Conte subs off a striker 12 minutes before the penalty shootout.

Müller and Draxler 😆

Özil is at least one full tier above anyone else in that German team. Without him they'd have no attack.

Kroos has been shown up here. Hasn't threaded a pass through the lines to Özil (or anyone else) all match long.

Draxler really isn't the finished article. That kind of pass is Ox-esque.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Kroos has been shown up here. Hasn't threaded a pass through the lines to Özil (or anyone else) all match long.

He got stopped in his tracks when Khedira went off, didn't he. He's a top player but he needs that mobility next to him. Instead he got Schweinsteiger who last outsprinted someone in the spring of 2013.

If this goes to penalties I'll be flabbergasted if Italy don't win.

The winner of this match won't beat France and their home support.

Müller is such a diving little cunt

Also fuck Neuer

Klaus wrote:

Özil is at least one full tier above anyone else in that German team. Without him they'd have no attack.

You've got to give Wenger and of course Özil credit, he's a far superior footballer to the one that turned up at Arsenal. He was obviously always brilliant, but everything about his game has gone up a level and he looks easily the fittest player on the pitch here.

Clrnc wrote:

The winner of this match won't beat France and their home support.

I think France would need that home support to carry them through, these two, in very different ways, look clearly superior to me. Germany, in particular, would do terrible things to that French midfield and defence.

Ricky1985 wrote:
Klaus wrote:

Özil is at least one full tier above anyone else in that German team. Without him they'd have no attack.

You've got to give Wenger and of course Özil credit, he's a far superior footballer to the one that turned up at Arsenal. He was obviously always brilliant, but everything about his game has gone up a level and he looks easily the fittest player on the pitch here.

Except for penalty taking.  :boris:

Ricky1985 wrote:

Kroos has been shown up here. Hasn't threaded a pass through the lines to Özil (or anyone else) all match long.

He's been poor today but that doesn't mean he's been shown up. Ozil was similarly poor against Northern Ireland but that doesn't mean that either player has less in his locker than it seems

Ricky1985 wrote:

If this goes to penalties I'll be flabbergasted if Italy don't win.

But it's Germany and penalties. As long as Ozil don't take one they will be favourites to win.

Neuer is better at Pens than Buffon as well.

Özil has gotten a lot better after his goal

That pass to Müller (who fucked it up again) is why I love him, literally every other player would cross it there instead of keeping it on the ground

jonesy, any idea how highly Kimmich is rated within Bayern? I know that Pep loved him to bits, but he's gone now.

History is already broken in this match though. It's the first time Germany has not lost to Italy in a KO stage.

Penalty Shootout history:

Germany P6 W5 L1
Italy P7 W3 L4

El Genio de Oviedo wrote:
Ricky1985 wrote:

Kroos has been shown up here. Hasn't threaded a pass through the lines to Özil (or anyone else) all match long.

He's been poor today but that doesn't mean he's been shown up. Ozil was similarly poor against Northern Ireland but that doesn't mean that either player has less in his locker than it seems

I don't think the two are comparable. Özil finds time and space and key passes even in the biggest games, against the best defences.

And did you watch the Northern Ireland game btw? Özil was outstanding! First half was almost a piss take he was so good.