>>>The main topic of discussion between the announcers in the second half was where this Spanish team belongs on the all time list. Pretty high, they agreed. The Brazilian teams of Pele were mentioned and the West German teams of Beckenbauer. With three consecutive major international championships, not allowing a goal in this one, they proved they belong in the conversation.
>>
>>Pretty sure Spain would have won at least as high against Germany, probably higher.
>>Just shows you that the earlier hopes and commentary on the quality of the german team was overconfident.
>>But now blaming the coach targeting victory is stupidity -
>>what coach would go in and ask only for reaching half finals...
>
>I took Germany very seriously based on the way they were playing. They were the only team to go 3-0-0 in the opening round, playing in the toughest group, then dominated Greece in the quarterfinals. I was genuinely surprised when Italy beat them.

The older teams had a tendency to be unfocused in the point round, either had a draw or even one loss,
but then got in gear for the important direct elimination. Spain was (last century) exactly the opposite:
beautiful games, no killer instinct in elimination. Tables seem to have turned...

>Don't they always blame the coach of the losing team?
Yes, and perhaps he formulated the goals too high.
But you would have to swap all couaches except for the winner ;-)

I tend to believe that it is partially symptomatic that Bayern München
took second place this year quite often. Coach has only so many weeks to form them...

regards

thomas