So, it’s time for the start of the long road to Brazil, and the first World Cup Qualifiers against the Faroe Islands in Hannover (7th September) followed by a short trip across the border to Austria (11th September) – two
A new start to a new season, and the Nationalmannschaft’s fourth defeat of 2012 – the most reverses in a calendar year since Joachim Löw wook over as Nationaltrainer in 2006. But it was not all bad news. Despite the
A new season, a new start, and I’m back and raring to go again. After the highs and lows of Euro 2012, the Nationalmannschaft are back in action with what looks like a mouth-watering early season fixture against Argentina on
It is hard to believe that the Euros are finally all over. Ten qualifying matches. Months of anticipation and buildup. Then, just over three weeks of football, extracting every last emotion and shredding every last nerve. Especially if you were
I never thought it would come to this – my last ratings report of Euro 2012, and I’m not writing about the final. Instead, another semi-final against that old banana skin Italy, and yet another painful defeat.
So, no return to the Ukraine after what was planned to be a two-week break in Poland. Poor tactics, mental collapse, another defeat to bogey side Italy, and it’s all over. Just like that. I’ll save the post mortem for
When the last eight teams slotted into place and Germany then beat Greece to make the semi-finals, we all knew a classic encounter would be coming up next. We would either see England – a team that has provided a
So here we are: another fine team performance, and yet another major tournament semi-final. Fifteen competitive victories in a row, and two away from a record-extending fourth European Championship title. The worst thing now will be the waiting.
Three games, three times the same line up – Jérôme Boateng’s one match suspension aside – and everyone expecting more of the same for this evening’s quarter-final against Greece.
Three wins from three and maximum points in a European Championship group phase for the first time – easy. Or not, given that this was yet another tough match that could very easily have swung in the opposite direction.
After the lovely refreshing glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice on Wednesday, we can now add to that a rather nice Danish pastry – though at times it did taste a little half-baked.
Two games out of two, six points, and one more needed to guarantee a “home” quarter-final in the Mannschaft’s base in Danzig. Next up, Denmark – northern neighbours and recent rivals who have provided some entertaining moments in recent European