L’viv Arena — L’viv
Match : Germany vs Portugal Preview,Live stream
June 9, 2012 2:45 PM EDT
Referee: S. Lannoy
The second match of first round of the Group “B”, brings us the first mega-clash at the European Championships. Germany and Portugal ain recent years enconters a lot, and not in friendly matches, but at the biggest competitions.
It started at Euro 2000 when the Portuguese in the group demolished Germans 3-0. Germans for that deafeat pay them back twice.First time,six years later at the World Championships where they were hosts, and then at the last European Championship when they defeated the Portuguese in the quarterfinals with a 3-2 and send them home.
Anyway, Germany is a big favorite of of this championship after qualifying worked perfectly, and somewhat weaker friendly matches, while Portugal struggled in qualifying, and similarly was in their friendly matches also.
Germany preview
Somewhere until the end of February this year, Germany has looked so powerful that the question was whether anyone even seriously threaten to “machinery” of Joachim Low.
Ten wins in qualifying, stunning efficiency, then a friendly matches where they were falling among others Brazil and the Netherlands, again with a large number of scored goals .
Then in Bremen came France who is not at its best and surprised the Germans with clear victory of 2:1. Ten days ago, Germany has played a friendly match in Basel and Switzerland where they were defeated with 5:3.
Euphoria has weakened a bit, which may not be even bad, and anyway in that game did not play football players from Bayern Munich. Why is it so important? Because coach Low intend to start this competition with at least seven, players from the Bavarian team in the first lineup.
Proof of this is the last “match test” against Israel in which they were not brilliant, but they won with 2-0. That match have started seven players from Bayern anf the current dilemma is only on some positions.
If Schweinsteiger is completely healthy, it might be even eight players on the team from Bayern, although it is realistic and that he will knock from the team Kroos, which in turn returns the number seven.
Dilemmas are in the defense, mostly around the captain Philipp Lahm, who certainly will play on the side-back ,left or right. In the Bayern jersey Lahm has recently been very good against C.Ronaldo, and thats why he could play on the right side, because otherwise there comes Boateng, who is much slower.
In this option Boateng will play as central defender and Schmelzer from Borussia on the left side.The problem is that there play also dangerous Nani, who would again best stopped by Lahm.
Germany probable lineup : Neuer – Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Schmelzer – Khedira, Kroos – T.Muller, Ozil, Podolski – Gomez
Portugal preview
Portuguese with anxiety await the start of the European championships, as in the friendly matches which they played, they recorded the worst results of all participants on the Euro 2012, and at the very beginning it expects them one of the strongest possible opponents.
In the qualifications Portuguese were not as good as expected, but they broke through the barrage. After that they played two matches without a goal, from which is especially bad achievement 0:0 against Macedonia.
For the end they left Turkey in Lisbon, where they wanted a nice farewell to the championship from the domestic fans, and get a new “slap”. They managed to finally score a goal but also to miss a penalty by Ronaldo, and in the they were defeated with 3:1.
Their defence completly has failed in match with Turkey,and spice to all of this added Pepe with a own goal.
They have a lot of questions, and certainly coach Bento sleeps poorly.
There is no justification in the injuries which bypassed them for now, although Nani complained in recent days. Probably Nani will play and be the most dangerous Portugese player with C. Ronaldo who is the only player who looks like someone,who can snap them out of lethargy into which they fall.
Missed penalty is certainly not the masterpiece, and Ronaldo so far remained very much obliged. Coach Bento against Turkey tried with Miguel Lopes on the right side, instead of Joao Pereira who did not enter the game.
The rest of the team was on paper the strongest and that should start against the Germans, noting that Hugo Almeida in the attack has an advantage over Helder Postiga.
Portugal probable lineup : Patricio – Joao Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao – Raul Meireles, Miguel Veloso, Moutinho – Nani, Ronaldo – Hugo Almeida
Prediction : Germans are big favorites here, and poor games of Portugal in friendly matches only reinforce this impression. It does not have to be decisive, but it is likely that the Portuguese should look for points in another meeting. Germany wants to go to the end, and this is just the first step.Germany to win.
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