B1: Germany 2 - 0 Poland - 08/06/08

[__-SNAKE-__]

I know, but you know Italian media, if i'm not mistaken the one who said he was offside was Mazzola.

[Buddha14]

Originally Posted by Trim

It wasn't a misskick. I know Klose better than you, he always assists in those situations.

Nah i was talking about poldi's second goal

[NJ10]

Very good game that. Really enjoyed it. Poland gave a good account for themselves considering the difference in quality between the two sides.

I understand Podolski hasn't had much of a season at Bayern, hard to believe watching him yesterday. He has such excellent technique with his left foot, as summed up with his second goal.

Klose might have got himself a goal but his movement all night was terrific, really lively, got himself in behind plenty of times- once he should have shot but decided to square for Gomez, poor decision, and once he set up Podolski's opener, good decision. Aside from that i thought Gomez looked a bit nervy, does he have a lot of pressure on his shoulders? Ballack was brilliant, all over the park, clearing headers, winning loose balls, keeping possession and almost getting on the scoresheet (great save from Artur Boruc). I was impressed with the combo between Lahm & Fritz down the right, Lahm is such a good full back, doesnt make mistakes on the ball and positionally very sound. Fritz was a livewire, i was surprised to see him start but he did well tucking in alongside Ballack & Frings whilst Podolski went forward. I know there were a few concerns raised about the defence, but they weren't that bad. Lehmann had a couple of moments but his handling was sound in the second half from some dangerous crosses from the right, and Jansen might have been a bit shite on the ball, but he was getting left 2 against 1 quite a lot due to Podolski's attacking instinct, and he did pretty well against the winger (Wasilieowski??).

I said Germany to win from about March, I havent changed my mind.

[Trim]

Sleepless Night For Mertesacker Despite Clean Sheet

Germany defender Per Mertesacker revealed that he endured a restless night sleep, despite shutting out Poland in their Group B clash last night.

Joachim Low’s side did not return to their southern Switzerland base until the early hours of Monday morning, meaning Mertesacker was right in time to catch the replays of his side’s 2-0 victory.

He said: "Between two and four in the morning, the Swiss and Austrian television channels make it easy for you to watch the game all over again and be self-critical. After such a game, it is quite hard to actually get to sleep."

On reflection, the Werder Bremen stopper admitted that he was relatively satisfied with the German display, but insisted that there was still room for improvement.

"There is still a little bit lacking," said the 23-year-old. "We still have to improve a little, but overall we have dealt with the first game quite well.

"We wanted to be in top condition for Sunday and I think we showed that we are that.

"Keeping a clean sheet is proof that we worked well together at the back."

MODEST PODOLSKI

Mertesacker’s goalscoring team mate Lukas Podolski was equally pleased with his side’s showing but played down his own considerable contributions.

He told the official DFB website: "The important thing is that we have reached our aim as a team, today it was him, and tomorrow somebody else, but the decisive thing is that we are one team and that we win in the end.

"The big aim we have at the moment is to win the European Championships and all personal best marks are not so important."

Contrary to Mertesacker’s sleepless claims, Podolski admitted that he had no trouble bedding down in the wake of his two-goal salvo.

The 23-year-old continued: You are quite a bit excited and agitated after a game like that, but this time I fell asleep quite easily and woke up in a very good mood this morning."

With limited rest after the victory, Joachim Low allowed his side the morning off as he sets about plotting the downfall of Slaven Bilic’s Croatia on Thursday.

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Sleepless Night For Mertesacker Despite Clean Sheet

[Trim]

Saves, shots, assists

Germany have won their opening game at the EURO 2008. bundesliga.de follows up with an extensive check of all players' performances.

Jens Lehmann:

Lehmann had to deal with five shots on target and saved them all

He punched away two crosses

15 out of 16 throws and kicks found a team-mate. That's 94% and the best figure of the EURO 2008 so far


Philipp Lahm:

Lahm completed 85% of his passes

The Bayern player put in four crosses, more than any other German

He won an incredible 91% of his one-on-one duels


Per Mertesacker:

"Merte" won all of his one-on-one duels

He completed all of his 36 passes and was the only player without a single misplaced pass

The Bremen defender also didn't commit a single foul


Christoph Metzelder:

Metzelder completed 88% of his passes (only Mertesacker was better)

He is one of just two central defenders who have been caught offside so far

He broke up four attacks, more than any other team-mate


Marcell Jansen:

Jansen had more touches than anyone else (92)

He won 61% of his one-on-one duels


Clemens Fritz:

Fritz was involved in 18 one-on-one duels (joint top for the German team with Jansen), despite playing just 55 minutes

Fritz set up two shots at goal (no other German created more)

The Werder full back tried seven dribblings, more than anyone else


Torsten Frings:

Frings played 49 passes and completed a solid 84%

He was involved in nine one-on-one duels and won an outstanding 89%


Michael Ballack

The skipper had 88 touches, only Jansen had more

Ballack had three shots at goal and created a fourth

He made 63 passes against Poland, more than any other player at the EURO 2008 so far


Lukas Podolski:

He was the first player at the EURO 2008 to score twice in one game

He had four shots at goal, the most of all Germans

81 touches were third place in the DFB team

50 passes were only surpassed by Ballack


Miroslav Klose:

He created both goals - one of them rather involuntarily. however

He is the only EURO 2008 player with two assists so far

Klose also tried two shots at goal, but both were off target


Mario Gomez:

Gomez too had two shots, both off target

He initiated the first goal with a pass to Klose - one of 23 passes of which 83% were complete

Gomez won 50% of his one-on-one duels, a respectable figure for a striker


Bastian Schweinsteiger:

He had eight one-on-one duels in 35 minutes and won a decisive one ahead of Germany's second goal

He went for goal three times and set up a fourth effort

He had as many touches (36) as Klose, who played the full 90 minutes)


Thomas Hitzlsperger and Kevin Kuranyi are not considered due to their short time on the pitch

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

[BlackNess]

Klose: Ronaldo? Podolski's Better
Miroslav Klose has praised his fellow Germany forward Lukas Podolski, claiming his output is greater than that of Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo…


Germany and Portugal look set to meet in the semi-finals if things go according to form, and the mind games have begun.

Podolski kicked off his Euro 2008 campaign in style by scoring both of Germany’s goals in their Group B win over Poland at Klagenfurt's Worthersee Stadion.

Ronaldo had starred on the opening matchday as Portugal eased to a 2-0 win over Turkey, although – ironically, one would have to say – the Manchester United winger failed to get on the scoresheet.

And while Klose admitted the Portuguese is incredibly dangerous in the final third, he insisted Podolski’s contribution in defence makes him the more valuable player.

“Ronaldo is important in the offensive, he merely passes ball in defensive. What Lukas has done against Poland, was worth more, as he worked on the defensive and attacked,” he said of his fellow Polish-born forward.

“Poldi (Podolski) is even one step higher than currently perhaps the best footballer in the world.”

Pleased

Podolski was considered by many as a surprise starter against Poland, given he had struggled for first-team opportunities with Bayern Munich last season.

The 23-year-old could not get a look in up-front for die Roten due to the presence of Klose and Italian hitman Luca Toni, while the wings were most often occupied by Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

But Mannschaft coach Joachim Loew showed faith in Podolski, and was rewarded with an industrious and ultimately match-defining display.

Klose added: “We are pleased that we have it, not only in the national team, but also in Bavaria.”

This is very close to what Trim have posted, that Poldi was the best or the 'most rounded' player in the best player in the first round of the group stage, Because he scored twice and help in defense.

They took his words and made it so bombastic "Klose:Podolski is better than Ronaldo".

[RunX]

Sure klose is right poldi is better than c.ronaldo