re: Why on earth did Jogi Löw start Podolski?

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Also, it is your opinion that De Rossi is better but that is not a fact. You shouldn't say certainly. Schweinsteiger played the entire tournament injured and Löw should have made changes there as well.

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You're right that it's an opinion but I seem to recall reading a few of yours as well. De Rossi has played the entire Euro injured also by the way.

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The system is consistent with Italy. Germany changed up their entire style for just one game.

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This, along with the rest of your post, is merely an uninformed attempt to not give Italy credit for straight up taking it to Germany and beating them pretty soundly.

Maybe you only pay any attention to Germany but even listening to pre-game commentary would inform you that the Italian team was in much more flux as far as lineups/formations due to injuries etc than Germany.

In fact, I've read it on this board 50 times as one of the reasons a majority of posters here picked Italy to not even make it out of their group.


For example, the defensive organization you praise Italy for consisted of these makeshift pieces:

Balzaretti -- an attacking LB not known for his defense played against Germany in an emergency situation at RB for probably the first time since he was a teenager and was asked to defend more than usual because both the normal first and second choice RBs Maggio (yellow accumulation) and Abate (injury) were unavailable.

Bonucci -- CB that no one expected to play that much at all but was forced into action because LB Criscito was removed from the team coupled with the Chiellini injury.

Chiellini -- world class CB playing LB where he's capable but not really his position and, like Schweinsteiger and De Rossi, not playing 100% due to an hamstring injury.

Barzargli-- solid CB but normally plays in a 3 man defense.



Italy, if you recall, played Spain in a 3 man defense with De Rossi in the center of the back three because of these problems. Every single match has seen Prandelli shuffle this back line around desperately due to injuries. Germany had more of a healthy first choice 11 available than Italy.


I agree that all four played very well but it's certainly not due to them playing their normal positions in a consistent system.

It may be due to having players available that are better tactically aware and therefore able to adapt on the fly. I agree with you that Prandelli out coached Low but isn't tactical awareness and better coaching one of Italy's strengths?


I also agree that Kroos and Ozil seemed to have no idea where to position themselves which led to lots of Italian opportunities and also to Ozil's presence being continually diminished.

Again, I'd rather have a midfield with players that could figure it out. Montolivo's hardly played more that Kroos and he seemed to do ok in addition to all the defenders out of their normal positions.


And, further, like what I said about De Rossi, doesn't it need to be considered in some small amount when arguing which players are "better" that a certain player doesn't demand that an entire team/system need to be built around his talents in a certain way to be effective?

I'll take a player like De Rossi that wherever you play him, from CB to regista to destroyer to attacking mid, just ties his laces and gets the job done.