As Germany trails Croatia 1-0 at the half, let's play what-if.
It certainly looks like the pre-tournament favorite Germans have no answer for Croatia through 45 minutes, let's say the former Yugos win the 3 points and essentially plop themselves in the quarterfinals a la Portugal. And let's say under-achieving Poland coughs up 3 more points and host Austria gets a win on home soil.
Well, we'll have an interesting scenario next Monday when Austria and Germany meet for all the marbles in the all-Axis Powers group, also known as Group B. The Germans will have find a way to win at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna.
Granted, the Germans would be heavy favorites, but stranger things have happened when the hosts are involved. Austria will have an entire nation behind it, and that's a powerful entity. Could we have a Cinderella after all? Could the Austrians, so criticized for its place in this tournament as co-host with Switzerland, manage to make it to the knockout stage, taking the tournament favorites to the sidelines in the process?
What if Austria wins and finishes second in the group? It plays Portugal in the quarters, and you know outgoing manager Luis Filipe Scolari is rooting hard for Croatia and Austria because he knows, in this what-if scenario, if Germany finishes second, his team has a mammoth match in the knockout round.
Interesting and unexpected scenario we've got. That's why they play the games, and that's why, we as fans, can play the what-if game.
1 comment:
so now, looking ahead, if Portugal is to go all the way, we'll have to play a beat anyone so it doesn't really matter, but i think Portugal matches up a lot better against the Germans.
Ricardo is downright scary, Quim would have had his shot for sure, i watched the game last night again for the 3rd time, and Ricardo has some incredible misses that could have very much cost us the game, he has this area where he hesitates and that hesitation makes him look weak, because he is always going too late. Than punch out(more like somekind of volleyball hit) was just very odd and amateurish. He does not inspire much confidence, but in the pks he is an Ace. The other problem is the backups. Patricio would definetely tremble, and Nuno is a big question mark as he spent most of the season being a cheerleader from the bench.
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