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Germany step menacingly into stride
by Steffen Potter from Vienna
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Bastian Schweinsteiger opens the scoring in
the quarter-final against Portugal (¿Getty Images)
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"Germany are a real tournament team," according
to their assistant coach Hans Dieter-Flick but there were times in the
early stages of UEFA EURO 2008T that those words did not ring so true.
Having started as one of the favourites, Germany's performances in Group
B suggested the hurdle of Portugal in the quarter-finals might be too
high to overcome. Yet they raised their game when it counted and will
be confident of maintaining that standard in the semi-final against surprise
package Turkey.
Route to the last four
Germany started promisingly enough, defeating Poland 2-0 through two goals
from Polish-born forward Lukas Podolski. However, they looked far from
impressive in their subsequent 2-1 loss to Croatia, with Podolski's 79th-minute
goal scant consolation after Darijo Srna and Ivica Olic had struck for
Croatia. Bastian Schweinsteiger's late dismissal was an added blow although
Germany recovered sufficient composure to defeat co-hosts Austria 1-0
in Vienna, through a stunning Michael Ballack free-kick, and grab second
place in the section. After surviving the group stage for the first time
since 1996, Germany knocked Portugal out of their stride in their Basel
quarter-final. Although coach Joachim Low had to watch from the stands
after his sending-off against Austria, he saw his team prevail 3-2 through
goals from Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Ballack.
Semi-final record
This will be Germany's sixth semi-final in UEFA European Championship
history and their record is good, with four wins out of five. Their most
recent last-four encounter was in 1996 when they defeated hosts England
and went on to lift the trophy. The only loss, meanwhile, was on home
soil in 1988 as they went down to the Netherlands after a late Marco van
Basten goal. In 1980 they advanced straight to the final after winning
their group.
1972 Belgium W 2-1
1976 Yugoslavia W 4-2 aet
1988 Netherlands L 1-2
1992 Sweden W 3-2
1996 England W 1-1 aet, 6-5 on pens
Key moment
Schweinsteiger returning from suspension to score the opening goal against
Portugal - and send confidence coursing through the team.
Key player
It has to be Ballack. If his influence was less evident at the start of
the finals, he showed his leadership qualities by delivering when it mattered
most. His brilliant strike against Austria secured Germany's passage to
the last eight and he then showed his strength in the air by heading the
decisive third goal against Portugal just when their opponents were threatening
an equaliser.
Injuries and suspensions
While Germany have no players suspended, there are concerns over Torsten
Frings as he continues to struggle with a broken rib. The Werder Bremen
midfielder was suspended for the 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-final defeat
by Italy, and is hoping to feature with the aid of a splint. Per Mertesacker
has recovered from a cold and Marcel Jansen is available again after a
shoulder injury.
Tactics
Having employed a 4-2-2-2 formation with Torsten Frings and Ballack as
the midfield cornerstones, Low switched to a 4-2-3-1 set-up for the Portugal
game. This meant wing slots for Podolski and Schweinsteiger and, moreover,
a much more attacking role for Ballack, capitalising on his goal threat
and reviving memories of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Low has not ruled out
another switch for the semi-final, but the only realistic change would
be a fit-again Frings replacing either Simon Rolfes or Thomas Hitzlsperger.
Shoot-out record
Germany having won five out of six penalty shoot-outs - including victories
at the semi-final stage of EURO '96T and the 1982 and 1990 World Cups.
Their only defeat came in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final against
Czechoslovakia when Antonin Panenka's legendary chip denied them the trophy
in their first ever shoot-out.
Quotes
"I had a bet and said today we would score from a set-piece. There
were two of them, so maybe I should double the stake." Germany assistant
coach Flick after Klose and Ballack both strike with headers against Portugal.
"She told me what to do and I took her advice. She first told me
not to do anything stupid again, which I did not do. Then she said I should
play in the same way I did two years ago. What can you do? If the chancellor
asks you to do something, you have to obey!" Schweinsteiger takes
on board the advice of German chancellor Angela Merkel, whom he was sat
beside for the Austria game.
What the papers said
"Kroatastrophe." Bild does not take defeat against Croatia
lightly.
"Please continue to stumble." Suddeutsche Zeitung welcomes
a return to the good old days of seeing Germany grind out results after
their win against Austria.
"Schweinsteiginho - two more wins to Europe's peak." Abendzeitung
heralds man-of-the-match Schweinsteiger as Germany reach the last four
by beating Portugal.
Euro2008.com,
24 June 2008
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