ASotD 6/25 and Brief Semih-Final Preview

Though our focus has been almost exclusively on Europe these last few weeks, our stunner of the day comes from a different continent.  Just to prove to you that Europeans aren't the only ones capable of wreaking damage upon the mesh of an opponent's goal from distance, here's Iran's Jevad Nekounam belting one against Kuwait:

Now, back to Europe.  Any objective analysis of this game leads to a single conclusion--a lopsided German victory.  The Germans have an advantage at every position, except for possibly at goalie (Rustu vs. Lehmann--both are old and error-prone, but Rustu is probably less error-prone) and right back (or wherever else Hamit Altintop plays; he might actually be the most technically gifted player on the field today).  Gokhan Zan is the only center back healthy on the Turkish roster.  In fact, nobody else is even close.  

Altintop and Hakan Balta are the only other two who have played on the back line in this tournament, but both are much more comfortable on the wings.  Balta is probably most likely to be the other center back.  Sabri Sarioglu, who is on the roster as a defender, but has played midfield for much of the tournament, will most likely come back and play on the left.  

That leaves the Turks with 4 holding midfielders (Topal, Aurelio, Karadeniz, and Boral), the mercurial winger Kazim Kazim, two unknowns, and Semih up front.  Of the lineup, only Zan, Semih, and a pair of the holding midfielders are likely to be playing familiar positions.  

Meanwhile, Germany brings a full healthy roster into the game.  Even Torsten Frings, who missed the Portugal match with an injury, is healthy again.  Low's biggest question is whether to replace Rolfes or Hitzlsperger with Frings.  He also might think about starting Mario Gomez, but I'm going to pretend like he knows what he is doing, and say that Klose will start up front by himself with Podolski in support on the left.  

Germany has better quality, depth, fan support, and experience.  I still won't make a prediction.  It's too painful to pick a soulless, set-piece automaton like the Mannschaft to advance to the final, and if there is any hope left for the continued beauty of the beautiful game, they won't do it.

Looking at it objectively, though, there isn't much of an argument to be made for Turkey.  I'm not going to insult your intelligence and pretend like calling Turkey "destiny's team" is some kind of legitimate analysis.  

There have been plenty of games where the winning team has eleven players who would not even make the roster of the loser.  This game isn't even one of those.  Turkey goes in to this match with some real quality.  Still, the odds are stacked against the Turks.  

I'm going to stop there.  I don't want to think anymore about how lopsided this matchup is on paper.  

C'mon you Turks.