Euro 2008 - Tactics: Germany v Spain

Eurosport - Sun, 29 Jun 09:15:00 2008

A look at the formations, strengths and weaknesses of Germany and Spain ahead of Sunday's Euro 2008 final at Vienna's Ernst Happel stadium.

FOOTBALL 2008 Euro 2008 Germany-Turkey Podolski Schweinsteiger Hut - 0

FORMATIONS

Germany coach Joachim Loew has to decide whether to stick with the 4-5-1 formation that worked well against Portugal but not so well against Turkey, or revert to his favoured 4-4-2. Spain's Luis Aragones stayed solidly with 4-4-2 all tournament but admitted that the switch to 4-5-1 after David Villa's injury turned the semi-final and it seems likely he will run with it and give a rare start to Cesc Fabregas.

STRENGTHS

Germany's mindset should be an advantage. Their players grew up watching their compatriots competing in finals and should not be fazed by the occasion. As they showed in the last-gasp semi-final win, they always play to the final whistle. Spain's main strength is their technical quality, their familiarity and confidence in each other and a system that has taken them on a 21-match unbeaten run.

WEAKNESSES

Germany were unusually ragged and defensively vulnerable for long spells against Turkey. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, 38, also looked past his sell-by date. Spain have little aerial power either in attack or defence, though it has not troubled them unduly so far.

DEFENCE

Germany's keeper and back four are vastly experienced yet there were some worried looks between them as they struggled to plug the holes against Turkey. Central defenders Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder love a big centre forward to take on but will be less happy trying to track Fabregas and Andres Iniesta pushing up from midfield. The Spanish defence has not attracted the headlines but has been resilient and efficient. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas and centre back Carles Puyol have barely put a foot wrong while right back Sergio Ramos has a huge appetite for work with his overlapping forays.

MIDFIELD

Michael Ballack had a game to forget against Turkey but he is a man who revels in the big occasion and will take it as a personal challenge to dominate the key area of Sunday's battle (if he is fit). Wide men Bastian Schweinsteiger (pictured in hat) and Lukas Podolski are both having great tournaments and look a constant goal threat while Torsten Frings will add some power if, as expected, he returns to the starting line-up. Spain's midfield eventually wore Russia down with their accurate passing and hard work and the addition of Fabregas brings guile and also freed Xavi to become more adventurous. The whole unit played at a much crisper pace against Russia than they did in the goalless quarter-final against Italy.

ATTACK

With a goal in each of the last two games Miroslav Klose is beginning to regain the confidence that made him the 2006 World Cup's top scorer and his spring-heeled heading ability will be something Germany will look to exploit. As a sole striker Fernando Torres will spend most of his time as a running outlet for his midfielders rather than hovering menacingly in the box. As in the semi, the fresh legs of Spanish league top scorer Daniel Guiza will probably take over during the second half.

Reuters

Comment 55 - 74 of 74

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  1. Hi Footbal funny. I told you Spain will win by 1 nill and they made it. Bravo Spain team.

    From richard_kilonzo, on Mon 30 Jun 6:38AM

  2. SPAIN 1 GERMANY 0

    From richard_kilonzo, on Sun 29 Jun 3:15PM

  3. Spain 3, Germany 1

    From Gonzo, on Sun 29 Jun 7:19AM

  4. go spain goooooooooooo.xavi 2 goals tomorrow...spain winner 2 _ 0......good luck spain & hard luck manchaft.... next time in south africa ......

    From marozoughaib, on Sun 29 Jun 4:15AM

  5. Oh don't worry sapnish palyers will do anything to make your germans life difficult.i'm sure theyr gonna dominate and i really hope theyre gonna win.go GoGoGo SPAIN :):):):) and definitley not germany:(:(:(:(

    From marysport1, on Sat 28 Jun 3:45PM

  6. Spain will win against germany because of the quality football they are playing... Germany's football is antiquated, they still play that "mechanical" football with long balls hoping to surprise the oponent. their game is with no interest or flair. Spain in the other hand plays similar to the south american football "El jogo bonito" as the brazilians call it. I hope the best football will prevail and that is Spain. Viva Bolivia y viva Espana..!! carajo...!!

    From Fico, on Sat 28 Jun 2:26PM

  7. I agree with "Hasan". germany has played some excellent football and have shown that every team has its faults and flaws but that didnt keep germnay from reaching the finals. spain is an excellent team too... dont get me wrong... they are great, BUT they are now missing villa and germany has bigger size. i think that if germany plays like they did in the quarter finals, spain wont stand a chance. spain is a fast, smart, creative team. but germany is quick, technical, and just a powerful team. i dont think that anyone who hasnt watched both sides more than 3 times should open there mouth in here.... "michael.oriley" being one of them. i say that this will be a high scoring match and germany will prevail but only just 3-2 GERMANY

    From tom_krause2008, on Sat 28 Jun 1:44PM

  8. I think that GERMANY beat SPAIN 1-0.

    From treasoth7, on Sat 28 Jun 1:23PM

  9. ARROGANT ESPANA WILL SLUMP TO MUD... GERMANY WILL TEACH THEM HOW TO PLAY WITH A BIG BOY

    From kickd24, on Sat 28 Jun 12:50PM

  10. There will be an extraordinary game in the final. Spain is good, but I am afraid they have reached their peak on semifinal and are on the decline now. As someone in INDONESIA ever said: never streak the stable-long-lasting Germany out of your list. Too bad, I will miss the game as I will be on travel MEDAN-BANDA ACEH when Ballack leads his team beating The Matador. Enjoy the game, say no to racist and let the best win the game..

    From taat100, on Sat 28 Jun 11:26AM

  11. Raeheid, what's a "bad win"? I would certainly prefer my Holland team to have had a couple of "bad wins" and be in the Final, than those three "good wins" and be out. In any case, I do not think that Spain had "bad wins". Their game against Sweden was tight but, in the last 30 minutes they really outplayed the Sweeds. Agaist Greece, they fielded their "B" team and they weren't lucky winners, and everyone knows that Italy, no matter how they played, would not concede two clear defeats in the same tournament. Technically, Spain, along with Holland, Portugal and, probably Croatia, have the most talented players in Europe. The difference was that Spain was also excellent managing tactics. As Hiddink put it, they wore out their opponents.

    Germany will be the toughest rival for the Spanish, and we will see a great game. I think that the Germans deserved to be there, but they did not outplayed their opponents the way Spain did. Speaking of keeper mistakes, what about Rustu and Ricardo against Germany? Or what abaout Poland's childish errors in defense? What about Ballack pushing Ferreira with both arms right before scoring against the Portuguese? Was that luck? I think not. Germany simply used the tactics they needed to get past those great teams (Portugal & Turkey). Their victories were tight, but you can't call them "bad wins". Likewise, no bad wins for Spain either, but simply steps forward.

    From Jan S, on Sat 28 Jun 10:33AM

  12. SPAIN WILL WIN AND DONT NOONE DARE TO ARGUE ABOUT IT. DAVID VILLA MIGHT MISS OUT BUT SAPI9N STILL HAVE EVERYONE WITH TORRES,FABREGAS,SILVA,HERNANDEZ AND ALLL DA OTHER GUYS SO MY MESSAGE TO GERMANS AREW GO HOME TO HITLER!!!!!
    SPAIN CHAMPIONS!!!!!

    From sunny, on Sat 28 Jun 10:12AM

  13. The NAZIS will lose 3-0 from SPAIN.
    Because they are losers.
    SPAIN are the KINGS of EUROPE.
    Second are TURKEY.
    Third CROATIA.
    The rest are bolsheat

    From JACK THE, on Sat 28 Jun 8:20AM

  14. I expect the game to be very similar to the Germany - Portugal game... The Germans will have a great advantage in set pieces because of the smaller, weaker (strength) Spanish side... This game could be settled by Set Pieces imo... David Villa is out and he will be missed by the spaniards

    From Paul S, on Sat 28 Jun 7:53AM

  15. ESPANA will dominate,only thing Germany good for is nothing.Be serious,spains been dominate this cup,germany does not deserve it or cant win.5-0 no problem.

    From Donny r, on Sat 28 Jun 7:49AM

  16. Spain to win they played the best football. They showed a great improvement in the game. Have won all their games to get here. Beat the reigning World and European champions also.

    Germany have done well but there football in this Euro has been average they can play better but not shown it here.

    From godino31, on Sat 28 Jun 7:41AM

  17. hi all, i just want to point out the comment that some of you stated that germany plays boring football ! how is it boring ? have you seen all the goals germany scored ? the quick touch and go touches that made podolski open on the left and shweinstiger running behind to score ! and what about all the runs Lahm is making from the defence to the offense ? iam not german, but i have been a fan of german football since 1986 .. they have never played for a draw like italy or played defensively as the record shows, they won the most trophies and you cant win without attacking and scoring . Most people under estimated the germans especially when they played the portugals, but if you saw the game, portugal really didnt do much in the game, it was the germans who kept the possessions and they played smart football, its all about knowing your opponent and their weaknesses because football isnt just about kicking and moving the ball around only but it takes a strategy too which makes it a wonderful game , me and all my friends in the united states were hoping that germany and spain will get to the finals before it even started, because we thought both play great football and it will be a good final.. not like the italy-france, france-brazil finals, or the quarterfinal spain-italy (most boring game in this euro tournament)... the germans are still fresh too, they got many young players and they working hard, they deserve all what they have achieved and you cant say its luck, most of the goals that were scored against germany came from keeper errors(now that is no close to being lucky and the latest ones were the two goals turkey scored!)
    i wish the best for both team and GO GERMANY

    From Hasan, on Sat 28 Jun 6:49AM

  18. Spain will win Germany 3-1.Spain has won all games in Euro2008 so far. Surely they are winning the finals too.They have picked up momentum and are ready to go for the kill. Theres no stopping even by the powerful Germans.

    From Shanmuka, on Sat 28 Jun 5:59AM

  19. Spain will win Germany 3-1.Spain has won all games in Euro2008 so far. Surely they are winning the finals too.They have picked up momentum and are ready to go for the kill. Theres no stopping even by the powerful Germans.

    From Shanmuka, on Sat 28 Jun 5:56AM

  20. Spain!Spain!Spain!spain! El nino!El nino!El nino! Euro2008 Champion!!!!!!

    From maransugu81, on Sat 28 Jun 5:07AM
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