Sure, playing for the national team is a wonderful honor. But to play in some meaningless friendly that could put your career at stake, when you're making 10-15k tops anyhow, is a big deal.
It's easy to say the money doesn't matter if you're a player with a decent medical and insurance package and a solid contract on your club team. But if you're a guy barely making ends meet, seeing at least a few bucks for your getting there and making a boat load for your federation is something you should be entitled too.
By all means, be proud to wear the shirt. Going to a big competition is certainly a wonderful goal. It's not like some of these guys are playing for the best clubs. The clubs would jettison their injured riddled carcass in a heartbeat if they get hurt.
But if you're a guy that is scraping to make ends meet, and one knock might put you on food stamps, then I don't blame them.
Again, "fringe" players never whine to represent their national team. Pride goes before anything, friendly or WC. Star players OTOH always ask for more money.
So it's not about make ends meet, it's about motivation.
Giroud was crying when he heard he was called up for the NT (this is a guy that didn't make it through regular academies). Guys like Anelka or others take it for granted and don't care.
Which one of the two would play for free? The super rich Anelka or the young up and coming Giroud?
Argentina win 2-1. How they managed to win is beyond me, Aguero has to start for them it's criminal that he doesn't. I never want to see that lineup for Argentina again.
Oh yeah, near the end of the game one of the Colombian fans threw a bottle at Aguero.
Shakey goalkeeping, they really don't have one quality striker and right now they don't have a coach. They have talented players in defense and the midfield but it seems they cannot get motivated and the atmosphere in the NT since the Genoa fiasco was negative.
But they tend to do this, they haven't qualified for Euros since 2000, but generally recover for WC qualifying. Quite the opposites of the Czechs who always qualify for Euros but outside of 06, can't qualify for WCs
Also, all ex-YU sides, not only Serbia, play such an outdated brand of soccer which lacks any speed or off-the-ball movement. We (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia) mostly rely on a slow build up and 60-70% possession which leads us nowhere.
I really think Toni Kroos should be the guy left out (be on the bench). If they can incorporate Kroos in the midfield then they can put Gotze there who's a lot more versatile. The problem with Kroos is that he isn't as consistent and he's a good finisher but Gotze is just far more creative and close to Ozil.
Also, Muller is fantastic on that right side, I doubt Reus will get a shot in the starting lineup. Also, a Bayern fan but not a fan of why Badstuber starts so much, pretty much all of them including Boateng and Howedes seem more comfortable.
I really think Toni Kroos should be the guy left out (be on the bench). If they can incorporate Kroos in the midfield then they can put Gotze there who's a lot more versatile. The problem with Kroos is that he isn't as consistent and he's a good finisher but Gotze is just far more creative and close to Ozil.
Also, Muller is fantastic on that right side, I doubt Reus will get a shot in the starting lineup. Also, a Bayern fan but not a fan of why Badstuber starts so much, pretty much all of them including Boateng and Howedes seem more comfortable.
Kroos only plays because Schweini is injured. Usually it would be a midfield 3 of Khedira-Schweini-Özil with Müller out wide right and Poldi out wide left.
I don't think Götze will get much gametime in the middle of the park for Germany right now, he doesn't play much in the middle as Özil is there, Kroos is a better straight replacement in the middle of the park for Schweini / Khedira. Götze's best shot is replacing Poldi on the left.
And yes Reus doesn't really have a chance at a starting spot, he's behind Schürrle as well for the right midfield role, as I do believe Löw has said he sees him as a winger more then a striker at the future, I find surprising, but who knows.
Badstuber has been pretty solid for the NT IMO, I'd say he's been pretty solid for Bayern as well from what I've seen. It's a shame Friedrich doesn't have a club, he was fantastic for Germany for a long time, the reason behind Mertesacker's success as well to an extent IMO. Though I do agree, I'd like to see Höwedes get a go in the middle to see how he goes.
If they can get a draw it's a victory.
