2022-23 Football Season: Title Races and Cups Heat Up!

[The Champions League]

Well, Germany got destroyed just as bad as during World War II. 6–0 to Spain in their worst match in history against La Roja. Everything points at Joachim Löw finally heading down after 3 years of constant decline following their 2017 Confederations Cup win.

[Lillorainen]

Well, Germany got destroyed just as bad as during World War II. 6–0 to Spain in their worst match in history against La Roja. Everything points at Joachim Löw finally heading down after 3 years of constant decline following their 2017 Confederations Cup win.

It was our second highest loss in history, ahead of a 5-0 against Austria in 1931, but (at least) following the 9-0 against England in 1909.

Löw didn't talk about heading down in the interview, but he also seems to have little faith regarding the next European Championship - after all, it's but five matches until then, the first one taking place in March. Until then, the players return to their regular clubs.

[The Champions League]

Well, Germany got destroyed just as bad as during World War II. 6–0 to Spain in their worst match in history against La Roja. Everything points at Joachim Löw finally heading down after 3 years of constant decline following their 2017 Confederations Cup win.

It was our second highest loss in history, ahead of a 5-0 against Austria in 1931, but (at least) following the 9-0 against England in 1909.

Löw didn't talk about heading down in the interview, but he also seems to have little faith regarding the next European Championship - after all, it's but five matches until then, the first one taking place in March. Until then, the players return to their regular clubs.

Even if Löw played it safe during the interview, I don't think the DFB will be as generous as before with him. Germany has declined steadily and need a new manager urgently, so he might get sacked within the next few days.

[Lillorainen]

It was our second highest loss in history, ahead of a 5-0 against Austria in 1931, but (at least) following the 9-0 against England in 1909.

Löw didn't talk about heading down in the interview, but he also seems to have little faith regarding the next European Championship - after all, it's but five matches until then, the first one taking place in March. Until then, the players return to their regular clubs.

Even if Löw played it safe during the interview, I don't think the DFB will be as generous as before with him. Germany has declined steadily and need a new manager urgently, so he might get sacked within the next few days.

I don't disagree; in fact, I've been surprised, that there hasn't anything been happening after the debacle that was the last World Cup for Germany, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear anything now. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but his days could very realistically be numbered.

[The Champions League]

Even if Löw played it safe during the interview, I don't think the DFB will be as generous as before with him. Germany has declined steadily and need a new manager urgently, so he might get sacked within the next few days.

I don't disagree; in fact, I've been surprised, that there hasn't anything been happening after the debacle that was the last World Cup for Germany, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear anything now. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but his days could very realistically be numbered.

What are your predictions for the EURO?

[Lillorainen]

I don't disagree; in fact, I've been surprised, that there hasn't anything been happening after the debacle that was the last World Cup for Germany, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear anything now. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but his days could very realistically be numbered.

What are your predictions for the EURO?

Ouch, that's a tough question. Had you asked me before the game of today, I'd have said, they might, with a little bit of luck, manage it beyond group stage, maybe even into the last 16, maybe even quarter finals ... but not any further. In fact, this would also have been my prediction at the beginning of the year, where no one could have expected the Euro to fall flat due to The Coof, I'd have said the same. After this match, however, I'm not sure whether they might sustain within the group stage. It's one particular match that went south, though, so any prediction is hard.
What would be yours?

[The Champions League]

What are your predictions for the EURO?

Ouch, that's a tough question. Had you asked me before the game of today, I'd have said, they might, with a little bit of luck, manage it beyond group stage, maybe even into the last 16, maybe even quarter finals ... but not any further. In fact, this would also have been my prediction at the beginning of the year, where no one could have expected the Euro to fall flat due to The Coof, I'd have said the same. After this match, however, I'm not sure whether they might sustain within the group stage. It's one particular match that went south, though, so any prediction is hard.
What would be yours?

About Germany, I'm confident that they can reach at least the round of 16 if Löw is not their manager by then. If he stays, however, I feel that Portugal will take that 2nd place in Group F. Overall, I think that France will take home the trophy.

[Lillorainen]

Ouch, that's a tough question. Had you asked me before the game of today, I'd have said, they might, with a little bit of luck, manage it beyond group stage, maybe even into the last 16, maybe even quarter finals ... but not any further. In fact, this would also have been my prediction at the beginning of the year, where no one could have expected the Euro to fall flat due to The Coof, I'd have said the same. After this match, however, I'm not sure whether they might sustain within the group stage. It's one particular match that went south, though, so any prediction is hard.
What would be yours?

About Germany, I'm confident that they can reach at least the round of 16 if Löw is not their manager by then. If he stays, however, I feel that Portugal will take that 2nd place in Group F. Overall, I think that France will take home the trophy.

Sounds plausible for now, taking Löw's future fate into account - whom you don't seem to have much faith in, even less than I do (albeit that might be a result of me still having to come to terms with what I've seen happening ...). In any case, France does have a good chance to take the trophy home, especially since we might not be standing in their way ...

[Odreria]

Joao Felix has six goals through the last three games.

[The Champions League]

About Germany, I'm confident that they can reach at least the round of 16 if Löw is not their manager by then. If he stays, however, I feel that Portugal will take that 2nd place in Group F. Overall, I think that France will take home the trophy.

Sounds plausible for now, taking Löw's future fate into account - whom you don't seem to have much faith in, even less than I do (albeit that might be a result of me still having to come to terms with what I've seen happening ...). In any case, France does have a good chance to take the trophy home, especially since we might not be standing in their way ...

Yeah, Löw isn't exactly a manager I have faith in, although he used to be one of my favorites growing up

Joao Felix has six goals through the last three games.

He's living up to his potential after a quite disappointing first season at Atletico

[Lillorainen]

Sounds plausible for now, taking Löw's future fate into account - whom you don't seem to have much faith in, even less than I do (albeit that might be a result of me still having to come to terms with what I've seen happening ...). In any case, France does have a good chance to take the trophy home, especially since we might not be standing in their way ...

Yeah, Löw isn't exactly a manager I have faith in, although he used to be one of my favorites growing up

Sometimes, I do feel, that he should have left after the '14 World Cup. He would be remembered as the coach who got us the first World Championship since 1990, not as the one who got us into the mess we're in now ...

[The Champions League]

Yeah, Löw isn't exactly a manager I have faith in, although he used to be one of my favorites growing up

Sometimes, I do feel, that he should have left after the '14 World Cup. He would be remembered as the coach who got us the first World Championship since 1990, not as the one who got us into the mess we're in now ...

I think he did well by staying, but should've gone elsewhere after the 2016 Euro elimination. It was quite clear that Die Mannschaft was shaky and they haven't recovered completely.

[Outer Sparta]

Sometimes, I do feel, that he should have left after the '14 World Cup. He would be remembered as the coach who got us the first World Championship since 1990, not as the one who got us into the mess we're in now ...

I think he did well by staying, but should've gone elsewhere after the 2016 Euro elimination. It was quite clear that Die Mannschaft was shaky and they haven't recovered completely.

Leaving out Leroy Sane was baffling. The German team just wasn't at its best in 2018 especially with players like Muller and Neuer aging and others like Ozil not living up to expectations and being embodied in controversy.

[Lillorainen]

Sometimes, I do feel, that he should have left after the '14 World Cup. He would be remembered as the coach who got us the first World Championship since 1990, not as the one who got us into the mess we're in now ...

I think he did well by staying, but should've gone elsewhere after the 2016 Euro elimination. It was quite clear that Die Mannschaft was shaky and they haven't recovered completely.

I think he did well by staying, but should've gone elsewhere after the 2016 Euro elimination. It was quite clear that Die Mannschaft was shaky and they haven't recovered completely.

Leaving out Leroy Sane was baffling. The German team just wasn't at its best in 2018 especially with players like Muller and Neuer aging and others like Ozil not living up to expectations and being embodied in controversy.

Oh, yeah, 2016 was a thing, too ... although I'd still go with 2018 being the worst fate happening to the Mannschaft. Getting thrown out of the group stage for the first time in history isn't something I'd love to be remembered for as a coach.
Major update - the DFB doesn't seem to wish to get rid of Löw right now. Which surprises me a bit, for I'm accustomed to seeing coaches fired quite swiftly in the Bundesliga, but that's not the same as the national team. One can never be sure, though ...
And yes, Outer Sparta, the age problem is a thing to address, especially with the team we've seen yesterday - the average age was 27.5 years. Which is fairly ironic, if you think about how Löw stressed the advantage of having a young team.

[The Blaatschapen]

Germany hit a new löw

[Lillorainen]

Germany hit a new löw

An all-time Löw, to be precise.

[The Champions League]

I think he did well by staying, but should've gone elsewhere after the 2016 Euro elimination. It was quite clear that Die Mannschaft was shaky and they haven't recovered completely.

Leaving out Leroy Sane was baffling. The German team just wasn't at its best in 2018 especially with players like Muller and Neuer aging and others like Ozil not living up to expectations and being embodied in controversy.

Oh, yeah, 2016 was a thing, too ... although I'd still go with 2018 being the worst fate happening to the Mannschaft. Getting thrown out of the group stage for the first time in history isn't something I'd love to be remembered for as a coach.
Major update - the DFB doesn't seem to wish to get rid of Löw right now. Which surprises me a bit, for I'm accustomed to seeing coaches fired quite swiftly in the Bundesliga, but that's not the same as the national team. One can never be sure, though ...
And yes, Outer Sparta, the age problem is a thing to address, especially with the team we've seen yesterday - the average age was 27.5 years. Which is fairly ironic, if you think about how Löw stressed the advantage of having a young team.

Over the last decade, I've noticed that Germany is one of the main European teams that does not use as many young players. I'm fearing that they will become another Italy, a team that largely depends on their veterans and because of that reason, fails to qualify for a major tournament. If anything, Dortmund and Leverkusen are the clubs that can feed Germany with new, exciting new prospects.

[Lillorainen]

Oh, yeah, 2016 was a thing, too ... although I'd still go with 2018 being the worst fate happening to the Mannschaft. Getting thrown out of the group stage for the first time in history isn't something I'd love to be remembered for as a coach.
Major update - the DFB doesn't seem to wish to get rid of Löw right now. Which surprises me a bit, for I'm accustomed to seeing coaches fired quite swiftly in the Bundesliga, but that's not the same as the national team. One can never be sure, though ...
And yes, Outer Sparta, the age problem is a thing to address, especially with the team we've seen yesterday - the average age was 27.5 years. Which is fairly ironic, if you think about how Löw stressed the advantage of having a young team.

Over the last decade, I've noticed that Germany is one of the main European teams that does not use as many young players. I'm fearing that they will become another Italy, a team that largely depends on their veterans and because of that reason, fails to qualify for a major tournament. If anything, Dortmund and Leverkusen are the clubs that can feed Germany with new, exciting new prospects.

Yeah, I've noticed the same - although there are so many top-players in teams like Bayern, Dortmund, Leverkusen, you name it, they don't seem to be nominated, or if they are, they're an also-ran. Although one must also mention the performance of current players in their respective teams, inside and outside of Germany, which is still pretty good. But as I said, with an average age of 27.5 years (a single football player that old will already be considering what to do after the end of his career), there's no reason to brag about a particularly young team ... Italy is a good comparison. Or Greece - the team that won the Euro 2004 and kept playing with basically the same team for more than a decade.

[Outer Sparta]

Germany hit a new löw

Seems like all the big nations suffer from big defeats. Germany getting crushed by Spain 6-0 this year, England losing to an Iceland team whose combined salaries can't pay for one strand of Harry Kane's hair in 2016, Netherlands and Italy not qualifying in 2018, Germany's group stage defeat in 2018, etc.

[Lillorainen]

Germany hit a new löw

Seems like all the big nations suffer from big defeats. Germany getting crushed by Spain 6-0 this year, England losing to an Iceland team whose combined salaries can't pay for one strand of Harry Kane's hair in 2016, Netherlands and Italy not qualifying in 2018, Germany's group stage defeat in 2018, etc.

The 2018 World Cup was already called "the World Cup of the Underdogs" in our media for a reason. If Croatia had beaten France, the tournament of the nations deemed least likely to win beforehand would have been perfect. It really does seem to be a major shift towards the 'smaller' nations ('smaller' in terms of football history).

[The Champions League]

Seems like all the big nations suffer from big defeats. Germany getting crushed by Spain 6-0 this year, England losing to an Iceland team whose combined salaries can't pay for one strand of Harry Kane's hair in 2016, Netherlands and Italy not qualifying in 2018, Germany's group stage defeat in 2018, etc.

The 2018 World Cup was already called "the World Cup of the Underdogs" in our media for a reason. If Croatia had beaten France, the tournament of the nations deemed least likely to win beforehand would have been perfect. It really does seem to be a major shift towards the 'smaller' nations ('smaller' in terms of football history).

Analysts have pointed that to tournaments being expanded. Now smaller teams have it easier to qualify and make an unexpected impact like Iceland in 2016. Next year's Euro is also an example, I mean, when would've anyone imagined North Macedonia in an international tournament? That's one of the unlikeliest qualifications in a long time. It's like Trinidad going to the 2006 World Cup.

[Lillorainen]

The 2018 World Cup was already called "the World Cup of the Underdogs" in our media for a reason. If Croatia had beaten France, the tournament of the nations deemed least likely to win beforehand would have been perfect. It really does seem to be a major shift towards the 'smaller' nations ('smaller' in terms of football history).

Analysts have pointed that to tournaments being expanded. Now smaller teams have it easier to qualify and make an unexpected impact like Iceland in 2016. Next year's Euro is also an example, I mean, when would've anyone imagined North Macedonia in an international tournament? That's one of the unlikeliest qualifications in a long time. It's like Trinidad going to the 2006 World Cup.

Indeed, it seems, that the further we go, the more the smaller countries make their ways through while beating 'traditional', larger countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, England, France, Spain, Italy ... the list could continue. Of course, we have also countries that haven't existed as countries for too long in the first place, like the ex YU countries, but we also have newcomers who have been around for longer, like Iceland (and I would even count the U.S. among these). We're apparently in an era where nothing can be said for sure.

[The Champions League]

In other news, the AFC Champions League's East Zone has resumed today with Shanghai Shenhua defeating Perth Glory 2–1. The group stage will run until December 4 when the final two matches will be played. Notably, Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim were disqualified after the government didn't allowed them to travel for the competition.

[Outer Sparta]

Seems like all the big nations suffer from big defeats. Germany getting crushed by Spain 6-0 this year, England losing to an Iceland team whose combined salaries can't pay for one strand of Harry Kane's hair in 2016, Netherlands and Italy not qualifying in 2018, Germany's group stage defeat in 2018, etc.

The 2018 World Cup was already called "the World Cup of the Underdogs" in our media for a reason. If Croatia had beaten France, the tournament of the nations deemed least likely to win beforehand would have been perfect. It really does seem to be a major shift towards the 'smaller' nations ('smaller' in terms of football history).

I mean it would be really embarrassing for a minnow to beat you as a big team when the minnows don't even have enough wages to pay for your star player's shoes.

[Outer Sparta]

Roberto Firmino finally scored in Liverpool's 3-0 against Leicester. If he didn't, that would have been so unlucky with his shots hitting the post or almost crossing the line on occasions.