Wednesday 11 June 2014

Match Preview: Germany v Portugal




Who is playing?
Germany v Portugal. Group G. Monday 16th June 1700 BST

Where are they playing?
Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador.

We burbled on about this stadium in our Spain v Holland preview so have a butchers at that if you missed it.

Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova


Can I watch it on the telly?

You can. It's on ITV if you can manage to get home from work in time.


Big game?
Huge.

Cristiano Ronaldo may be considered to be the bee's knees but can you ever be considered to be real great until you've shown it on the World Cup stage? He's yet to set the world alight in this particular tournament and has the weight of expectation on his shoulders. His 65 minute cameo appearance as Portugal hammered Ireland 5-1 in their last warm up game showed that he is ready for the fray.

Any World Cup involving the Germans is a massive deal and they certainly have enough talent in the squad to have a chance against any other team in the competition. The Germans haven't won a tournament since Euro 96 and that must really rankle.

Portugal will want revenge for being dumped out of Euro 2012.


Any famous Germans?
Loads. There was Horst Buchholz out of the Magnificent Seven, Gert "Goldfinger" Frobe, there's Steffi Graf and Boris Becker from the tennis world and top model Claudia Schiffer



Any famous Portuguese?
Well, there's world famous explorer Dom Vasco da Gama. Most of the other famous Portugeezers we've heard of are footballers.



Who's playing for Germany?
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)
World Cup Goal Machine Klose


Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria).

Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal).

Pepe
Who's playing for Portugal?
Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting).

Defenders: Andre Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valencia).

Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Miguel Veloso (Dinamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (SC Braga), Helder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Nani (Manchester United), Rafa (Braga), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg).

Any useless stats and info?
Schweinsteiger's pulled
Of course, here you go:

  • The two nations have faced each other on 17 occasions, Germany winning nine, Portugal three and there have been five draws.
  • Their encounter at the 2006 Tournament was the 3rd Place Play Off match. Bastian Schweinsteiger scored twice in Germany's 3-1 win
  • Germany knocked Portugal out of Euro 2008 at the Quarter Final stage. Schweinsteiger was again on target, while Klose and Michael Ballack also got on the scoresheet in a 3-2 victory.
  • Portugal's last win over Germany was way back at Euro 2000. A Sergio Conceicao hat trick saw them win 3-0


Prediction:
A Portuguese win to put the cat amongst the pigeons.




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