The German machine that so often impressed us all with ruthless efficiency, standard for anything made in Germany, looked like it had lost a cog somewhere last night. The team selection was a bit strange, Kroos is not an attacking midfielder, Schweinsteiger was tending to an ankle injury and many wanted Andre Schurrle to come in. These all came into view last night. The Italians fielded a side that demolished England with one change in Giorgio Chiellini's return. No one expected what the Germans would produce. Mark Lawrenson provided a very sombre, miserable and useless commentary throughout.
The Germans started well however, passing it around as they do, feeding Mario Gomez and Mesut Ozil consistently and most important, they kept Andrea Pirlo quiet for the first 15 minutes. The Italians would always rely on either Pirlo's passing or an over-the-top through ball to a striker to overcome the Germans, they had hardly anything for a while. The Teutons showed signs early on that something was wrong, Gomez was missing passes, Podolski looked blunt and ineffective and Schweinsteiger wasn't controlling the game at all. Italy weathered this weak storm and Buffon looked shaky to begin with, instilling little confidence in the defence around him. However with no end result so consistently produced by Germany, Italy started to sense weakness. They began to impose themselves on the Game and began stringing a fair few passes together and looked a lot more dangerous in Germany's half than their opponents in their own. With this impetus swinging Italy's way and the Azzurri looking more likely to score, Antonio Cassano rounded the weakest link in Germany's defence- Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels tried to save his colleague but to no avail, Cassano swung in a well weighted ball behind Holger Badstuber and Super Mario Balotelli headed home on 20 minutes.
The Germans looked shocked, how could this Italy team that struggled past England on Penalties, score a goal against the might of Deutschland? Their arrogance was plain to see. The Germans began again, passing the ball around and creating chances but Arsenal's new boy Lukas Poloski just wasn't at the races and continuously misjudged through balls knocked on by Mario Gomez. Finally a save was drawn from Gianluigi Buffon and this time here were no nerves from the Italian Keeper, diving high to his right to keep out a Sami Khedira volley that was heading in.
The second shock came from a very unlikely place. A corner pawed out by Gianluigi found its way to Montolivo who did what we all expected and flighted a beauty over the top of the German back line for Mario Balotelli to run onto. Where was Boateng closing Montolivo down? Where was Badstuber lying back to help? No the only player back was the Captain Phillip Lahm, even he couldnt find an answer to Balotelli's control and pace. Brought forward with pace, flair and smacked beyond Manuel Neuer who stood helpless watching it fly by. As the South Americans say, GOLASO.
The remainder of the first half was Germany trying to pull out some passes, looking shell-shocked but the Italian trio of Pirlo, Montolivo and Marchisio just martialled the game with dominance. Joachim Lowe had to pull out all the stops and give the Boys a great team talk at half time.
The second half began with 2 changes from Germany- Klose on for Gomez and our own 'player watch' man Marco Reus on for Podolski. Reus' first action was to bring it down the line looking dangerous before just effectively passing it to Buffon. Reus continued causing problems for Italy, and made Germany look so much more lethal and dangerous. Reus and Kroos combinde before letting Lahm loose with a chance he had to finish, but he put it over the bar!
The tempo in Germany's attack had already increased tenfold. 56 minutes in and Cassano was replaced by "West-Ham-Reject" Diamanti. Balotelli is always dangerous and fashions a chance for himself before putting it wide of the net.
The tempo in Germany's attack had already increased tenfold. 56 minutes in and Cassano was replaced by "West-Ham-Reject" Diamanti. Balotelli is always dangerous and fashions a chance for himself before putting it wide of the net.
The Germans kept forcing players forward and Italy began to rely on the counter attack a lot more. 63 minutes in and Marchisio swapped roles with Diamanti to try to provide more attacking flair and Motta was brought on for Montolivo to instill some solidity in Italian ranks.
Bad news came though for the Italians as Balotelli pulled up with cramp and Di Natale came on for Italy on 68 minutes. A few minutes later Muller came on for Boateng and the Germans started to head into panic mode, throwing 'die Küchenspüle' at Italy.
The tension, at this stage, was easily visible as Neuer almost caused a goal for Italy as well as Badstuber's slip. Shortly after, Di Natale found himself in space, he had lightyears to put it anywhere and with his experience he should have finished, but put it wide.
Italy were slowly forcing their way to the Final, emphasized a few minutes later by Balzaretti slotting home, but the offside flag was up as Germany looked to be playing with 8 men in the Italian half. In the 80th minute Germany piled everybody forward including Neuer who was effectively martialling the half-way line.
The pressing finally paid off on 92 minutes when Balzaretti handled it in the area and gave away a spot-kick.
Ozil calmly stepped up....GOAL! It was therefore a race to score for the German team, Was it too late?
Seconds later, Germany earnt a free kick and Neuer stormed down the field in a last ditch attempt to score. Schweinsteiger, in a bizarre moment, passed it short, and that was the last action of the game!
German fans cried and Italians sung in jubilation.
2-1!
Bad news came though for the Italians as Balotelli pulled up with cramp and Di Natale came on for Italy on 68 minutes. A few minutes later Muller came on for Boateng and the Germans started to head into panic mode, throwing 'die Küchenspüle' at Italy.
The tension, at this stage, was easily visible as Neuer almost caused a goal for Italy as well as Badstuber's slip. Shortly after, Di Natale found himself in space, he had lightyears to put it anywhere and with his experience he should have finished, but put it wide.
Italy were slowly forcing their way to the Final, emphasized a few minutes later by Balzaretti slotting home, but the offside flag was up as Germany looked to be playing with 8 men in the Italian half. In the 80th minute Germany piled everybody forward including Neuer who was effectively martialling the half-way line.
The pressing finally paid off on 92 minutes when Balzaretti handled it in the area and gave away a spot-kick.
Ozil calmly stepped up....GOAL! It was therefore a race to score for the German team, Was it too late?
Seconds later, Germany earnt a free kick and Neuer stormed down the field in a last ditch attempt to score. Schweinsteiger, in a bizarre moment, passed it short, and that was the last action of the game!
German fans cried and Italians sung in jubilation.
2-1!
Italy showed how effective their defensive capabilities are, exploiting the Germans lack of pace at the back costing them dearly in the end. A poor first half cost the German team, with the Italian midfield exploiting the lack of service to Mesut Ozil and the defensive fralties shown by Badstuber, Hummels and Boateng. Pirlo again ran midfield with a world class performance from Montolivo. Balotelli does what he does best, grabbing headlines for fun, and deciding that even for him, some thing are worth celebrating...
I'm afraid the German machine still isn't a finished machine yet and Joachim Lowe needs to instill a sense of Proffesionalism in this young team before the world cup in Brazil. There lies the problem with Germany, they often become too arrogant, causing them to be complacent and lack cutting edge.
We also are likely to say goodbye to Miroslav Klose- The German talisman probably won't feature in another tournament and not the best way to go out in this Klose encounter. Nonetheless, what a player and what a servant to his country.
But for all the German fans, emotions...must be at an all time Lowe.
We also are likely to say goodbye to Miroslav Klose- The German talisman probably won't feature in another tournament and not the best way to go out in this Klose encounter. Nonetheless, what a player and what a servant to his country.
But for all the German fans, emotions...must be at an all time Lowe.
Player Ratings-
Germany- Neuer (6), Boateng (4), Badstuber (5), Hummels (5), Lahm (6), Khedira (7), Schweinsteiger (5), Kroos (6), Ozil (7), Podolski (5), Gomez (5)
Italy- Buffon (7), Balzaretti (7), Barzagli (6), Bonucci (6), Chiellini (6), Marchisio (7), Pirlo (8.5), De Rossi (6), Montolivo (8.5), Cassano (7), Balotelli (8)
Subs- Reus (7), Muller (NA), Klose (5)
Subs- Diamanti (5), Motta (5), Di Natale (6)
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