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Even the Germans lose

Soccer Betting Lines

07/08/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Germany manager Joachim Loew abandoned his strategy at the wrong time. Loew said before Wednesday's FIFA World Cup semifinal against Spain that attacking was the only way Germany could win the title.

Loew's plan worked to perfection in the first two games of the knockout stage with wins over England and Argentina by combined scores of 8-1. Despite having the second-youngest team in the tournament, Loew created the most dynamic side to descend upon South Africa.

"We could only win the World Cup by playing attacking football and making life difficult for other teams," Loew told Bild after Germany's 4-0 win in the last eight against Argentina.

Germany's more recent success, however, was built on solid defense and 1-0 wins, exactly what it did eight years ago to reach its seventh World Cup final. Loew, coaching in his first World Cup, felt it was time to alter the German style. For a pair of games, Germany looked unstoppable.

Loew's old plan was executed perfectly in the semifinals Wednesday, only by Spain. Spain kept the pressure on Germany for 90 minutes and, besides one good chance from Toni Kroos, goalie Iker Casillas had the day off.

"We didn't have enough belief in ourselves," said Germany's Miroslav Klose.

Obviously, credit goes to Spain for enforcing its style of play. Vincente del Bosque's team, the pre-tournament favorite, continued to do what they do best - dominate possession. Xavi again orchestrated the play from midfield and Germany was chasing the ball all match. Despite its third straight 1-0 win in knockout play, Spain didn't win ugly. No other country, it seems, is Spain's equal in talent or ability.

"Spain's organization and tactics are in a different league," said German defender Marcell Jansen. Spain previously proved it to the Germans with a 1-0 win in the Euro 2008 final.

The Spaniards proved it again on Wednesday, this time, on a bigger stage. Now, Spain is on the verge of its first World Cup title, and with a win over the Netherlands would match Germany's feat of winning consecutive Euro and World Cup titles.

Germany missed 20-year-old emerging star Thomas Muller, who was suspended. But what the Germans really lacked was Loew's plan. Germany did try to attack, but the times it actually got the ball away from Spain, the Spaniards won it back. Almost immediately. Almost every time.

"We lacked the courage of our convictions going forward," said Germany captain Philipp Lahm. Yes, but the Germans also failed to commit enough people forward. They relied too heavily on counter-attacking. That worked well against England and Argentina, but it also worked because Germany took an early lead in both games.

Spain is too well-organized and disciplined to get caught on the counter. Loew and the Germans failed to adjust. But as Loew said, it was simple: attack. The Germans were enjoyable to watch when they opened up. Muller, Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski and Klose created some of the best goals in the tournament. Not based on individual effort, but through fast, smooth build-ups with pinpoint passes.

Germany didn't do that against Spain. For a team that lost influential Michael Ballack to injury just weeks before the tournament, you could hardly tell. The Germans used a lineup including nine starters 26 or younger, three 21 or less, but extended their streak of advancing to knockout play in every World Cup.

Spain's Carles Puyol ended Germany's quest for a record eighth final with his game-winning goal with 17 minutes remaining. But except for Klose and defender Arne Friedrich, the Germans will likely have the same core of players four years from now in Brazil to compete for the country's fourth World Cup title.

If Loew continues to build on the style of play Germany displayed in the first two matches of the knockout stage in South Africa, his squad will be again be entertaining to watch - and among the favorites. Had he stuck to that plan in South Africa, Germany could be playing for that title Sunday, instead of being in the third-place match Saturday against Uruguay.

Former England striker Gary Lineker once famously said: "Soccer is a game for 22 people that run around, play the ball, and one referee who makes a slew of mistakes - and in the end Germany always wins."

Sometimes though, even the Germans lose.

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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.