Vijay A

Someone who's got a curious mind for most things - would like to be known as a student of knowledge. Tweets are personal. RTs are not endorsements.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

We hosted Garth Le Roux & Barry Richards on this Pod. Packer & its comparison with IPL. Currie Cup. Le Roux being Imran Khan's mentor. Sussex & 1981. John Barclay's leadship. Le Roux being a bigger playboy than Imran. Wobble seam & more.

#CricketTwitter

https://t.co/bi25O1xx3V

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@Eiffel_7 Ha ha.

Usually, I don't mind Peter Drury.

Since I'm a bit annoyed from yesterday, I find him cringe.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@khurram_aziz123 @honigstein @DFB_Team_EN @FCBayernEN 1986.

When the whole world was supporting Maradona.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

Leon Goretzka doesn't know what it took to become a Paul Breitner or a Gerd Muller.

This page (Honigstein) summarises what made Germany an envious football nation for others. They weren't loved; but feared.

The class of 2026 is a bit of a laughing stock of football world.

#DFB

[BayernTimes @BayernTimes]

Leon Goretzka refusing to take a penalty even after being asked twice by Kimmich

Disgraceful player 🤡

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

It means, Naglesmann didn't war-game the penalties in the training. This malaise of not preparing for penalties started under Loew.

No wonder Germany struggled in the penalties v Italy in 2016 & now this loss.

Till 2006, Germany was the most prepared team for penalties.

#DFB

[Bayern & Germany @iMiaSanMia]

📸 Joshua Kimmich asked Goretzka twice whether he wanted to take the sixth penalty, the latter refused. Jonathan Tah stepped up after that

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

2018. After beating Germany in the pre-world cup friendly in Klagenfurt, Alessandro Schopf(Austria) said, 'We're going for the holidays. They are going to the world cup. They are so far off the pace, as if they are going to the beach'.

2018 to 2026. That is the crux.

#DFB

[Sage @Sage_FCB]

🚨Oliver Kahn on Germany crashing out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeat to Paraguay:

🗣️ “This is a bitter night for German football. When you wear the Germany shirt, you carry the responsibility of generations who built a winning mentality, and tonight that mentality was missing. Paraguay deserved to go through because they showed greater conviction, discipline and courage when it mattered most.”

“I'm disappointed by the way Germany responded under pressure. At this level, talent alone is never enough. You need personality, leadership and players willing to take responsibility in the biggest moments. Too many heads dropped when the game became difficult, and that should never happen in a World Cup knockout match.”

“The coaching staff must also look at themselves. The team lacked clear ideas once the momentum shifted, and the substitutions failed to change the direction of the game. When you compete for the biggest prize in football, every decision has to make a difference.”

“Credit must go to Paraguay. They fought for every ball, defended with incredible commitment and never stopped believing they could eliminate one of the world's biggest football nations. They earned this victory through hard work and togetherness.”

“This defeat has to be a turning point. Germany cannot accept performances like this as normal. Everyone involved,from the players to the coaching staff,must honestly analyse what went wrong and take responsibility. That is the only way to rebuild the standards expected of German football.”

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

Germany might feel short-changed by VAR.

However, dwelling on this VAR, papers over the wide cracks in the German talent supply, coaching faultlines, player mentality & playing culture/style.

#DFB #FIFAWORLDCUP

https://t.co/DCbI2tzHrg

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@BigKev67 @Eiffel_7 Paraguay played a terrific low block, with a bit of South American roughness. The fouls were legendary.

The Ger wingers weren't good enough.

Germany should have closed it out in 90 or 120.

Havertz took 88 deep breaths before the penalty. He was a nervous wreck.

No excuses.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

Congratulations Paraguay.

The Sun will come out tomorrow. No-one has died. There's still no cancer cure.

Given that context, let's try to move on in life.

Naglesmann and DFB officials deserve a guillotine. The German players were abysmal & were an embarrassment.

#FIFAWORLDCUP

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

Germany produces only one type of talent - fluid and technically gifted midfielders.

They don't produce 9s or Centre Backs. Nor do they produce competent full backs or holding midfielders.

One can't fit in players out of positions, with such a lopsided talent supply.

#Germany

[Appie Culé @appiecule]

Everyone is talking about Italy’s decline, and at least Italy’s situation is understandable. They no longer have the same level of talent they once did, their league has declined, and many of their biggest clubs have struggled financially.

So what’s Germany’s excuse?

They still produce top-class players, have one of the strongest leagues in Europe, financially stable clubs, world-class facilities, and every resource needed to compete at the highest level.

Yet this generation has completely failed to live up to Germany’s standards. Three straight World Cups full of humiliating exits, lifeless performances, and repeated disappointments. For a country with Germany’s football history, this is simply unacceptable. There are no excuses left—this generation has let German football down.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@aftabkhanna Germany doesn't produce number 9s or Centre Backs or traditional full backs anymore. Nor do they have great holding midfielders.

A lot of technically-gifted, fluid midfielders are produced.

It means, there's no way to put together a structure or a poten formation.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@BigKev67 Do you really need to rub it in?

Pat Nevin said on BBC during half time that it was a bit of a smash and grab from Paraguay.

British sympathy for German football?

The German fans deserve firing squad for that ignominy.

@Eiffel_7

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@AlanzArena Germany have never lost a penalty shoot out. They missed one penalty in 1982.

That's the context.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

This is not pre-2006 Germany. We saw in Euro 2016, when they struggled against Italy in the penalties.

Germany aren't impregnable in penalties, with Bayern being poor in the Champions League as well.

Germany could be out in the next few minutes.

#Germany #FIFAWORLDCUP

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@mumb0jumbo0 They indeed are.

They are the laughing stock of the world.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@AlanzArena I said post-2006.

The 2012 Chelsea loss.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@AlanzArena I meant penalties.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

After 40 minutes of football at 2 KPH, the Germans concede a goal in a set piece. Their highly paid coach is looking for answers in an ipad as if he forgot some year 6 school assignment.

German football's demise is a sight to behold.

#Germany #DFB #FIFAWORLDCUP

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

@mufc_mitron I was reasonably OK, given that it wasn't against Spain. Spain of that era was the toughest test for Germany.

Of course, Bayern had beaten Barca 7-0 in the Champions League in 2013.

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

2014 Word Cup Semi-final. Belo Horizonte.

Pre-match show - Gary Linekar, Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen predicted a Brazilian win over Germany from the BBC studios in Rio.

Germany scored a 7-1 win.

If they play 3 at the back, Germany will beat France in Boston.

#FIFAWORLDCUP

[Bayern & Germany @iMiaSanMia]

Gary Lineker to @lequipe on a potential Round of 16 between France and Germany: "I think that this is one of the weakest Germany sides I've ever seen. France should reach the quarter-finals without any trouble. Germany are living off their past. Just remember that they didn't even make it out of the group stage at the last two World Cups. So I think you can all sleep easy [laughs]"

[Vijay A @VAAChandran]

For the first goal, Antonio Cassano (600-pies-in-Spain-for-600-women fame) turned Hummels inside out. Then, Badstuber couldn't get ahead of Balotelli. Two school boys would have defended better.

For the 2nd goal (this video), Lahm made a mistake under pressure.

#Germany

[EuroFoot @eurofootcom]

🇮🇹🚀 14 years ago today, Mario Balotelli's superb strike vs Germany. 💥

That iconic celebration too! 😎💪