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Match Day 23


MrJibbles

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Germany vs Spain 7:30pm

Repeat of the Euro 2008 final, will we have the same out come?

Will Germany's freeflowing football get passed a dodgy Spanish backline?

Will Torres actually show up and help Spain become an 11 man team and not 10?

All the questions to be answered tonight, the last of our semi finals.

Paul the octopus is picking Spain, has a 100% record so in picking winners.

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Germany play a defensive counter attacking football

Spain play free flowing football

On paper its set for a similar game to spain v switzerland with germany being a lot more clinical and dealing with them

but del bosque is to wise to fall into germanys game plan

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Germany v Spain: Ottmar Hitzfeld explains how Spanish can be beaten

Ottmar Hitzfeld masterminded the World Cup's first major shock when his Switzerland side defeated Spain and now the German coach has revealed how it can be done for the benefit of his countrymen.

By Thomas Hyde

Published: 11:05AM BST 07 Jul 2010

As Germany coach Joachim Low prepares his side for tonight's World Cup semi-final match against Spain he would be advised take a cursory glance at Hitzfeld's master plan if he wants to avoid a repeat of the European Championship final of two years ago when the Spaniards triumphed 1-0.

Hitzfeld's Switzerland upset all the odds in their opening game of the tournament by becoming only the second team to defeat Spain in 49 international matches.

Germany must become the third in 55 if they are to set up a World Cup final encounter with Holland and Hitzfeld believes that his countrymen have the ability to do so providing they employ the right tactics:

He told Bild: "The German team, of course, has more footballing potential than my Swiss team. That’s why they will use different tactics to those I employed when we beat Spain 1-0 in the first group game.

"I think that the Spanish way of playing will suit Germany. Spain like to attack, and their fullbacks Sergio Ramos and Joan Capdevila get forward a lot. That means that there is often space on the flanks which the German players will be able to exploit.

"That is an Achilles' heel for Spain and Germany can cause them problems there.

"Gaps could open up in central defence if Gerard Pique or Carles Puyol get dragged towards Miroslav Klose. That would leave Mesut Özil with a free route to goal."

Despite talking up Germany's chances of recording victory over the European champions, Hitzfeld has a word of warning for Low and his players:

"Things could get dangerous for Germany in the area that I call the ‘red zone’. That is the corridor between defence and midfield, where Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Villa operate," he said

"Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich, as well as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, need to keep this space small and prevent the Spanish from working their magic there.

"It will also be highly important to double up on the wings, because Spain, and especially Villa, are very good in one-on-one situations.

"Even if these tactics work, it will definitely not be possible to completely prevent Spain from getting chances. Their players are individually just too good for that.

Despite recording a shock victory over Spain, Hitzfeld and Switzerland failed to qualify for the second round after picking up just one point from their two proceeding Group H matches against Chile and Honduras.

But the German coach is predicting a more favourable outcome for Germany based on their performances in South Africa so far.

"I think that Germany have a good chance of making the final. But they’ll need to put all their energy into patrolling the pitch and tracking down their opposition, as they did so well against Argentina."

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i disagree not on the germany will struggle bit on muller being vital

wont go into it coz its some long tactical analysis

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Just from his involvment in the goals alone -

54% - Thomas Müller has been involved in 7 of Germany's 13 goals at the 2010 (4 goals & 3 assists).

Surely that say he is vital, in terms of his form right now anyway.

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Just from his involvment in the goals alone -

54% - Thomas Müller has been involved in 7 of Germany's 13 goals at the 2010 (4 goals & 3 assists).

Surely that say he is vital, in terms of his form right now anyway.

He is just a runner who can be replaced by another runner the way germany play he and podolski are fed the ball in dangerous positions due to the passing ability and vision of schweinsteiger and ozil.

He has a good shot and a bit of pace that has got him goals but there are loads of players in similar mould who would do the same job as him in that side....weather germany have them in the squad is another thing.

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