Matthaus Rubbishes German Euro Hopes - soccer24-7.com Forums

jordankhamra · Jan 10 2008, 05:02 PM

Matthaus Rubbishes German Euro Hopes

Former World Cup winning captain Lothar Matthaus has thrown doubt on Germany’s ability to win the 2008 European Championship.

zoom - galleria The Germans will go into this summer’s tournament as one of the clear favourites after a very strong qualification campaign. Indeed trainer Joachim Löw recently claimed that his side had to rank among the favourites for the Euro crown.

However, Matthaus doesn’t share this optimism and has played down Germany’s chances of glory.

"To be honest, is the national team really so successful?” he asked.

"To start with, we may have started the European Championships qualifying well, but as far as I know, we only finished second in the end.

"Then you look at the vote for FIFA World Footballer of the Year and see that we had only two Germans among the 30 nominations.

"And we only managed to finish third at a World Cup in our own country, coming behind two other European nations.

"With this in mind, nobody can seriously claim that we are a big favourite for the European Championships" he added.

Matthaus was captain of the side which lifted the 1990 World Cup and was part of the team which won the European Championships in 1980.

The outspoken former Bayern midfielder believes that the current crop of players cannot be compared to the likes of Andreas Brehme, Jurgen Klinsmann and Rudi Voller.

"You have only got to look at the results" the 46 year old added.

"We were the last golden generation in Germany. We won the World Cup and, although the national team today has improved, certain characters are still lacking."

Gerry_BMG · Jan 10 2008, 05:21 PM

Even if Matthäus is right, he should go to america, satisfy his hunger for hughe breasts and stop trying to become a fellow whose opinion people care about. Goodbye Lothar!

**Timonator** · Jan 10 2008, 05:37 PM

YES! Bring on the pessimistic german opinions!

Thats what i meant some time ago, that everyone will become pessimistic again a few months before the tournament starts.

I dont mind though. It's always been that way, and we've been successful when people thought negative. Mentally, this is better for the player and the whole team.

jordankhamra · Jan 10 2008, 05:49 PM

It really does not matter what Lother or we think. You could argue both sides of view with good supporting evidence. What matters is how we do in EC08.

Our results and performances this summer will determine if the German giant is really back or if home court advantage euphoria helped us overachieve over the past couple of years. I can't wait.

**Timonator** · Jan 10 2008, 06:04 PM

you know, we did play a pretty good qualificatioin after the WC. We didnt have any home advantage in those away games...

We all saw what the team is capable of when everyone is at their best. Kick and rush football, almost no long balls, great combinations, cynical finishing...you dont get those things from your home crowd...thats the ability of the team. Support plays a small role in this imo.

The most important thing is that everyone stays fit and that the coaching staff creates a good atmosphere in the team (like they did before the WC) and form a good team spirit.

jordankhamra · Jan 10 2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timonator

you know, we did play a pretty good qualificatioin after the WC. We didnt have any home advantage in those away games...

We all saw what the team is capable of when everyone is at their best. Kick and rush football, almost no long balls, great combinations, cynical finishing...you dont get those things from your home crowd...thats the ability of the team. Support plays a small role in this imo.

The most important thing is that everyone stays fit and that the coaching staff creates a good atmosphere in the team (like they did before the WC) and form a good team spirit.

No one disagrees that we had some very good games in the qualification. I was very excited by some of the performances. It was by now means stellar! We need to keep a couple of things in mind. We did come in second and got killed by the Czech at home and the group was not one of the tougher one. That does not take anything away from the NT and one could argue that we lost to the Czech playing with our B team after we had already secured qualification. We also have suffered major injuries which most likely affected our results.

Based on all of that, I think it is fair to say that an argument can be made for and against both ideas. I believe that we have turned the corner but to me the real proof is a successful EC08. Without that, it does matter how well or not we did during the qualifications.

**Timonator** · Jan 10 2008, 07:22 PM

ok that explains your view better.

If you think i m overly positive about our Euro campaign you are wrong. We wont walk to the EC title, i know that. There are teams like France, Italy and Spain who seem to be pretty strong. Thus i try to be supportive but i dont have huge expectations. I believe in the team and hope they will end germanys EC curse.

jordankhamra · Jan 10 2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timonator

ok that explains your view better.

If you think i m overly positive about our Euro campaign you are wrong. We wont walk to the EC title, i know that. There are teams like France, Italy and Spain who seem to be pretty strong. Thus i try to be supportive but i dont have huge expectations. I believe in the team and hope they will end germanys EC curse.

Yes, it would be foolish for any team thinking that they can stroll in and win the whole thing. Italy, Germany, France, Portugal, Holland and Spain all have a good chance. Injuries and luck can always be a factor. I am looking for us to progress to the QF/SF and produce strong performances. Even if we don't win the whole but progress far and if we go out, we go out fighting I think it is a very positibe step forward for the team. I want us to kickthe habit of when we lose, we lost big.

Dandy · Jan 10 2008, 08:58 PM

Lothar has an IQ in the double digits, so I don't know why the **** anyone cares about what he has to say.

Mertesacker · Jan 10 2008, 10:05 PM

He's doing this only to stay in the news, he does it regularly.

The truth is a guy like Lothat must feel terribly underappreciated that noone wants to give him a job in Germany.

jordankhamra · Jan 10 2008, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mertesacker

He's doing this only to stay in the news, he does it regularly.

The truth is a guy like Lothat must feel terribly underappreciated that noone wants to give him a job in Germany.

It is amazing how someone who was so loved and admired between 86 and 92has sunk so low in popularity.

Gerry_BMG · Jan 11 2008, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordankhamra

It is amazing how someone who was so loved and admired between 86 and 92has sunk so low in popularity.

well, you must differ between Matthäus as a player and a "puplic person/wannabe coach" since than.

Gerry_BMG · Jan 11 2008, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timonator

YES! Bring on the pessimistic german opinions!

Thats what i meant some time ago, that everyone will become pessimistic again a few months before the tournament starts.

I dont mind though. It's always been that way, and we've been successful when people thought negative. Mentally, this is better for the player and the whole team.

I agree, thats why I will become extremely negative soon. Cheers

Valmiki · Jan 11 2008, 04:07 AM

At least Lothar has good taste in women ---- how many wives did he have so far and children too?

I remember he had a chick who went up for Miss Universe.

**ACBerb** · Jan 11 2008, 04:41 AM

Val way to see the bright spot!

Way I see it Lo-Matt has to be a little bit jealous that he isn't the coach ans they are doing this well. So he goes and spits some venom!

**Timonator** · Jan 11 2008, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valmiki

At least Lothar has good taste in women ---- how many wives did he have so far and children too?

I remember he had a chick who went up for Miss Universe.

his newest "trophy":

He ditched his 3rd wife to be with her. I dont know how many kids he's got but some of them must be in her age ^^^

**ACBerb** · Jan 11 2008, 04:44 AM

^^^ Gerry... Where are the huge breasts?

mirror · Jan 11 2008, 07:01 AM

a BIG MOUTH all the time！

We are the first team who succeeded in qualifying for the EC 08, even with the injured lineup in many matches. Check out how many matches we played without Ballack and Frings who were absolutely the key players of NT.

Speaking of FIFA World Footballer, the only thing I recalled, when Messi and C.Ronaldo were awarded on the stage, was how we defeated their NTs in WC 06. Football is a team work, in which Germans always did the best.

Some people are always so critical before the games, and soon change a lot when we eventually achieve success.

jordankhamra · Jan 11 2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerry_BMG

well, you must differ between Matthäus as a player and a "puplic person/wannabe coach" since than.

I actually started to dislike him towards the end part of his career. Once he stopped bieng the number 1 player for the NT, he became wierd.

Distant Voices · Jan 12 2008, 01:25 AM

Ignoring who is saying this-I think the story itself is accurate.

Uli Hesse Lichtenberger highlighted the fact that only Mertsacker and Klose are in any form at the moment. Ballack is coming back to form. Arne will always be solid and Lahm too-even though he has not developed.

No other players are fit and in form and like the Czech game-a technical team can still blow us away.

Mertesacker · Jan 12 2008, 01:38 AM

Spot on!

**VanDerVaart** · Jan 12 2008, 01:42 AM

That's why we have 6 months to get the others in form. Absolutely not worried at this point.

Mertesacker · Jan 12 2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanDerVaart

That's why we have 6 months to get the others in form. Absolutely not worried at this point.

Well, you're not German!

**VanDerVaart** · Jan 12 2008, 02:58 AM

lol I'm a fan... well of the team anyways. Sorry if I offended you or anyone with the NT by saying "we" all the time.

**Timonator** · Jan 12 2008, 03:18 AM

I think he meant that you are not worried because you're not german!

Germans > always negative!