Throwdowns > Forfeited

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  • July 11, 2008 04:31 PM ET

SoccerNation Summer Shootout Tourney. Keeper's Region. What was the biggest managerial mistake of Euro 2008? (Pick first and then argue, please.)

Keeper (17-10-1) vs ctsubasa (4-5-1)
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In a tournament of exciting goals and very lackluster defence at times, I have to say that this is a very tough topic to TD on. For my argument I will use the German team. The biggest mistake that Joachim Low made was not bringing in and utilizing his team's vast size advantage. I'll explain later.


Who better pick on than Raymond Domenech and the horrible showing of les Bleus?

Raymond's non-selection of in-form Serie A players David Trezeguet (Juventus) and Philippe Mexes (AS Roma) contributed heavily to France's worst showing in a major tournament since its early exit at the World Cup 2002.

More to come.


First I'll list some of the German players and their heigths.

Per Mertesacker- 6 ft 6 in
Cristoph Metzelder- 6 ft 5 in
Michael Ballack- 6 ft 2 in
Mario Gomez- 6 ft 3 in
Kevin Kuranyi- 6ft 3 in
Lukas Podolski- 6 ft
Mirsolav Klose- 6 ft
Tim Borowski- 6 ft 5 in

OK, given the that the Spanish are very


TREZEGOL scored 20 goals in 36 app. in Serie A for Juventus in 07-08 and has ALWAYS hit DOUBLE digits since playing in Italy.

He knows the catenaccio IN & OUT
Has played against the likes of MATERAZZI, PANUCCI, BARZAGLI, and CHIVU since 2000
Not mentioning the regular training sessions vs. BUFFON and CHIELLINI who both stated they were happy for Italy he hadnt been included

France's inability to score all but 1 miserable goal vs. a star-less Dutch back 4
would've been avoided had TREZEGOL been included in the squad even as a "Super-Sub".
After all he did win the WC98 and scored the golden goal in the EURO 2000 final.

MEXES has undeniably been a ROCK at the heart of ROMA's DF during the past 3 seasons in which Roma placed 2nd. He clearly contributed to Roma's recent success, for example, by scoring a spectacular goal in the Coppa Italia 08.
His intl credentials have also improved with Roma reaching the 1/4 finals of the CL the past 2 yrs

On the other hand, ANELKA has managed 2 (TWO!) goals for Chelsea since his move in Jan. and THURAM only managed 18 app. (most as sub) in Liga last season for Barca's worst season in the past couple of years

LES BLEUS could've used their HELP!


Yes, they could have used help but everyone known that Domenech is an idiot. Even with those player I really don't think France makes the Quarter-Finals this year. They were much too old and even if those two were in the squad they probably wouldn't have played much.

Now if Low takes advantage of Spain then Germany wins or at least gets Euro 2008 into PK's. As a coach you always have to be one step ahead of your opponents. Low wasn't one step ahead and it really did show. Without ever really pushing forward Low cost him team big time.

Just think about it. All because his lack of inspiring substitutions and changes, he has cost a couple of players a chance to finally win a trophy. Ballack and Lehmann likely won't have another great chance like this to win a trophy and it is just awful. Ballack has long been one of the great in European history and Low cost his team.

What should Low have done? He should have begun to push players up a lot quicker. He needed bodies in the midfield and not in defence and he didn't get them there. Spain possessed the ball in the late going and Germany couldn't get any aerial balls into the box. Low made Euro 2008's worst mistake


You introduced your argument as Low failing to utilizing his team's vast advantage. Sure you listed the heights of players in your 2nd argument but your 3rd one seems to be an analysis of the final and a bunch of assumptions (Germany wins)

Thus I will proceed the same way and remind you of the most stupid substitution made during this EURO:
during the final group stage game VS. Italy, France is 1 goal down after ABIDALs stupid foul.
DOMENECH then replaces NASRI who had come on 16 min earlier to replace the injured RIBERY and puts BOUMSONG instead.
Now, if youre 1 goal down and you NEED TO WIN, you dont take out an ATTACKING MID to put on ANOTHER CENTRAL DEF on!!!

This bad coaching starts with MEXES not being selected.
Domenech realizing that ABIDAL has been AWFUL during this EURO finally decides to play EVRA as LB and puts ABIDAL in a CB position that he hasnt played regularly since his days at Monaco (00-02).
Any other coach wouldve put MEXES on as CB for that game (bc of course Domenech HAS to play Thuram the Dinosaur for the other games) who wouldve been less likely to commit a stupid foul in the box.

And TREZEGOL couldve finally been used as SUPERSUB for Govou or Benzema!

Comments (11) Add A Comment

July 11, 2008  04:32 PM ET
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I went ahead and started. Sorry if it's a bad time. If you don't have time then I'll just save it and we'll start it tomorrow.

July 11, 2008  04:35 PM ET
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Whoa! now that was fast! hahaha

to be honest i chose this topic bc others were a little too yes/no type of topics and since you're starting, it might give you an advantage/disadvantage.

This topic is a little more open. Ill do my best to be on time.

July 11, 2008  04:48 PM ET
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Oh I forgot! Good luck to you Keeper.

And Im glad to be finally TD'ing one of the greats!

July 11, 2008  06:12 PM ET
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Good luck to you too! But I'm no great. I know soccer but I'm not great at TD'ing. Good luck.

I was going to pick France but I just didn't think that would be the best thing to do.

July 12, 2008  07:20 AM ET
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Hey can I finish my arguments in the comments? I hit the enter button on accident and I'm screwed.


First I'll list some of the German players and their heights.

Per Mertesacker- 6 ft 6 in
Cristoph Metzelder- 6 ft 5 in
Michael Ballack- 6 ft 2 in
Mario Gomez- 6 ft 3 in
Kevin Kuranyi- 6ft 3 in
Lukas Podolski- 6 ft
Mirsolav Klose- 6 ft
Tim Borowski- 6 ft 5 in

OK, now given the fact that the Spanish are very are small I have to say that the Germans should have utilized there height to their advantage. Now, exactly how did Low fail to take advantage of this team do you ask? Well he did send on Kuranyi, but in all reality he just didn't do enough for the team. In order to get take advantage of their height the Germans needed someone to win free-kicks for them. In order to get free-kicks you have to push forward with small, quick guys like Odonkor. If he would have been in then it would have helped the Germans. I'll explain more later.

July 13, 2008  05:04 AM ET
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no problem. hope everyone will take your argument into consideration

July 14, 2008  08:21 AM ET
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Vote Right

July 14, 2008  10:16 AM ET
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Thanks for the TD Keeper.

July 14, 2008  10:18 AM ET
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Yeah I screwed up on the second argument. I didn't get what I wanted to say finished and I have lost. Good TD and good luck ct.

July 14, 2008  03:11 PM ET
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Still... you shouldnt have forfeited... now the others wont really vote and comment...

 
July 14, 2008  07:02 PM ET
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No since in drawing making the inevitable wait. If I were big I'd want you to go ahead and forfeit too.

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