Just a note
I'll only be doing Germany-Italy for tonight. Come tomorrow, I'll be doing France-Iceland.
Before that...
My sis seems to have gotten the Euro fever. Which is anti-Mingsi no matter how I look at it. I swear she's basically apathetic towards football in general. In fact, I don't even remember her mentioning David "Golden Becks" Beckham. Something's not right, something's definitely not natural.
In other news, my beautiful churchmate SN may have finished her Italian tour. I once jokingly asked her when will she turn pro in terms of being a harpist. Her answer was... well, she's not gonna do so. And yes, you guessed it. SN was on her Italy tour as a harpist.
And lastly, the match is at Bordeaux. Not only is this a place famous for the grapes and wine, it's also the place where my cousin and her family is residing atm.
Really have to eat a large dish of crow here...
I may have spoken too early here. Previously, I lambasted Joachim "he's never high" Löw over what I perceived as a lack of decisiveness in the lone vorhut role. That's prior to Germany kicking some Slovakian ass.
So what does this mean for Die Nationalelf?
Löw has officially done it. Big time. Plenty has been said about Julian "Der Dazzler" Draxler roasting people 4 teh lolz. As someone preferring a false 9 system (something which nearly did him and the entire nation in during the group stage), it's quite surprising to see Mario "will he become Super Mario?" Gómez playing like the German Super Mario we're all so used to when it comes to his club form.
Italians, be warned. Germany has officially started the engine, the automaton will not rest until it achieves its purpose. The reason behind my statement? This kerl below.
Just seen the starting XI
It's official, signore and herren. The German Löw has discovered his magic formula when it comes to die kavallerie. We have Mesut "Germany's Turkish delight" Özil and Thomas 'Germany's super mallet" Müller starting. Together with Der Dazzler himself, the Teutons mean serious business against their Roman rivals. You see, the problem with Germany not so long ago lies in getting the wrong man in the lone vorhut role. Götze wasn't that super because he didn't have Müller's tenacity. As for Gómez, it's basically a lack of support from the attacking 3 (read: most likely Müller was the only outlet of aggression coming from behind). Against a nation arguably more famous for Daniela "she's got legs like Stacy Keibler" Hantuchová, Gómez was given the (German) license to kill thanks to ample support from Müller and Der Dazzler. Plenty of pace from both flanks, such was the story of [Germany-3] [0-Slovakia] in a nutshell.
As for Antonio "Il Bestia" Conte, it'll be interesting to see how high the Romans will pass the ball more than anything else.
Where the battle will be won...
In the history of mankind, the Roman Empire is still widely regarded as the greatest empire in history. Ironically, its downfall was actually due to invasions from the Germanic tribes (and ofc it didn't help that Romulus' glory was already on the wane by then). Will the history repeat itself?
Key to victory (for one team) and defeat (for another) lies in Toni "Stark" Kroos and Stefano "the Cap" Sturaro. Ignore Deadpool here, he's just crazy like yours truly. Wani from the retail pharmacy has always been right abt me even though she's just joking around.
Going by the list, it's quite possible that both individuals will be deployed at the holding mid area. A good thing for Italy as well.
Germany=no weakness?
Football is a very simple game. You have 22 blokes chasing a ball, you'll also have the Germans always winning. However, that's actually no different from assuming Deadpool having nothing to do with the X-Men (which in fact he really did in the form of the X-Force). Imagine this happening in the Teutonic dressing room.
Löw: Guys, you see what that Christian Vieri says? That we have no weak points?
Kroos: It's bullshit, coach.
Löw: Maybe it's bullshit. That comes to mind an interesting conversation I've had with a foreign talent hailing from Singapore. She happens to be based at Hamburg by the way. We actually discussed whether gods should be considered gods if they can't survive Ragnarok.
Kroos: More bullshit, coach.
Löw: Let's not fall for his trap. If even the gods can't win against the inevitable, it means we have only one method of proving him right: winning. By the way, did you read the last line, the one I circled?
Kroos: Yes, coach. That moron said that we are the most fancied team in the tournament, that everyone knows it.
Löw: He's right about that, when we see him off the pitch we will need to thank him, even, he gave us a compliment, it means we are back. That we instill fear, that we are honoring the name we carry. Remember: only those who do not win get the opponents' full sympathy.
Kroos: Coach, he also says you are insane... actually, when was the last time you scratch yourself?
Löw: Kroos, I'm gonna place you in the same position I gave to Schweinsteiger last time round. We need to play it fast and furious via the counter. I could have started you in the hole, but that'll mean I'm being somewhat of a racist since Özil is technically a Turk.
Kroos: We're going straight for the jugular once we break up play? What if those Italians decide to park their bus in front instead?
Löw: Ah, Ballack still owes me an Euro and twenty cents, by the way. Please go tell him this after the tournament.
Kroos: What for?
Löw: For the newspaper...
So what am I trying say? Basically this image below...
Assuming that TNP wasn't bullshitting us by saying Conte favours a horseshoe formation when it comes to the back 3, it means the VIP of the team is whoever playing as the pseudo-centreback. Before Daniele "Il Lupo" De Rossi got himself injured, that was basically his exclusive territory. Assuming it will be Sturaro playing at the tip of Conte's defensive diamond, it means the Romans are taking a certain risk. In the form of Kroos, Germany has that Football's Next Top Scholes. Capable of playing either in the hole or as a holding mid, the pressure is now on Sturaro not to put a single foot wrong when it comes to deciding when to burst forward. Seeing Kroos passing the ball is like watching Iron Man firing his repulsor beam, seeing Sturaro's all action style is like watching Steve Rogers leading the charge and protecting the rear guard.
Try imagining for a brief moment the horseshoe crab walking backwards somewhere in the Siloso Beach. That's basically Conte's tactical core in a nutshell. The pointy end will never be facing Buffon.G. Rather, it will always be facing the opposition. I'm not too sure about Sturaro's passing range unlike Il Lupo (or Montolivo for that matter). Ultimately, this means Germnay cannot think to themselves that Italy is now a wounded lion waiting to snared. Oh hell no, my friends. Conte's choice may easily create an element of unpredictability across what I call the four and a half man midfield. In Conte's own words, Gli Azzurri has only one method to prove the naysayers wrong: winning.
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