"...a lapse of concentration from Philipp Lahm, one of the few other Germany players of genuine class, let Fernando Torres score the goal that brought 44 years of hurt to an end for Spain."
For those of you who watched the Euro '08 final this past weekend, which saw Spain winning 1-0 over Germany, I am curious as to what you think.
- Should Lehman have stayed on his line longer and let Lahm push Torres wider and then closed the angle?
- Did Lahm slow his run because Lehman was coming out? Or did Torres just beat him?
- Am I just partial to taking the side of defenders? Or does the press have this all wrong? Because I think Lehman was the one with the mistake in this play.
8 comments:
Lahm clearly slows up, as Lehman charges off the line, to avoid running into his own keeper. Too bad Lehman is an over-the hill has been, and has lost a few steps, and couldn't get to the ball. But Lahm could have been a little tougher sheilding his keeper from the attacker, which is really his job in that situation anyway.
Bottom line though is that Torres was like a dog chasing a steak from the start of the game. I think this is a textbook example of a forward just plain outworking his opponent, and refusing to quit. You can see it on his face in the replays, Torres is pushing at his limit from the time he touches the ball until it is in Hthe back of the net. You can't sleep against a striker like Torres, he will make you pay...
What a great feeling to see that sissy Lehman lose. He can't blame Asenal skipper Wenger for this. Here is a guy who can't cash the checks his mouth continuously writes.
I think Lehman could have made himself a little bigger as he slid into the confrontation. Why does everyone dislike Lehman so much?
Will,
Because Lehmann spent most of his career bashing whatever keeper he's behind in the lineup. For Germany he's gone after Kahn (one of the best ever), and this year for Arsenal he went after Almunia (who didn't even make Portugal's squad). He highlights every mistake made by other keepers yet never takes responsibility for his own mistakes.
1) Thrown out of CL final against Barca in 2006.
2) The two terrible goals he let in vs Turkey.
3) Not coming out fast enough or big enough on Lahm.
Just to name a few.
rc,
He may not be able to blame Wenger, but he's already blaming the ref. Link
Sorry, meant Torres on 3, not Lahm.
That's an interesting article. I like this quote from Lehman:
"I'm not the kind of person to blame other people. If I had waited a little bit longer or just had done something different he probably wouldn't have scored."
It coincides with my belief that maybe he should have stayed on his line a little longer and waited for Lahm to push Torres wide.
His quote says it all. In big game situations, he lacks the poise to make quality decisions during the run of play. The game is too fast for his feeble mind.
Ouch. That's harsh. It also shows that he understands that he could have done better which sounds like (based on previous comments) a refreshing view from Lehman. I have not followed his career as closely so I am not sure. During the broadcast though, it definitely felt to me like all of the announcers (booth and studio) were looking for a chance to jump on his performance as being weak.
But there's also this little gem:
"What was disappointing in my opinion was the performance of the referee, who didn't really fancy us Germans - and this is the third time I was unlucky with referees in European cup finals."
If it's the third time it has happened, in what can't be that many chances, then I'm guessing it's some other factor. Namely Lehmann.
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