Can anyone stop Germany?
Posted Monday, June 25, 2012 by The Sun
PLAYMAKER ... midfielder Mesut Ozil
CAN THEY BE BEATEN?
THEY can, but it would need the performance of a lifetime from the Italians.
Germany are a better team now than when they finished third in the 2010 World Cup, while Italy are always suspect when it comes to temperament and still a work in progress for boss Cesare Prandelli.
The Germans are supremely confident in their own abilities, with good reason.
WHAT ARE THEIR WEAKNESSES?
CENTRAL defenders Holger Badstuber and Mats Hummels are solid but not unbeatable, particularly in the air.
They could definitely be vulnerable at set-pieces and even had trouble with Nicklas Bendtner against Denmark.
Striker Mario Gomez is also a real confidence player, whose head can quickly drop if he starts a game poorly.
WHO ARE THEIR DANGERMEN?
THE most dangerous German moves are sparked by Mesut Ozil.
The Real Madrid playmaker can cause havoc with his passes behind rival defenders.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira are also crucial to Germany in the supporting midfield roles.
WHAT TACTICS CAN HURT THEM?
STOP Ozil playing those diagonal passes into the channels.
Andy Carroll could be a useful weapon with his height and heading.
James Milner and Ashley Young would have to work hard to stop Lahm and Boateng piling forward down the flanks.
WHEN DID THEY LOOK VULNERABLE?
GERMANY have won 15 competitive internationals on the trot and last lost a match that mattered in the 2010 World Cup semi-final against Spain.
But they did go down 5-3 in a pre-Euro friendly with Switzerland and had dodgy moments against the Danes.
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