Germany tops group but don’t be fooled

(Guest blogger Roshan Jason regrets racing back from a trip overseas to watch the Ecuador v Germany game)

If you’re going on about how Germany is one the favorites to carry the cup, I do hope you DON’T put your money where your mouth is. This is simply because the Germans – although a decent side – were made to look like Cup contenders by an Ecuadorian side which didn’t field half of their regulars and their top-poachers. They also rested their key central defender.

If you watched the Ecuadorians against Poland (2-0) and Costa Rica (3-0) – both of which I did – you’d know that the South Americans were so much better in those games and were more effective because they were actually playing football.

Against Germany they didn’t come to the pitch to win, draw (as that’s all they would have needed to remain top) or even play. Come on, let’s be real… if the Ecuadorians really wanted to top the group, they would have packed the defense and midfield and they would have been a lot more robust in their challenges to ensure they kept the Germans at bay.

Any right-minded footballer will agree that the game ended before it began. The results were more than expected. The Ecuadorians were saving themselves.

Perhaps they didn’t want to disappoint the German Chancellor – who was present at the game – by beating or holding the Deutchlanders.

For someone like me, who likes watching a good football match - no matter who’s playing - that Ecuadorian display was very disappointing and frustrating. I was not entertained. They have just done a disservice to themselves and blown all the credits they received after the first two performances.

Back to the German team: they’re good but they have flaws. Klose scores but he doesn’t create his own goals. Podolski’s not in the club form of a year or two ago. And don’t forget the defense leaked two against Costa Rica and they were lucky not to concede against Poland.

When they play Sweden in the next round, Ballack and his team will be given the worse time they’ve had so far in the World Cup. I’m quite sure we’ll see the true Germany then. A good attacking team, with a solid midfield but a team that will be undone by a dodgy defense and a couple of strikers, who have the goods but don’t deliver all the time.

(Roshan Jason hopes the second round brings about more beautiful game from the teams.)