Sunday, June 8, 2008

Game 4: Podolski Part 2


Group B's second game provided a higher level of skill and crisper play after a fairly sloppy opening match on day 2. The heavily favored Germans got an earlier scare as Poland did their best Argentina impression, stringing a series of 10 passes together in a row and notching a dangerous shot before a German was able to get a touch on the ball. The Germans then fought back and forth for the first 15 minutes with the Poles, but eventually they settled down, and began to dominate the match, proving that they were indeed a strong favorite to go deep into Euro 2008. In the 20th minute the Germans were able to beat the Polish backline, breaking down their overly aggressive offside trap; Miroslav Klose slid a square ball across to his fellow Bayern Munich club teammate Lukas Podolski, who buried the first of 2 goals. Germany continued to dominate the rest of the match and Podolski slammed home the clincher in the 72nd minute, and continuing their dominance over Poland (12-0-4 all time). Podolski recovered from a 2nd disappointing club season in Munich to pick up where he left off the '06 World Cup; proving that he can produce on the world's biggest stages, but not in his own domestic league (sort of the reverse of Taylor Twellman.........zing). Along with the solid German backline; Podolski, Gomez, Klose, and Schweinsteiger all played well for the most part. Captain Michael Ballack didn't dominate the match, but then again he didn't have to, the Germans will no doubt need Ballack to feature more as they advance past the group stage, but they should have no problem costing on in to the quarterfinals.

Tomorrow we look forward to a much anticipated match-up in the group of death. France should be able to beat Adrian Mutu and the Romanians even without Patrick Vieira, and all eyes will be on the defending World Champions as Italy squares off against the Dutch in the late game from Switzerland.

Meanwhile tonight in New York it will be the Landy Donovan show as the golden boy is set to earn his 100th cap when the U.S. takes on Argentina in their last of three warm-ups as they prepare to take on CONCACAF giants Barbados later on the month to begin qualification for the 2010 World Cup. I'm sure that Alexi Lalas has asked the likes of Messi and Tevez to take it easy on the U.S. and old Landy-cakes because he has to focus on his upcoming match against Real Salt Lake. If all goes as planned the referees will award the U.S. a PK (earned no doubt by any of the other 10 players besides Donovan, who have enough balls to attack inside the box), Donovan will raise the dead and make-out with his wrists before adding another meaningless goal to his tally as the all time over-rated prate that he is American goal scorer.

1 comment:

farris said...

So about this Dutch crush...