FC Bayern Muenchen (Photo by Maksim Malinouski/EuroFootball/Getty Images)
When a team goes undefeated in its first eight games especially in a league as competitive as Germany's Bundesliga, the footballing world tends to take notice. That's exactly what has happened with Bayern Munich this season as the German side won their first eight fixtures before losing in the ninth round of fixtures to Bayer Leverkusen by a score of 2-1.
New 'baller bubba alert Kickettes Philipp Lahm became a father for the first time today! He and his
wife of two years, Claudia, welcomed a healthy little boy late this afternoon in Germany. The name
Julian is currently being floated around online as the newborn's possible moniker, but neither of
the proud parents have [.
szólj hozzá: www.dailygoalz.com - 1st h GER - ITA
Four years ago, Fernando Torres blew by Philipp Lahm for Spain's winning goal in the Euro final.
Today, Lahm was caught in a similar futile foot race this time against a powerful Mario
Balotelli.
The City striker sneaked behind the lines as Riccardo Montolivo with all the time in the world
caught the Germans in their offside trap to find Balotelli with a long diagonal pass.
Hey, hey, I'm on time for the whole match today and I'm ready to see some goals in regulation!
Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France)
Italy,: Buffon, Balzaretti, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pirlo, Marchisio, Montolivo, De Rossi,
Balotelli, Cassano. Subs: Sirigu, Ogbonna, Thiago Motta, Abate, Di Natale, Giaccherini, Borini,
Giovinco, Diamanti, Nocerino, De Sanctis.
The German national team spent Tuesday afternoon watching 'The Amazing
Spiderman' in 3D at a special screening in the team hotel in Gdansk. Tim Wiese,
Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, Andre Schuerrle, Marco Reus, Ilkay Guendogan
and team manager Oliver Bierhoff were the only enthusiastic ones in the room with
their geeky 3-D glasses on and sadly, the Bayern Munich gang of
Schweinsteiger, Lahm and Gomez were nowhere to be seen at the event.
Take a snapshot of how the Mannschaft and Nazionale are playing in this year's Euro and rewind
some years ago. The contrast is flagrant. The whole philosophy has changed. Instead of reasoning in
terms of preserving your own goal, Klinsmann and then Löw and Prandelli have built their strategy
which prioritizes an attacking style that concerns all players, not only the offensive side.
Glückwünsche! After a 4-2 win over Greece tonight, the Germans are through to the semi-finals
of Euro 2012, although admittedly, they were a shadow of themselves in
the first half. Lackluster finishing, passing (Ozil's fish diet clearly doesn't hide his
exhaustion) and poor defending almost cost them dearly, as did Joachim Low's
unexpected decision to field Miroslav Klose, who hardly touched the ball in the
first half.
It's David & Goliath time in another cracker of a quarter and this tie is tastier than a plate
of Sauerkraut & Hummus with the economic climate adding to the drama, the run-down Greeks will
really want to get one over on their richly talented opponents.
This article titled "Euro 2012: Germany v Portugal as it happened" was written by Scott Murray,
for guardian.co.uk on Saturday 9th June 2012 20.44 UTC
You only have to take one look at the last few European Championship mascots to see that
Uefa are nothing more than a sorry shower of cultural thugs, with little or no interest in art,
beauty, or indeed anything that isn't a big teeming pot of cash.
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker is convinced that despite Germany's repeated failure to succeed
in the advanced stages of major international competitions over the course of the last decade, the
current squad is ready to go the distance.
Mertesacker arrived in the Premier League on the transfer deadline-day last August and despite
subsequently missing much of the season's second half through injury, he has returned on the nation
stage in recent exhibition fixtures.
With no Puyol, the heart of Spain's defence is missing. Regardless of this Spain's weakness is
their defence and this is no secret. The most notable weakness is the left back position, Arbeloa
at left back will struggle to compete with Europe's best right wingers.
Germany heads into its Euro 2012 opener against Portugal on Saturday with little to no momentum
on its side following a 5-3 exhibition defeat to Switzerland and a drab 2-0 win over Israel. But an
even bigger concern, undoubtedly, remains the lack of leadership that is needed to claim glory at
the highest level.
Germany has traditionally produced some of the best Formula 1 drivers and
automotive products in the world, so it was no surprise that Michael Schumacher
paid a visit to the Die Mannschaft's training camp in Nice, southeastern
France, yesterday afternoon.
Jupp Heynckes was, to a point, playing the fool, but there was a grim undertone to his comments.
"I have watched and coached in the Spanish League," he declared earlier in the week. "I know how
hard it is to beat Barcelona. And now I'm left to wonder if Barça can't beat Chelsea, how can
we?
Bayern Munich skipper Philipp Lahm has admitted that Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo
cannot be stopped for the duration of an entire 90-minute match and hopes that his teammates can at
least limit the damage that the Portuguese winger can cause.
Unlike Barcelona defender Dani Alves' disrespectful remarks towards Chelsea, there has been a
lot of mutual respect exchanged between Real and Bayern players in the last 48 hours.
Two brilliant goals from Mario Balotelli destroyed Germany on Thursday and set up a final
showdown with Spain in Kiev on Sunday.
This was the best we have ever seen of Balotelli — and the Germans could not handle him.
Much was made of the fact the Germans had two extra days rest following their quarter-final win
over Greece while Italy had to go on extra time and penalties to beat England.
But Sunil, all of the quarter finals haven't been played yet I hear you cry. Very true, but I have
bugger all to do before today's game, I am feeling a bit hungover after getting in at 4am, the
weather is $hit outside, and so I thought I would do it anyway. A summary of the England defeat to
Italy on penalties will follow later on during the week ;-)
Germany Vs Greece
Another Germany game, another handsome victory for Europe's economic powerhouse.
Someone has been leaking Germany's lineups to the media and team captain Philipp Lahm is not
happy about this. "It is a great pity if leaks like this occur and it is a disgrace that the
line-up was in the public domain so early," Lahm told the press. "The person who has the problem is
the guy responsible for leaking that information, because at the end of the day, he might be
damaging the hopes of a nation.
Germany cruise into semi-finals - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Germany booked a place in the Euro 2012 semi-finals on Friday night with a dominant 4-2 victory
over Greece in Gdansk, with goals from Phillipp Lahm, Sami Khedira, Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus
sealing the win. Joachim Low's men will now await the winner of England and Italy to see who is
next in their firing line.
The joy of beating Greece 4-2 to advance to the semifinals of Euro 2012 quickly turned to
confusion for Germany as they questioned how it was possible that they faced a team so much worse
than anyone they played in the group stage.
"The entire first half I couldn't help but feel we had accidentally been placed in a consolation
tournament," said German captain and first-half goal scorer Philipp Lahm.
Given his history, track record and vision, Manolo Preciado seemed like the perfect man to be
tasked with getting relegated Villarreal back to Spain's top flight. After a tragic event
overnight, though, Preciado will never get that chance.
Preciado, a beloved long-time Spanish coach and player, died suddenly of a heart attack, a day
before he was set to be introduced as Villarreal's next coach.
Spain is still the team to beat. The defending Euro and World Cup champions have their Barcelona
core intact and will once again treat the world to their metronomic passing. They won in South
Africa with the fewest goals scored in World Cup history. Seven to be exact. That is because as
Jonathan Wilson pointed out ball possession can be seen as a form of exalted defense.
Last Friday, members of the German Football Federation paid a visit to the
Auschwitz concentration camp located 50 km west of Kraków, Poland. It was
undoubtedly a solemn visit to acknowledge the victims of the World War II tragedy who died between
1940 and 1945.
Players of Polish descent such Miroslav Klose and Lukas
Podolski arrived accompanied by their team captain, Philipp Lahm and team
manager Oliver Bierhoff.
Chelsea's 2012 UEFA Champions League title was a storybook finish, and after looking back on the
epic instant classic, the result seems even more Disney-esque.
Looking at the teams on paper, you would figure that it would be a contrast of two very different
styles - knowing that Bayern Munich would come out and press Chelsea offensively, while Chelsea
would have to absorb pressure and play off the counter.
La final no soñada que cumplirá sueños
El sorteo de la Champions League vislumbraba la final soñada para el mundo futbolÃstico, la que
enfrentarÃa a los mejores equipos de España y probablemente del mundo, la más mediática, la que
más venderÃa y harÃa vibrar no sólo Europa sino a todo el mundo.
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich (Agg 3-3) (Bayern win 3-1 on pens) Champions League 25th
April '12
That high-pitched screaming you can hear in the distance is UEFA bigwig Michel Platini howling
at the Gods for not giving him the El Clasico final he and his fellow UEFA suits so desperately
wanted.
A last-minute Mario Gomez snaffler ensured Bayern Munich will be going into the second leg at
the Bernabeu next Wednesday with a one-goal advantage, with the Germans winning the first leg 2-1
in the Allianz Arena last night.
Franck Ribery opened the scoring in the 17th minute, thunking a half-volleyed shot past an
unsighted Iker Casillas when Toni Kroos' corner fell kindly amongst a crowded penalty area withÂ
Mesut Ozil equalising for Real, clipping home Ronaldo's cross from about 30cm out.
German side Bayern Munich won the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals with a 90th
minute Mario Gomez goal.
It was a strong start for the visitors, Real Madrid, who had chances early but couldn't find the
back of the net. Bayern, who played more of a counterattacking style early, were organized
defensively and prevented most chances.
Holger Badstuber does not appreciate his teammates questioning his challenges at the training
ground and he proved this when 18-year-old Bayern youth team product Emre Can reacted negatively to
a lunging tackle. When Can protested, Badstuber grabbed him by the neck and told him to "shut
up!
