World Cup: Group E: Germany vs. Cote d'Ivoire, 6/20/2026

[cgf]

Who - outside of Liverpool - gives a shit if he succeeds there? There’s bigger stages.

Facts.

 

[cgf]

They’re a good side. They have a few players who can rise to the level especially for the national side and with whatever is left of a German mojo.

That said, there’s clearly a gulf in quality in what Germany puts out and a couple sides. I would also argue comparatively to past teams, while there are some who could have fit into other good national sides, they’re not as strong by some margin. Maybe what you could hang your hat on is they don’t have as glaring a hole as some. Though that defense is shaky at times.

We'll see if that gulf matters in the end

 

[cgf]

Yeah but it's a pointless point in the sense that these games aren't played on paper or in a lab setting. Germany never looks that great on paper and in a tournament setting it ain't always the best team that wins. In fact, in every single tournament Germany won they had to take out a favored team on the way there.

Except 2014. I'm almost certain we were favored in each match.

 

[Vipers31]

We'll see if that gulf matters in the end

… or existed in the first place.

 

[kabidjan18]

Thinking on the game more, the thing that continues to irk me is just the coaching decision to play Singo at RB. It really was a huge gaffe and cost us one of our best players.

I also think tactically, we continue to be behind other teams. It's very noticeable, the USA is a team with good talent that is buoyed by a coach with great acumen. Fae is a nice up and coming coach but he's still prone to make really nonsensical tactical decisions. So in totality while the players on our team are much better I'd say the sum of all parts is about the same, sadly.

We still have time to grow into the tournament, but now (because we aren't guaranteed to make it to the knockouts) we have to play starters against Curacao and so fatigue will eventually become a question. Our players looked far too tired in the 2nd half for what is supposed to be just the 2nd game of the tournament.

 

[koyvoo]

Thinking on the game more, the thing that continues to irk me is just the coaching decision to play Singo at RB. It really was a huge gaffe and cost us one of our best players.

I also think tactically, we continue to be behind other teams. It's very noticeable, the USA is a team with good talent that is buoyed by a coach with great acumen. Fae is a nice up and coming coach but he's still prone to make really nonsensical tactical decisions. So in totality while the players on our team are much better I'd say the sum of all parts is about the same, sadly.

We still have time to grow into the tournament, but now (because we aren't guaranteed to make it to the knockouts) we have to play starters against Curacao and so fatigue will eventually become a question. Our players looked far too tired in the 2nd half for what is supposed to be just the 2nd game of the tournament.

To the bolded, it was precisely when the equalizer was conceded that they all of the sudden became lifeless. And that was very disappointing given how the balance of play had gone. Probably with regret of not pulling away by more than one goal when they were dominating. It was just a hard luck result, and 9 times out of 10, that game played as it was goes to CIV.

 

[cgf]

Thinking on the game more, the thing that continues to irk me is just the coaching decision to play Singo at RB. It really was a huge gaffe and cost us one of our best players.

I also think tactically, we continue to be behind other teams. It's very noticeable, the USA is a team with good talent that is buoyed by a coach with great acumen. Fae is a nice up and coming coach but he's still prone to make really nonsensical tactical decisions. So in totality while the players on our team are much better I'd say the sum of all parts is about the same, sadly.

We still have time to grow into the tournament, but now (because we aren't guaranteed to make it to the knockouts) we have to play starters against Curacao and so fatigue will eventually become a question. Our players looked far too tired in the 2nd half for what is supposed to be just the 2nd game of the tournament.

FWIW I thought you challenged us way more than the americans. We were just shredding them in the first 10-15 of the US friendly. Plus they let Sane score, you at least required some Undav magic.

I'm still confident you'll beat Norway in the round of 32.

 

[cgf]

To the bolded, it was precisely when the equalizer was conceded that they all of the sudden became lifeless. And that was very disappointing given how the balance of play had gone. Probably with regret of not pulling away by more than one goal when they were dominating. It was just a hard luck result, and 9 times out of 10, that game played as it was goes to CIV.

They burned themselves out in those 2nd and 3rd quarters that they were in the ascension...between Schlotti getting hurt and Undav coming on...once the goal fell, their adrenaline could no longer carry them.

 

[koyvoo]

I won't argue about argentina, they have a bunch of attacking talent around Leo...who is still amazing...but it's not always about who has the most talent, sometimes all you need is enough talent, paired with resiliency, flexibility, and cohesion...which is why I rate them more than the more talented French & Spanish.

If Schlotti isn't done, things are taking shape well in those respects for us; we're getting good practice with both handling adversity & the kind of world class speed on the counter, that we will when we run into the big boys. While the team seems to have fantastic synergy / cohesion with Undav out there.


That said I don't think England brought along as much talent as we did even after Karl got hurt; Kane is an obvious advantage over Kai, I'd also gladly take Reece over Kimmich, and their double pivot is more highly rated...though I'm more than fine with our starters, and I like our alternatives (Stiller / Amiri / Ouedraogo) more than Mainoo & Hendo (am I forgetting someone?).

But I wouldn't swap Schlotterbeck or Tah for any of their CBs; even if I would take Guehi over Rüdi as our #3. I like Brown's dynamism more than O'Reilly's...at least from my limited viewings of City this season...and rate Raum a lot more than Spence. And I wouldn't swap the attackers we have around Kai for the attackers they have around Kane; counting Jude as an attacker.


I just don't know how to assess Portugal's talent because of the terrible coach. They certainly have more depth than us in general...but outside of the PSG trio -- whom I'd love to have -- who is world class? They clearly have the better FBs and midfield, but we I don't think their CBs are as good as Schlotti & Jona, and I'll take our front 4 ahead of theirs; especially given the way each team makes use of its talent.

So then, relating to the post saying that there is only debate when there is a pushback to the notion that Germany is not at the level they have historically been at, quite simply, tell me where you currently rank Germany for national teams.

 

[cgf]

So then, relating to the post saying that there is only debate when there is a pushback to the notion that Germany is not at the level they have historically been at, quite simply, tell me where you currently rank Germany for national teams.

Tough to say. We're clearly less talented than we were from 2012-2018, but Wirtz and Musiala are also more individually talented than anyone from that team. With the best 11, we're better than 2020-2024 era and the 2000s.

 

[kabidjan18]

To the bolded, it was precisely when the equalizer was conceded that they all of the sudden became lifeless. And that was very disappointing given how the balance of play had gone. Probably with regret of not pulling away by more than one goal when they were dominating. It was just a hard luck result, and 9 times out of 10, that game played as it was goes to CIV.

FWIW I thought you challenged us way more than the americans. We were just shredding them in the first 10-15 of the US friendly. Plus they let Sane score, you at least required some Undav magic.

I'm still confident you'll beat Norway in the round of 32.

I hope ya'll are right. And for what it's worth, I agree. I mean yesterday was a super stark contrast, the American backline/midfield couldn't even execute the keep-away drill with the Australians. From a pure skill perspective it's not even very close but the coordination of the American counter-press is just something we can't emulate.

I also think Yan Diomande may be injured. Both games against Ecuador and Germany he grabbed his right side. And he was completely exhausted after just 70 min, which is not normal. I don't know what it is, maybe an oblique? It's not going to heal during the tournament, but it shouldn't keep him from playing, and maybe resting him against Curacao would give him some extra time to heal there.

I also think we beat Norway in the Round of 32. To me though, the R16 (the knockouts in the old format) is sort of a minimalist goal. If we want to do more damage, Fae can't have another bad game.

 

[cgf]

German soccer legend amazed by 'massive' Knicks championship parade

German soccer legend Thomas Muller reacted to the New York Knicks championship parade and his struggles during it.

sports.yahoo.com

lol

 

[Power Man]

Why does this sound so familiar to me? @Power Man are you getting Déjà vu too?

What are you talking about lol

 

[cgf]

What are you talking about lol

“Knicks didn’t win, spurs just lost”

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

In the ones that I’ve watched in my time, in 1990 they were at least top 3, 1996 they were likely the best, and 2014 probably easily the best, considering Spain’s collapse and what Germany had built since 2006.

I don’t think they’re anywhere near as good themselves, or comparatively to the field right now as they were in any of the above listed tournaments.

Calling B.S. on 96. I don't know how old you were in '96, but Germany looked entirely pedestrian against Italy, and had legit concerns about getting out of the group, had significant trouble with Croatia, weren't expected to beat England in Wembley either, Vogts was already under heavy criticism plus there were tons of injuries. After the '94 debacle not even Germans were expecting the team to win that tournament or get to the Final even.

 

[koyvoo]

Calling B.S. on 96. I don't know how old you were in '96, but Germany looked entirely pedestrian against Italy, and had legit concerns about getting out of the group, had significant trouble with Croatia, weren't expected to beat England in Wembley either, Vogts was already under heavy criticism plus there were tons of injuries. After the '94 debacle not even Germans were expecting the team to win that tournament or get to the Final even.

I was 17 years old during Euro 96

The tournament had its rough patches, but in May of 1996 Germany was the second ranked team team in FIFA rankings, and the highest European ranked team. They spent the entirety of 1996 as second ranked in the world, and highest European ranked.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

I was 17 years old during Euro 96

The tournament had its rough patches, but in May of 1996 Germany was the second ranked team team in FIFA rankings, and the highest European ranked team. They spent the entirety of 1996 as second ranked in the world, and highest European ranked.


View attachment 1256827

Yeah I don't know where you lived but no-one took those rankings seriously in Europe. Look who's number 3 and 4.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

And 2014 I remember well, Brazil and Argentina were pre-tournament favorites. It was widely considered unlikely for a European team to win on South American soil.