06-18-2004, 09:29 AM
The reason the 'good' teams have so much trouble against the 'weak' teams simply is that the good teams are not as good as the media hypes make them :P
I also think that teams like Holland and Portugal play what I like to call 'Schoenwetterfussball' ;) They don't 'work' enough. They get huge problems against teams that play with a good defense and alot of tactical discipline.
I think Holland will not survive the quarter final. They played really weak against Germany. They might even lose against the Czech Republic and drive home before the quarter finals.
It seems that France will reach the quarter final without developing a single really good situation 'out of the flow of the game'. They had so much luck so far. Croatia should have won yesterday, as should England. What I don't understand is why their opponents give so much space to Zidane. Against France, you should let one player cover Zidane very closely. That can disrupt the French game completely. I guess such defense is considered anachronistic, but I bet it would do wonders.
Who will win ? I think Germany can make it, if they strengthen their offense a little bit. Spain could do it, too, and England. France, Portugal or Holland don't have a huge chance, IMO.
I also think that teams like Holland and Portugal play what I like to call 'Schoenwetterfussball' ;) They don't 'work' enough. They get huge problems against teams that play with a good defense and alot of tactical discipline.
I think Holland will not survive the quarter final. They played really weak against Germany. They might even lose against the Czech Republic and drive home before the quarter finals.
It seems that France will reach the quarter final without developing a single really good situation 'out of the flow of the game'. They had so much luck so far. Croatia should have won yesterday, as should England. What I don't understand is why their opponents give so much space to Zidane. Against France, you should let one player cover Zidane very closely. That can disrupt the French game completely. I guess such defense is considered anachronistic, but I bet it would do wonders.
Who will win ? I think Germany can make it, if they strengthen their offense a little bit. Spain could do it, too, and England. France, Portugal or Holland don't have a huge chance, IMO.