Der Kaiser is not impressed with his side’s performance at the 2012 European Championship
Die Mannschaft were drawn in a group which included the likes of Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark. Despite being in a group dubbed as ‘The Group of Death’, they picked up a maximum nine points from three games and sit at the top
of Group B table.
The Germans were not playing like they usually do; they struggled to put away their chances and invited a lot of pressure by sitting back at times. Joachim Low’s side was very lucky to come out of the Portugal game as winners,
A Seleccao very unlucky to be a goal down and were let down by some poor finishing.
Despite not being at their best Die Nationalelf are through to the quarter-finals, where they face Greece in the ‘debt derby’. When asked about his side’s performance against Denmark, Beckenbauer seemed less than impressed.
He was critical of their display in the second-half, Der Kaiser believed his side were being too clever for their own good, they over passed the ball and were not able to penetrate the Danish defence.
"Our team was not effective enough in the second half, they passed and passed and nothing worked. At least they should have taken a shot for once," he is quoted as saying in an interview.
The Bayern Munich legend was not happy with the way Joachim Low’s side were just playing the ball to each other, instead of shooting at the opposition’s goal. Beckenbauer reckons Germany will have to up their game if they are to
beat Greece.
"Everyone plays to each other instead of shooting. They have to do better against Greece. To win the Euros they must step up their game,” he added.
The outcome of the game against Fernando Santos’s men will not just be determined on footballing abilities. The Greeks will be fired for the occasion, and will fight tooth and nail to get a result against the country they hold
responsible for bringing their economy to its knees.
The ‘Ethniki’ are a hard nut to crack, they are known to be a plucky side who will put their 10 outfield players behind the ball and defend for their lives. Germany will have to come up with all sorts of ideas to break them down.
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