GERMANY v PORTUGAL : 3RD PLACE PLAY OFF - Saturday 8th

[Winrew]

Cracking game mind

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by edtkh

On watching some of the saves Kahn has pulled off in this match, I still can't help wondering if Klinsmann's decision to pick Lehmann ahead of Kahn could have cost him a shot at the ultimate prize in football...

He did well but i don't think you cant really fault Lehmans tournament to be honest.

Game sprung to life in the 2nd half and was rather enjoyable. The over 2.5 goals was never in doubt though eh?

[EdgeSeek]

Excellent call guys... Keep up the Great Work..

[CJ Mars]

very entertaining game and looks like lots of folk on the overs as well . Sorry i didn't go heavier. The history was very much in favor of an open game . Hope the final is as good

Re Lehmann I'm not a fan at all but I don't think he did very much wrong all world cup. I don't think anyone would have stopped either of the Italian goals.

Pre WC I wasn't too unhappy Ireland were drawn with Germany and the ageing Czechs for Euro 2008. After the last 7 games I can't see an irish team in transition holding too many fears for the Germans.

[edtkh]

Originally Posted by Kiko

He did well but i don't think you cant really fault Lehmans tournament to be honest.

Don't get me wrong - I don't mean Lehmann was directly responsible for either of the two goals against Italy(I don't think he was at fault for any bar those 2 against Costa Rica to begin with).

That said, considering Kahn's performance tonight and the fact that he's been the better goalkeeper over the years class-wise(in my book, at least), I just wonder if that was perhaps something Klinsmann didn't get right...

[prsljen31]

Klinsi had a tough job to get himself autority(if this is right spelling).And he done that well,the most classy of all through the years was Oli and he prove to the others that bench is place for everyone.I think that he did great job with this players and maybe confrotation with all the Germans through that fight for goalie place made him so tough and strong to get some feedback when he needed.I am maybe wrong but this is my opinion.

[rcgills]

To be honest I thought Kahn had a pretty dodgy game . In the first half when Pauleta was virtually one-on-one but at an angle over to the left, Kahn left an absolutely huge gap to his left, and Pauleta hit his shot far too close to Kahn, if he'd simply aimed his shot to the far post, I don't think Kahn would've got close. Then in the 2nd half there was that shot from Ronaldo which Kahn made a complete meal of, ending up over at his left hand post and then having to dive back to his right, pushing the ball straight back into the danger area, he was lucky none of the Portuguese were close enough to follow it up. To be fair though he did also make one superb save in the second half.

[christianu]

Originally Posted by christianu

Portugal are value for me at 4/1 to win in 90 minutes.

Ill have a few quid on that thank you very much.

[rcgills]

Just read an interesting stat in the Guardian's write-up of last night's game. Apparently since 1982, the winner of the 3rd/4th placed playoff has always been European, and has always failed to qualify for the following European Championships - Poland (82), France (86), Italy (90), Sweden (94), Croatia (98) and Turkey (02).

Germany to fail to qualify at 9/4 (Bet365)? Unlikely, I guess, but stranger things have happened.

[bromsgrovegreen]

Originally Posted by edtkh

On watching some of the saves Kahn has pulled off in this match, I still can't help wondering if Klinsmann's decision to pick Lehmann ahead of Kahn could have cost him a shot at the ultimate prize in football...

i cant stand lehman for his antics in the premier but hes had a superb world cup!

[ONEDUNME]

Originally Posted by rcgills

Just read an interesting stat in the Guardian's write-up of last night's game. Apparently since 1982, the winner of the 3rd/4th placed playoff has always been European, and has always failed to qualify for the following European Championships - Poland (82), France (86), Italy (90), Sweden (94), Croatia (98) and Turkey (02).

Germany to fail to qualify at 9/4 (Bet365)? Unlikely, I guess, but stranger things have happened.

Two major differences between now and 1992 etc mate.

1. Only 7 teams could qualify in 1992, whereas 14 can qualify for 2008.

2. Germany are in a group with a bag of wank such as Wales and Ireland.

All in all, not a good bet.

[rcgills]

Was it really only 8 teams as recently as that?

Was just thinking out loud really. How many teams qualify from each group anyway? Is it 2 go through automatically, or only the group winners guaranteed, with the runners-up having to go through a play-off? If it's top 2, they shouldn't have any problem, you're right. Got the Czech Republic in their group, but the rest shouldn't cause them too many problems.