Öz The Great and the Powerful
Mesut Özil had a 95% pass accuracy against Ireland, sending Germany on their way to the World Cup and capping the evening with a goal. Meanwhile Zlatan was at it again for Sweden.
Comedy Show but Who’s Laughing?
It was a question posed by Bill O’Herlihy; was Friday’s defeat in Cologne as bad as the 6-1 loss in Dublin at the beginning of the campaign? Eamon Dunphy said it was worse. His colleagues Liam Brady and John Giles avoided giving a direct answer. And Noel King’s reaction to the RTE panel points to a disconnect that’s anything but funny.
Löw Lie the Fields of Athenry
With Ireland travelling to Germany for our penultimate qualifier, our minds are cast back to the 6-1 drubbing at home. The reaction of Friday’s hosts following the Aviva Stadium clash seemed to foresee the beginning of the end for the manager, and the growing unrest of the Irish fans.
View from the Other Side: Turbulence Ahead in Rhine Air
Aleix Gwilliam, co-editor of the English-language German-football website Bundesliga Fanatic, predicts a much different game between Ireland and Germany on Friday than the hammering in Dublin. Joachim Löw’s squad selection has not been without controversy but with qualification still to be secured, it could prove another long night on the banks of the Rhine for Noel King’s Ireland no matter what tactics he tries.
History Lessons: Return to Cologne
It’s become an urban footballing legend that Germany’s away shirt is green in homage to Ireland being their first opponents after the end of World War II. Except it’s not true. Well, at least the part about the second kit. Ireland did indeed play host to Germany’s first game overseas, however, following the conflict that ravaged Europe. And seven months later we travelled to Cologne for a friendly, 61 years before this Friday’s meeting in the same city.
Germany, Trap, and Bohemian Pepsidy
Ahead of Ireland’s clash with Germany in Cologne, Ron Ullrich of the cult German football magazine 11freunde.de examines Giovanni Trapattoni’s impact in Munich and the far from unanimous support for current national team coach Joachim Löw.
Passage of Play: Noel King
“It’s a football match. Every kid, every adult, you go to a football match and you try to win the game. That’s all I know and that’s my mission: to try and win the game”
– Interim coach Noel King has impressed since taking temporary charge of the Irish team.