaw.

"We want to try to enforce our rhythm on Italy," he said. "It will be important to seize the initiative and try to force Italy to drop deep with our game. We want to act not react."

Germany have won 15 competitive matches in succession, a world record that stretches from the 2010 FIFA World Cup to the 4-2 quarter-final victory against Greece, yet Löw believes "we have to up the ante" to reach the final. "We did well against Greece but Italy are a different proposition," he added.

"We've all realized that Italy have a different team to 2010 and that there's been enormous development with the national team. [Andrea] Pirlo is having a sort of renaissance now. He's an outstanding footballer and an ingenious strategist. Man-marking him would not make sense, as he likes to drop very deep. They have shown extreme quality and lots of strengths in this tournament, but we also know where their problems are."

Löw shrugged off an indifferent record against the Azzurri. Germany have lost all their competitive meetings, including two World Cup semi-finals – the most recent on home soil in 2006. "Our players are different now, they don't care about a past match," said Löw, adding that it was "quite possible" that he would make more changes to his team after making three for the Greece tie.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is expected to play after seemingly shaking off an ankle problem. "Only 100% fit players will play, but everyone is fully fit right now and that goes for Bastian Schweinsteiger. He could have done better against Greece – he knows it, we all know it – but we need Bastian Schweinsteiger," Löw concluded.

Mario Balotelli Italia - Semi Finalist Past in UEFA

Expectations may have been low following a bumpy preparation, but Italy have slowly moved through the gears and are now eyeing a third UEFA European Championship final.

Considering the way their preparations went, it is a minor miracle Italy have reached their fourth UEFA European Championship semi-final. Their 3-0 defeat by Russia a week before the start of UEFA EURO 2012 was the Azzurri's third straight friendly loss, while the victory against the Republic of Ireland which secured a place in the last eight was their first final tournament triumph in seven attempts. Yet Cesare Prandelli's side have begun to rediscover the free-flowing football that ensured they breezed through qualification unbeaten, and momentum is behind them.
Tactics: The Russia reverse and the calf injury that sidelined Andrea Barzagli for the opening two matches prompted Prandelli to switch from his customary 4-3-1-2 to a 3-5-2 formation, with midfielder Daniele De Rossi withdrawn to the centre of his three-man defense. Italy enjoyed possession aplenty and created myriad chances in this system but in both 1-1 draws, squandered 1-0 leads. With the return of Barzagli, Prandelli reverted to his preferred set-up, earning a first victory of the campaign against Ireland and control of their quarter-final against England.
Key man: Andrea Pirlo was Italy's creative force at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and his influence remains as strong as ever. Throughout the tournament he has pulled the strings from midfield with his extensive range of passing and weighed in with significant contributions, such as the defense-splitting pass to set up Antonio Di Natale's goal against Spain, his trademark free-kick against Croatia and his nerveless 'Panenka' penalty in the shoot-out against England. Alessandro Diamante said: "Even when tired Pirlo is the best midfielder in the world."
EURO semi-final record:
05/06/1968 Italy 0-0 USSR (aet, ITA won on coin toss) (Naples)
22/06/1988 USSR 2-0 Italy (Stuttgart)
29/06/2000 Italy 0-0 Netherlands (aet, ITA won 3-1 on pens) (Amsterdam)
Basecamp: The Azzurri are thriving under Prandelli's 24-match tenure. The Italy coach works his charges hard in training, yet they are relishing the expansive game they play and clearly get on well. In one training session Mario Balotelli and Di Natale clubbed together to trip up Antonio Cassano. "Oi, so you want me to get injured do you?" he screamed as he tried to catch up with his laughing team-mates; rivals for a starting place, the strikers, like all the players, seem to enjoy each other's company. "The atmosphere in the camp is good," Cassano told UEFA.com. "My team-mates and I are having fun but in the end it's results that count."
Record in Warsaw: Cassano has good reason to remember Warsaw fondly, but he may be the only Italian footballer that does. The AC Milan striker scored his first international goal there on his Italy debut in 2003, though his side lost that friendly 3-1. The Azzurri's only previous match in the city was a 0-0 UEFA European Championship qualifying draw in 1975.
Italian clubs have not generally enjoyed their trips to Warsaw – six UEFA club competition games between Legia and Serie A opponents have ended with just one win for the visitors, FC Internazionale Milano prevailing 1-0 in the 1985/86 UEFA Cup. The remaining five games ended in two defeats and three 1-1 draws, with the most recent – for Udinese Calcio in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup – watched from the bench by Italy reserve keeper Morgan De Sanctis.
Room for improvement: Prandelli is trying to stop his side from reverting to their "gut instinct of defending a lead". After squandering 1-0 advantages against Spain and Croatia, he identified an age-old trait he is trying to expunge. "We dropped too deep, we subconsciously thought we could protect our lead," he said. "That is the mentality we need to change." Also, while the Azzurri are deserving semi-finalists as they have dominated possession in all but one of their matches, they have drawn three out four, largely as a result or profligacy in front of goal.
The view from home: "The best Italy team since the World Cup in Germany have reached the semi-finals of EURO 2012 on penalties. Really they deserved to win well before then but the suffering makes the news of this extraordinary Sunday all the better. This is an Italy that won with heart, class and determination." [La Gazzetta dello Sport].
Manchester City FC manager Roberto Mancini, meanwhile, added: "In the second half and extra time they squashed England; they crushed them, took their breath away, ready for the final blow, which oddly never came. Let me tell you now: Italy will reach the final, where they will play Portugal."
Mission statement: "We can play progressive football. As long as we try to take the initiative we are a good side. We become a side with a thousand fears if we try to protect a result." Prandelli's plans are clear.

Germany Performance Review - Past Vs Present

German Footbal Player - Action Moments

Team reporter Steffen Potter compares Joachim Löw's side with what he considers the all-time Germany XI, position by position. Do you agree with his choices? Have your say.

No matter what the outcome of Thursday's semi-final against Italy, I believe this Germany team are shaping up to become one of the finest for generations. This got me thinking – how would this side compare with a selection of Germany's best? As a fair test, I limited it to players I have seen represent the national team with my own eyes, so no Franz Beckenbauer or Gerd Müller, for example. Below is my opinion, not UEFA's, but what is yours? Let me know your thoughts using the box at the bottom of the page.

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer v Oliver Kahn – 0-1
Neuer is a great keeper and he is better than Kahn with the ball at his feet. However, Kahn was the undoubted best in the world a decade ago.

Left-back: Philipp Lahm v Andreas Brehme – 0-2
This is a tough call. Lahm is a complete player and one of the most recognised full-backs in the world. Yet so was Brehme, a forward-thinking defender ahead of his time, strong with both feet. Brehme gets the nod for his right-footed strike against the Netherlands in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and for converting the decisive penalty in the Rome final.

Centre-back: Holger Badstuber v Jürgen Kohler – 1-2
Kohler was less a centre-back like Badstuber is today and more an old-fashioned man-marker. Kohler was rated as one of the best defenders of his generation, but Badstuber continues to improve and offers perhaps the greater all-round package.

Centre-back: Mats Hummels v Matthias Sammer – 1-3
I know Sammer was a libero for Germany yet I would have liked him as centre-back in my all-time XI in order to help build the play from the back. Hummels, a revelation at this tournament, does much the same job, though Sammer's outstanding desire – which helped Germany to EURO '96 glory – takes the point here.

Right-back: Jérôme Boateng v Stefan Reuter – 1-4
This is considered one of the most competitive positions in the current Germany squad and I had problems selecting one from the past. Reuter's pace is what stands out but, ideally, I want a Lahm clone here.

Holding midfielder: Bastian Schweinsteiger v Lothar Matthäus – 1-5
I am talking pre-libero Matthäus, so please think of the dynamic version of 1990. I remember an Italian paper writing that he "looked like he had a body made of steel" – add a powerful shot with either foot into the mix and Matthäus, one of Germany's foremost midfielders, wins.

Holding midfielder: Sami Khedira v Stefan Effenberg – 1-6
Effenberg's career with the Nationalmannschaft was possibly not as successful as it might have been, yet to pair him alongside Matthäus in midfield would have been sensational.

Left midfielder: Lukas Podolski v Thomas Hässler – 2-6
Hässler was a hero of the 1990s and almost universally admired for his skill and dribbling ability. Podolski's slot in the current Germany side, according to some, is under threat, although he gets my vote here thanks to his superior scoring record (44 in 100 games, against Hässler's 11 in 101) and added value in helping out in defence.

Attacking midfielder: Mesut Özil v Uwe Bein – 3-6
If Bein looks a surprise pick, he was one of the deadliest passers I have witnessed and his talent for carving open defences was second to none. However, Özil played a huge part in helping Real Madrid CF win the Liga title last season at the expense of an FC Barcelona team considered by some the best club side ever.

Right midfielder: Thomas Müller v Andreas Möller – 3-7
England fans can skip this paragraph. There have been suggestions Möller never really lived up to his potential with Germany, but EURO '96 was a different story. Twenty-nine goals from 85 caps is also a decent return and his technique, pace and dribbling skills outshine Müller's (Marco Reus could be a competitor in a few years, though). The icing on the cake is the way he converted his penalty against England in THAT semi-final despite knowing he was suspended for the showpiece.

Striker: Miroslav Klose v Jürgen Klinsmann – 4-7
Mario Gomez has started three UEFA EURO 2012 matches to Klose's one, yet Klose's incredible quantity of goals at major tournaments makes him the most lethal German forward of my lifetime – even better than Klinsmann, who shone in '96. I will go for Klose, as I believe Joachim Löw will against Italy.

HNS and FPF Have to Pay Fines - UEFA Mega Events Updates

The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) have been fined for crowd incidents at UEFA EURO 2012 games in Gdansk and Warsaw respectively.

The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has been fined €30,000 by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body.
The sanction has been imposed for the setting off and throwing of fireworks and the improper conduct of supporters (display of inappropriate and racist banners) at the UEFA EURO 2012 Group C fixture against Spain in Gdansk on 18 June.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), meanwhile, has been fined €7,000 for the inappropriate behaviour of their supporters – attempted invasion of the field of play by a fan – at the quarter-final against the Czech Republic in Warsaw on 21 June.