So, it’s the start of a new international season, and a World Cup final rematch between the Nationalmannschaft and Argentina in Düsseldorf. It’s a new-look German team with some new combinations as Nationaltrainer Joachim Löw looks to build for the
Dropping like flies again
I have always been in two minds about the international season starting so early, particularly during a World Cup year. Despite it being almost two months after the Nationalmannschaft’s triumph in Rio there is still something of a sluggishness, with
The Post-Tournament School Report
The victorious German team are back home or on holiday, the World Cup trophy is safely in the locker for another four years, and it’s now time for what will be one of most memorable tournament post-mortems. The recent retirement
Germany v Argentina: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
When the World Cup began more than a month ago, the thought of Germany being in the final would be little more than a dream. Placed in the toughest half of the draw with a possible quarter-final against France and
The Final Straight
Welcome to what will be the penultimate World Cup video blog, and what a tournament it has been! First we would see a hard-fought quarter-final win over France where Nationaltrainer Jogi Löw would revert back to the familiar and tried
Brazil v Germany: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
Coming into the semi-final against Brazil at the Estadio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, Germany would be the bookies’ favourites. But only just. When the match kicked off the first ten minutes saw Brazil edge the opening tussles, with Jogi Löw’s
The Beast Awakens: Brazil brushed aside in Belo Horizonte
We’re all set in Belo Horizonte, with Nationaltrainer Joachim Löw keeping things simple and my pre-match tittle-tattle short by naming the same side that had beaten France four days earlier. Confidence is high and the defensive midfield duo fit and
Seventh Heaven
Have no fear, the match reports are coming… But during yesterday’s game I just couldn’t keep up with the “live” commentary as the goals kept flooding in. As soon as I started to put together the description of one another
Back to Basics
For many, the quarter-final against France at the famous Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro would be the first in a number of defining moments for Nationaltrainer Joachim Löw. The coach had been targeted heavily by the press for
Theories, Tactics, Tittle-tattle…
Welcome to the latest World Cup vlog, covering everything from the final group match against the United States to a preview of the quarter-final against France. The Algeria game and team tactics are discussed at length, as I try my
Germany v Algeria: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
Germany’s World Cup goes on, but their second phase encounter with Algeria would produce yet another dramatic chapter in what has so far been an incredible tournament – arguably the best for a long time, possibly since Mexico 1986. Expected
Pandemonium and Panic in Porto Alegre
Having safely negotiated what had been dubbed the “Group of Death”, Joachim Löw’s German side now meet Algeria, runners-up behind Belgium in a group that would also include Russia and South Korea. It is a repeat of the infamous meeting