After the staggering comeback against Sweden, everything is back in Germany’s hands for their final group phase match against South Korea in Kazan. A win should guarantee safe passage through to the knockout stages, and despite the shaky start Jogi
The Crunch, Part II: Korea in Kazan
After the last-second victory against Sweden, Germany’s World Cup campaign is back in their hands. Like in South Africa in 2010 when they came into their final group match against Ghana, Die Mannschaft need to win to guarantee their progress
Germany v Sweden: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
At half-time against Sweden in Sochi, Germany were teetering on the brink. Another half of the same, and we would have been talking about the Nationalmannschaft’s earliest elimination in the tournament since 1938. Eighty years. Instead, we witnessed ten men
Last-gasp Kroos cracker pulls ten-man Germany from the brink against Sweden
Crunch time. After their opening group phase defeat against Mexico in Moscow, it is make or break for Jögi Low’s men in Sochi against Sweden. One has to go back sixty years to find the last World Cup defeat for
The crunch: A quick pre-match Germany v Sweden preview
My last post-match stream of consciousness ramblings was pretty well received, so here’s another. A quick jump in and jump out match preview of Germany’s upcoming group phase meeting with Sweden. Opinions straight off the bat, spiced up and spliced
Germany v Mexico: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
Germany’s World Cup campaign would get off to a horrible start in Moscow, with a 1-0 defeat against Mexico. Coming into the match as hot favourites, the reigning world champions were out-thought and outplayed by a fast-paced and well-drilled Mexican
Random thoughts: Despair, fuelled by denial and delusion
Before I set down to write my in depth analysis and churn out a post-match video piece, I will share some stream of consciousness stuff here. A lot of the time, I post a reply to somebody else, and just
Poor Germany punished in tournament opener by energetic Mexico
After all of the buildup, anticipation, discussion, predictions and gossip, it is time for Germany to start their World Cup campaign. The tournament has thrown up plenty of excitement so far, from host Russia’s outstanding opening day 5-0 thrashing of
All set. Stats, last minute news, and a Mannschaft-Musik update
After all of the predictions, squad discussions and off-field shenanigans, we are finally all set. Later today, the Mannschaft kick off their Russia 2018 campaign, taking on Mexico in Moscow. The Mexicans will have no doubt put last year’s Confederations
A shoot, a signature, and a scandal. Özil, Gündoğan and the Erdoğan affair
Against Saudi Arabia last Saturday, İlkay Gündoğan got off the bench to replace Marco Reus. His arrival was met with a chorus of jeers, boos and whistles from the Leverkusen crowd. To the casual watcher, it must have been a
Mannschafts-Meldung: Stories from the Twittersphere
Time for something a little different today, as part of the gradual buildup towards the World Cup. We now have less than two weeks until things kick off in Russia, and sixteen days before Germany get their campaign underway. Today
Germany’s Group in Russia: A closer look
When the draw was made last December for next month’s World Cup, Germany were provided with a challenging, but workable, set of three opponents. Three countries that, for fans of the Mannschaft, will be familiar without having to trawl too