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Euro 2008 Quarterfinal - Germany vs. Portugal
2008-06-19 10:00
by Bob Timmermann

Knockout play in the Euro 2008 tournament starts today with a match in Basel at 11:45 am PT between Group A winner Portugal, which won its first two matches and then lost a final meaningless match to Switzertland, and Group B runnerup, Germany.

The Germans will be without their coach, Joachim Low, who was suspended for the match after being red carded in the Germans last match, a win over Austria. Low may be spending the match hanging out with Chancellor Angela Merkel and discussing why sometimes his surname is spelled with an e. Germany may also be without Torsten Frings and Lukas Podolski, although both could see limited action.

Portugal beat Turkey and the Czech Republic to clinch first place. The Portuguese feature the player many consider to be the best in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. Having the best player in the world makes coaches, in this case Luiz Felipe Scolari, look really smart.

The last meeting between these two teams was in the third place game of the 2006 World Cup. Germany won that match 3-1. The two national sides have played each other 15 times and the Germans hold a 7-5-3 advantage.

 

Comments
2008-06-19 10:12:10
1.   bobsbrother
There were two choices left when my turn came to choose in the office pool: Germany and Croatia, a no-lose situation. I drew Germany.
2008-06-19 10:21:25
2.   Bob Timmermann
The best way to get to Portugal is by plane from Casablanca. But only if the plane leaves at night and you have letters of transit that cannot be revoked.
2008-06-19 10:27:03
3.   MC Safety
Go Duetschland! I hope we get to see some Kuranyi today.
2008-06-19 10:36:03
4.   Penarol1916
How can anyone root for this German team that has played so dully and uninterestingly for the first 3 games? In fact, I'm not sure how anyone can think that German team since the late '80's has been all that interesting to watch.
2008-06-19 10:41:28
5.   Bob Timmermann
Germany was interesting to watch in the 2006 WC.

But that's been it for a while.

I miss Toni Schumacher.

2008-06-19 10:47:07
6.   Penarol1916
I didn't find them all that fun to watch outside of their game against Argentina. Frankly, I think people give them the benefit of the doubt because they kept the most disgraceful display of soccer from winning the world cup in 1990. They just seem very bland and vanilla to me.
2008-06-19 10:52:40
7.   MC Safety
6 Michael Ballack free kicks are not bland and vanilla.
2008-06-19 11:07:01
8.   yankee23
And what about Podolski's magnificent left foot?
2008-06-19 11:07:26
9.   Penarol1916
Nice free kicks are great and all, but they don't really make the game for me, I'm talking about how they play, not how their set pieces are. If I cared about free kicks, I wouldn't hate Alvaro Recoba.
2008-06-19 11:15:38
10.   Penarol1916
8. Every decent national side has a player with an exceptional talent, that doesn't mean that the team itself is fun to watch. Italy has players that operate at skill levels that are just as amazing, that doesn't mean that they don't play a boring style to watch.
2008-06-19 11:22:28
11.   Bob Timmermann
The Mariners have Ichiro and he's fun to watch. The rest of the Mariners, not so much.
2008-06-19 11:47:31
12.   Bob Timmermann
Hans Dieter Flick is filling in as coach today for the Germans.
2008-06-19 11:48:01
13.   yankee23
10 11 I understand what you mean about that. But I don't feel that Germany's style in this tournament and the last two World Cups has been all that boring.
2008-06-19 12:10:37
14.   bobsbrother
That was a nice goal
2008-06-19 12:12:02
15.   yankee23
Noch mal ein Tor!! Deutschland für Europameister!!
2008-06-19 12:13:51
16.   Bob Timmermann
Schweinsteiger is one of those names that sounds good when the Spanish language guys say it.
2008-06-19 12:16:01
17.   Bob Timmermann
The outlook isn't brilliant for the Portuguese 11 this day...
2008-06-19 12:25:41
18.   yankee23
Just a poor clearance there.
2008-06-19 12:31:47
19.   Bob Timmermann
The best way for any team to come back to life is for me to bury them!
2008-06-19 12:36:09
20.   bobsbrother
Two TVs on in the office: Germany 2, Portugal 1; Kansas City 2, St. Louis 1. Both at the half.
2008-06-19 12:39:15
21.   Bob Timmermann
Tommy Smyth with the sound off is an odd spectacle.
2008-06-19 13:08:01
22.   Bob Timmermann
There are happy Germans at my local Carls Jr. today.
2008-06-19 13:21:49
23.   Bob Timmermann
Looks like umlauts will prevail over tildes.
2008-06-19 13:30:49
24.   Bob Timmermann
If I knew Portuguese, I would write something inspirational.
2008-06-19 13:39:29
25.   Ember Nickel
17

...and somewhere hope is silenced, and bands no longer play,
But there will be joy in Lisbon, till the semis, anyway.

2008-06-19 13:59:19
26.   murphy
:( at least portugal saved me beer money. and my wife is pleased to have me home for the remainder od euro cup.
2008-06-19 14:51:36
27.   Zak
So much for boring Germany. Sometimes, teams have labels stuck on them because that's how they've been in the past and most people don't bother watching current games. The 2006 Germany was far from boring. They played good attacking soccer against both Argentina and Italy. And they have very talented individuals... Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Frings, Ballack, Klose, etc. The thing I have liked about this team recently is how disciplined they are. Anyway, good win for them.. fully deserved. Portugal are a fun side, but man, they have goalkeeping issues.

Bye the way, I'm not a Germany fan at all. I actually like Italy and inherently want the German soccer team to lose every time.

2008-06-19 15:00:06
28.   MC Safety
Go Deutschland! They are rejoicing in Karlsruhe.
2008-06-19 17:05:12
29.   Ken Arneson
I thought the Germans were quite boring in their first few games, until they brought Schweinsteiger into the games. He really changes the energy level on their team. Today, they didn't make the mistake of using him as a sub; he got the start, and the Germans played well the whole game.

BTW, Schweinsteiger is a great name for a player in a team sport. Because every team needs a Pig Manager, doesn't it?

2008-06-19 18:25:09
30.   underdog
And whoooo predicted Germany into the quarters over Portugal? Hmmm?

Er, okay, I wasn't predicting a shocker there, exactly. Wow, what a game, I saw some of it while at lunch, missed the rest due to a meeting but will try to catch the repeat tonight. Very exciting.

2008-06-20 01:40:00
31.   tash
Germans go forward! I was cheering for portugal, but honestly said, germans did play very well...

One comment...Loew's name is spelled with a e because in German it's spelled with a o with two dots on top, which for people outside of Germany and those who don't have that character on the key board is Loew. :)

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