Germany 1-2 Italy - a few notes
A few points of notice:
*Germany lacked cohesion from the very beginning; Schweinsteiger's role was rather obscure in that, rather than working in tandem with Khedira to control the game, he was constantly being forced into a wide position by the formation of Italy's midfield:
--------------------------------------Khedira------------
-----Schweinsteiger----Montolivo--------------------------
--------------------------------Marchisio-----------------
---------Kroos--De Rossi---Ozil-------------Podolski------
-------------------------Pirlo------------------------------
Montolivo was sent out with the task of barracking and unsettling any possession Germany held in central midfield, with Marchisio and often De Rossi, shadowing his pressure from a few yards behind. To find space and time on the ball, and in an attempt to orchestrate German offensive play, Schweinsteiger was forced to find pockets of space to either side of the central-midfield zone, which typically, would expand the chain of support and understanding he holds with Khedira to the point of breaking. With their usual cerebrum of Scweinsteiger and Khedira now dissected, the Germans found rhythm and fluidity extremely hard to come by, when in possession. Furthermore, Prandelli's defensive line was immaculate in constantly remaining tied to Italy's midfield, and choking Ozil of the small perimeters of space he thrives upon.
*Pirlo is still the King, and despite Germany's attempts at harrowing his every turn and movement with the ball, he still managed to coordinate Italy's possession with accuracy and tempo - this of course, in stark contrast to Germany's creator-in-chief, Schweinsteiger, who, rather than tussling and outmanoeuvring his opponents in central midfield, was constantly retreating to less influential positions. Indeed, Italy's aforementioned defensive line certainly helped overcome Pirlo's defensive shortcomings. In keeping at a minimal distance from both Pirlo and De Rossi, the likes of Chiellini and Barzagli ensured the former was never isolated against Ozil, Kroos or Podolski.
*Badstuber and Hummels still have a lot to learn. Cassano's movement and sheer control of the ball was simply too much for Hummels to handle, while Balotelli's rasping strike for Italy's second goal, exposed the lack of defensive cohesion between the two. More than comfortable on the ball, they may well be, yet Germany's central defence requires a strong degree of reworking off the ball.
*Are Germany a truly world class team? They certainly deserved their place in the semi-final, yet when up against an opposition of equal - if not better - tactical excellence, the likes of Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Khedira, Podolski and Gomez were woefully ineffective. The nous and flair of Balotelli, Cassano, Montolivo, Marchisio and Pirlo was something the Germans never looked like possessiing.
*Germany lacked cohesion from the very beginning; Schweinsteiger's role was rather obscure in that, rather than working in tandem with Khedira to control the game, he was constantly being forced into a wide position by the formation of Italy's midfield:
--------------------------------------Khedira------------
-----Schweinsteiger----Montolivo--------------------------
--------------------------------Marchisio-----------------
---------Kroos--De Rossi---Ozil-------------Podolski------
-------------------------Pirlo------------------------------
Montolivo was sent out with the task of barracking and unsettling any possession Germany held in central midfield, with Marchisio and often De Rossi, shadowing his pressure from a few yards behind. To find space and time on the ball, and in an attempt to orchestrate German offensive play, Schweinsteiger was forced to find pockets of space to either side of the central-midfield zone, which typically, would expand the chain of support and understanding he holds with Khedira to the point of breaking. With their usual cerebrum of Scweinsteiger and Khedira now dissected, the Germans found rhythm and fluidity extremely hard to come by, when in possession. Furthermore, Prandelli's defensive line was immaculate in constantly remaining tied to Italy's midfield, and choking Ozil of the small perimeters of space he thrives upon.
*Pirlo is still the King, and despite Germany's attempts at harrowing his every turn and movement with the ball, he still managed to coordinate Italy's possession with accuracy and tempo - this of course, in stark contrast to Germany's creator-in-chief, Schweinsteiger, who, rather than tussling and outmanoeuvring his opponents in central midfield, was constantly retreating to less influential positions. Indeed, Italy's aforementioned defensive line certainly helped overcome Pirlo's defensive shortcomings. In keeping at a minimal distance from both Pirlo and De Rossi, the likes of Chiellini and Barzagli ensured the former was never isolated against Ozil, Kroos or Podolski.
*Badstuber and Hummels still have a lot to learn. Cassano's movement and sheer control of the ball was simply too much for Hummels to handle, while Balotelli's rasping strike for Italy's second goal, exposed the lack of defensive cohesion between the two. More than comfortable on the ball, they may well be, yet Germany's central defence requires a strong degree of reworking off the ball.
*Are Germany a truly world class team? They certainly deserved their place in the semi-final, yet when up against an opposition of equal - if not better - tactical excellence, the likes of Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Khedira, Podolski and Gomez were woefully ineffective. The nous and flair of Balotelli, Cassano, Montolivo, Marchisio and Pirlo was something the Germans never looked like possessiing.
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