So Mexico and Greece are out. Is the Germany vs Algeria game a foregone conclusion?

No, it's not.
Algeria can be a nasty opponent, and like everybody else at this stage they have nothing to lose and everything to win. Germany clearly is the odds-on favorite, but that doesn't mean that it'll be a cakewalk. This world championship was so far contrary to many expectations. They said that in Brazil, due to the intense heat and humidity, the games would be somewhat "laid back" but instead we saw a lot of full throttle from most teams in most games. We saw more goals than yellow cards (which hasn't happened in a long time). We saw more goals than ever in the opening round.
If there was a trend, those teams with players in a very long season (England in general, Spain and Portugal due to Champions League) seem to have universally suffered from exhaustion. So, I don't think that the trend of "big teams" falling is going to continue.

But given that most soccer games end with a rather narrow margin of one or two goals, clear wins are rather the exception, and that could very well mean that we may see Algeria as the winner. Not likely, but very well possible.

"ouf" as we say in France... that was close, but we will have to really play better the next round. The team seems too tense. It's always so important for us to put a goal before we can see the full potential. Giroud was a bit slow today, Benzema lacked some precision, and yes, Evra should have taken a penalty for circling his harms around the Nigerian striker. Anyway, not the best performance of all but we past this round.

We have one of the best defenders in the world with Lahm, why oh why lets L�w play him in the mid-field? What sometimes works in Munich doesn�t necessarily work in the national team.

I never thought players can be worse than Bela Rethy. Lahm and �zil can.

Lahm is not as perfect as we are used to�. He is still a very good player.

Ozils only problem is his face. He looks like a beaten dog quite often and people take this against him. In a way. Jens Keller, Schalkes coach, has the same issue. Results were good and he is a good coach wth solid skills and the press is dead against him because of his looks.

Unfair but human behaviour is strange.

Anyway 20 min to go. Lets hope we can win in some way.

The upside of going out now would be that L�ws days are numbered. I really hope they can talk Jupp Heynckes into becoming our national coach.

One thing I've noticed watching is that every single country has super gorgeous women in them. Thanks, camera crew!


Lahm is awesome, and just out of position. Ozil was amazing last cup. He's putting in good balls, his assists are great, he's a play maker, not a shooter like Muller.

This result is very surprising though. Good Job Algeria... taming the beast.

Rais, knowing the worlds best GK was across from him, has brought his A++ game.

"Forgone conclusion"- hah!

I think there will be a water shortage in Germany from all the soiled underwear being washed because all the fantastic saves by the Algerian goalie.

...all of them, but one.

How does that Vince Lombardi saying go again? "Winning is the only thing".

Well, I'm glad to see that the US performance against Germany doesn't look so bad now...

Well, that was that. 2:0, �zil.

Great second half, and extra time.

Go Germany!

2-1 final score. Zum congratuliert Deutschland!

Please excuse me now while I log off and have a heart attack, thanks.

LOL,

yup.

Against France they have to shift up at least two gears.

Ah so Germany plays France next?

Will the game be a Sedan or a Jena/Auerstadt for the German team?

What a bad game by Germany, especially the first 20 minutes. Like headless chicken.

Mustafi was the worst choice for that position L�w could possibly make. He confused the whole team, which made them nervous and over-anxious.

�zil is but a shadow of his former self: phlegmatic, scared to take a risk, insecure, unfocused. H�wedes is way out of his league on that position. Our whole defensive line was out of sync because Hummels is down with a cold.

I don't get L�w: IMO he should have let Sch�rrle play from the beginning, on his stronger left side. Behind him Durm. On the right defensive side either Boateng (with H�wedes as center-left defender), or leave Boateng as center back, and let Gro�kreuz play right outer back.

Khedira is still a liabilty on the defensive 6 position, but I'd rather have Lahm play on his "old" position and missing in the center field than Mustafi leaving the whole right side wide open.

Last but not least, I think the German team was also suffering from an attitude problem. I don't think that will happen against France.

I think �zil shows the same symptoms as those other star players that exhausted themselves in the Premier League and the Champions League. Long season, many games. It simply takes its toll, no matter how talented you are. Players from clubs that exited early in the CL have an advantage.

I'm not enough of a trainer to suggest a better strategy, though.

Wow tight games again today, with the losing teams putting up a tremendous fight especially Algeria, right to the wire. This WC just keeps having so many close and dramatic matches.

Neuer was amazing tonight, Ozil looked like the tired player we saw at Arsenal the second half of the season right up until his sweet goal.

Germany/France on Fri should be terrific.