Slovkia V Germany

It almost feels like yesterday since the Germans came third in the whole wide world in football and already the qualifying matches are being played for qualification to the 2008 European Championships.

The Krauts started off in their usual dodgy manner beating Ireland by a solitary goal at Lansdowne Park and then followed up by setting a new Euro record by scoring thirteen (yup, 13!) past the luckless San Marino, whom I believe if memory serves, the same country that scored against England in less than five minutes from kick off, or similar a few years ago.

Their third match in the campaign was to play Slovakia in Bratislava, which is approximately 100 km from Nitra where we are currently staying. Slovakia are no pushover and they were just returning from The Millennium Stadium where they had turned Wales over 1-5, so it was deffo going to be a tight game.

We decided against going to see the game live, instead settling in to watch it on the big screen and I don’t want to crow about the result (1-4 in Germany’s favour) but just comment on the quality of play. The Germans have built on their World Cup success and were playing some extraordinary football in the first half. One touch man to man, retaining possession and making some exciting and attacking play with flair, aggression and purpose.

Full marks to the new trainer who proves there is life after Klinsi…