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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 12:45:34 GMT
So unimpressive was Germany's form last year that it's genuinely quite a fortunate thing that they are the hosts and were spared the quite reasonable possibility of not qualifying for a tournament held any place else than where it actually is.Even before last year they were outed in the group stages in Qatar and the final straw was a home mauling in the friendly against Japan in September 2023. Since then under coach Nagelsmann they've won five of nine friendlies including two wins over France, and suffered defeat to Turkey and Austria. These two back-to-back defeats were probably the result of an incredible decision to field Kai Havertz in defence for the two games - a decision since reversed with the Arsenal player reverting to a more familiar attacking role. The most recent four friendlies have seen an upturn in German outlook but what's patently obvious here is the lack of competitive action under Nagelsmann.
That long-awaited competition now arrives in the form of Scotland - the Scotland of 'Ally's Tartan Army', 'Don't Come Home Too Soon', Rod Stewart's 'Ole Ola' - all cretinous musical assaults on the Hit Parade and best forgotten. Okay Del Amitri's 'Don't Come Home Too Soon' was not cretinous but the melancholic sound of it was more suited as a plea to your wife going on holiday with her mates than to a football team. A fantastic run of form in the second half of 2022 and most of 2023 came to a worrying end in September 23 since when Scotland have won just one of nine games, competitive and otherwise. But who cares? They are there. They made it out of their (not easy) qualifying group and are there.
GERMANY 1/4
SCOTLAND 11/1
DRAW 5/1
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 18:21:11 GMT
Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Rüdiger, Tah, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Kroos; Musiala, Gündogan (c), Wirtz; Havertz.
Subs: Baumann, ter Stegen, Raum, Gross, Füllkrug, Fuhrich, Müller, Beier, Schlotterbeck, Anton, Sané, Henrichs, Koch, Can, Undav.
Scotland (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Porteous, Hendry, Tierney; Ralston, McTominay, McGregor, Robertson (c); Christie, McGinn; Adams.
Subs: Kelly, Clark, Hanley, Shankland, Gilmour, Cooper, Armstrong, Morgan, Conway, Jack, McCrorie, McLean, Taylor, Forrest, McKenna.
The ref is France's Clement Turpin, and I remember him from a number of our featured games in the past, the most recent of which was Dortmund's home defeat to Rangers in the Europa League by the unthinkable score of 2-4 in February 2022. What a night for Rangers that was. Apart from anything else, could it be an omen for tonight's game?
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Post by MrFurious on Jun 14, 2024 18:42:11 GMT
Scotland +2 in first game of weekend 5 fold
Also 6 or more shots on target outside the box 14/1
and
Gundogan/Havertz and Andy to be fouled at least 6 times 18/1
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 19:01:08 GMT
10,000 Scottish ticket allocation? And the rest. Looks and sounds like a home game. The crowd belts out Flower of Scotland and you'd think you were at Hampden.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 19:17:24 GMT
GOAL
A soaring ball switches German play from the left touchline way over to the right where Kimmich picks it up, feeds a low ball to Wirtz who is waiting centre of goal just outside the area. Wirtz fires a low slightly swerving controlled blast which beats Gunn for one-nothing after just 10 minutes.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 19:32:38 GMT
GOAL
You've got to do better than that, surely. Gundagan feeds a ball through to Havertz who invades the Scottish area. Not a problem at this point as he has about four defenders on him. But he doubles back a yard to find Musiala free to his right. Musiala, unmarked, fires it home for 2-0 on '19. Lack of man-marking at fault, surely, for that one.
PENALTY
Now it's a penalty to Germany. Is it? Christie on Musiala. They're looking at it. It's a free-kick minimum but it could be a penalty.
NO PENALTY
Free-kick. Free-kick to Germany. The foul was on the right leg of Musiala which was outside the box and not on the left leg of Musiala which was inside the box. What if the foul had been committed on his b***s? We might have been here all night. Just make an on-the-spot decision and stick to it. But those days are gone. Free-kick from Havertz comes to nothing.
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Post by MrFurious on Jun 14, 2024 19:43:26 GMT
That Rudiger shot outside the box better be a save, thats 3/6 so far.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 19:49:59 GMT
PENALTY VAR REVIEW FOR GERMANY
Yes, a penalty to Germany.
RED CARD SCOTLAND
Ryan Porteous is dismissed for the penalty foul on Gundagan.
Havertz will take it as half time approaches. He stutters as he runs up, fires, scores. Scotland 0-3 down and missing a man. It couldn't be worse.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 20:02:20 GMT
HALF TIME
Who is Christina Unkel on ITV? She's the voice of VAR they keep giving the mic to. She's a litigation attorney and entrepreneur and professional speaker. And, boy, does she sound like it. But fair play, she was a ref and was Fifa-licensed. But when she comes on it doesn't feel like you're watching a football game more like Judge Judy.
Apart from that, Scotland have had it. Best moment of the half was the commentator suggesting that Scotland throw men up the park and simply go for it. Then Ally McCoist abruptly and rather forcefully put the case against it - that Scotland would be opening themselves up to 'these guys' and would let 6 or 7 in. That's told ye, says McCoist. Except that, as the commentator rightfully replied, overall group goal difference is secondary should it come to sneaking a third group spot and that that position is determined by the head-to-head result between the two clubs concerned. The silence from McCoist was almost deafening.
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Post by Feologild Oakes on Jun 14, 2024 20:04:48 GMT
Scotland is really giving Germany a though match.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 20:32:49 GMT
GOAL
Similar goal to the first, kind of. Played into the area, held up, flicked back, smashed in. Füllkrug. '68. 4-0.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 20:52:31 GMT
GOAL
Scotland score. Scotland score. Rudiger.
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Post by staggerstag on Jun 14, 2024 20:59:06 GMT
GOAL
Can curls a beauty in at the death for a complete dismantling of Scotland.
Scotland poor. Germany clean, cohesive and quite compelling. Against better opposition? We'll wait and see.
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Post by Pangolin on Jun 14, 2024 21:42:00 GMT
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