Tag Archives: Germany

James totally focused on Germany

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England goalkeeper David JamesEngland goalkeeper David James says his side will be treating their last-16 tie against Germany just like any other game (England 6/4 to win).

The two sides face each other in Bloemfontein on Sunday with a place in the quarter finals up for grabs. Much has been spoken about in the press regarding the two sides’ previous meetings in major competitions but James says the squad are paying little attention to what’s being said in the media and focusing solely on the job at hand.

The goalkeeper told reporters: “It’s another football match, obviously there’ll be a lot of external references and whatever else, historical references. But for us it’s a game against a decent outfit – one we have to win to progress.”

England were disappointing in the group stages, drawing with both the USA and Algeria, but qualified for the last 16 thanks to a 1-0 victory against Slovenia and James is keen for the side to carry their form on.

“We can’t do anything about what happened,” he said. “We look back at the America game and the performance of Tim Howard which prevented a win.

“Algeria are very difficult to score against, and then we did what we needed to against Slovenia on Wednesday.”

However, the Three Lions were forced into second place in the group after Landon Donovon scored to fire the USA through as winners of Group C, leaving England to face Germany in what is possibly the pick of the second round ties. If England win the match they will go on to face a possibly even tougher test against the winner of the Argentina vs. Mexico match meaning they will have to win the tournament the hard way if they’re to lift their first trophy since 1966 (England 9/1 to win outright).

James started the World Cup as England’s second choice goalkeeper, despite being handed the number one shirt for the tournament,  but was given his chance after Robert Green’s blunder in the opening match against USA. James has looked solid on his return to the side and is keen to make the most of his opportunity after finally being given his chance at his third World Cup finals. James was an unused substitute in both Korea/ Japan 2002 and Germany 2006 and is yet to concede a goal during this tournament.

“When the squad was announced and the numbers issued it was more of a numerical thing than a suggestion of the first XI,” said the 39-year-old, the oldest player at the finals.

“True to Mr Capello’s previous selection process, he must have gauged something in training and felt Robert was the right goalkeeper to start with. I’m happy with that. I’m part of a squad. This World Cup isn’t about David James – it’s about England being successful. I trained as well as I could, got the chance to go back in and I’m happy.”

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Cahill off in Germany rout

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Germany produced the best performance by any team at the World Cup so far by destroying Australia 4-0 (9/1 Germany – World Cup 2010 – outright).

The three-time winners had the game in the bag at 2-0 up at half-time – and Tim Cahill was sent off in the 57th minute to end any Socceroos resistance.

Two goals in the space of two minutes put the seal on Germany’s superb performance and made it the worst result in Pim Verbeek’s reign for Australia.

Young German midfield playmaker Mesut Ozil had the Socceroos in disarray throughout the match as he created numerous chances for the forwards.

Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose accepted those chances in the first half, Podolski striking after eight minutes after Ozil found Muller and the winger pulled back for Podolski’s cool finish.

From there it was all Germany, and Mueller created the second after 26 minutes for Klose.

His perfect cross found Klose steaming in ahead of Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to head home for the Germany’s 11th goal in World Cup finals.

Germany could have easily had a third by half-time, but Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill cleared off the line as Ozil threaded a ball past Schwarzer towards goal.

The rout continued after the break as Australia were forced to commit men forward to chase a goal.

Then after Cahill was red-carded by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez to leave them with 10 men, an inevitable third came as more sparkling German movement led to Muller slotting home in the 68th minute.

Substitute Cacau added a fourth two minutes later set up by Ozil, who was mercifully substituted with 15 minutes remaining to give Australia’s defence some respite.

Germany now sit top of Group D, with Ghana – who beat Serbia 1-0 in Pretoria earlier on Sunday – also on three points (2/9 Germany – Group D winners).

The Socceroos’ next World Cup match is against Ghana in Rustenburg on June 19, which Cahill will now miss because of an automatic one-match ban for his send-off.

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Neill eyes Germany result

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Australia captain Lucas Neill says a draw with Germany in their opening World Cup match would be an acceptable result (Germany 1 /2, Australia 6/1, draw 3/1).

The Socceroos star admitted the Germans were a better side overall, and said: “A draw would be a fantastic result. Germany are a superior team to Australia.”

Neill added: “Clearly they are favourites and we have the underdogs tag.

“Their record suggests they are the most consistent team in world football, and the pressure is on them to win.

“Nobody in the world, apart from our team, expects us to beat them.”

The game will be important to Australia’s chances of progressing from Group D in South Africa, says Neil.

“If we draw it means other results can go for us and against us and we’ve still got everything in our own hands,” he said.

“If we manage to win, we will shock the world.”

Midfielder Mark Bresciano was quick to agree with his captain.

“Yes, yes, I would definitely take it (a draw),” he said. “Germany are a very hard team to beat so a draw would be a massive result for us.

“It would be a very positive start, knowing we would then have two games to go (against Ghana and Serbia) to try to scrape a win.

“Getting any result, apart from a loss, would be good.”

Australia coach Pim Verbeek now has to choose his best side to face the Germans, and he may well have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Tim Cahill appears to be over the effects of a neck injury, and Brett Emerton is expected to be fully fit despite a troublesome calf.

Verbeek now has to choose his striking options, whether to give Galatasaray star Harry Kewell the nod or go with Josh Kennedy.

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Kuranyi told Germany dream is over

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Germany coach Joachim Low has made the surprise decision to announce he will not be taking Kevin Kuranyi to the World Cup this summer – over a month before the showpiece tournament starts (14/1 Germany – World Cup outright).

Low revealed he contacted the Schalke goal-getter on Monday to inform him he will not be going to South Africa.

Kuranyi has been overlooked by Low ever since stormed out of the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund before the final whistle after being omitted from the match-day squad for the qualifier against Russia in October 2008.

However, his 18 Bundesliga goals for the Royal Blues this season have led to a clamour for his recall to the national side.

Germany icon Franz Beckenbauer urged Low to make the peace with the Brazil-born forward to give ‘Die Mannschaft’ best possible chance of winning football’s biggest international prize for the fourth time.

However, Low said a clash of personalities had nothing to do with his decision to omit the free-scoring 28-year-old.

“The disciplinary incident in October 2008 was not a consideration recently,” Low said in a press release from the German Football Association (DFB).

“It would have been no problem for us to give him a new chance in the national team.

“However, after consideration among our coaching staff we came to the conclusion that we had other ideas, tactically and personnel-wise, for the composition of the World Cup squad.

“This I discussed today frankly with Kevin, who has had a strong season and whom I think is a player of sound character.”

The decision means three-time winners Germany must pin their hopes on the likes of Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez of Bayern Munich and Stefan Kiessling of Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern pair Klose and Gomez have scored 10 and three league goals respectively, while Kiessling has fared better than Kuranyi with 21.

Kuranyi said he was bitterly disappointed by Low’s decision but wished the national team every success this summer.

“Like every footballer, I dreamed from when I was a little boy of being able to play in a World Cup,” said the striker, who also missed out on a place in Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad for the 2006 tournament.

“This dream has now burst for a second time.

“Therefore it is clear that this decision makes me very sad.”

Germany kick off their World Cup Group D campaign against Australia in Durban on June 13 (8/15 Germany 13/5 draw 9/2 Australia – match betting).

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