2010 FIFA World Cup: A Review of Germany vs. Hungary

Joachim Low will perhaps be still confused about who to cut off from his 25-man squad. I have no idea of who he should send home after this friendly either.

The Match:

Germany won 3-0 with a penalty from Lukas Podolski and goals from Mario Gomez and Jeronimo Cacau.

The Positives:

Germany attacked well during parts of the match. Piotr Trochowski and Mesut Ozil combined well. Ozil and Miro Klose combined pretty well, too.

Marko Marin looked to take on the entire Hungary team on his own when he came on. Cacau played quite well, too. Sami Khedira played well in the "Ballack" role. Marcell Jansen looked very bright and fresh when he came on. Per Mertesacker was his usual self today.

Jerome Boateng and Arne Friedrich made some important tackles and both had average games. Manuel Neuer had a good game with the exception of one horrendous error when he moved out of his area and nearly gifted Hungary a goal. 

Miro Klose seemed slightly more alive than he has been at Bayern. He played well when he had the ball and retrieved some tough passes from his teammates well.

The Negatives:

Mario Gomez can only run with the opposing defender, not ahead of him. Cacau scored a wonderful goal but at times failed to retrieve passes.

I will accuse two players of selfishness today: Trochowski and Marin. They both did not want to pass at all. The number of balls that Trochowski sent into the stands was more than the number of goals that Germany scored on the night. Marin sent the ball out of play rather than pass to his mates.

When he did pass, he chose Gomez rather than Cacau, and we all know what happens when a ball is passed to Gomez in a Germany shirt. Gomez was lucky to score tonight, as the Hungarian keeper let him go easily.

Mario Gomez's goal does nothing to change his reputation. He could have used his head to score a goal from a very good cross but instead attempted with his foot and..well...missed.

Arne Friedrich made some good tackles but almost managed to send a Hungary player to the hospital by kicking him in the chest. Friedrich sometimes makes harsh tackles and Joachim Low should think carefully before putting his name on the team sheet.

Jerome Boateng had some lapses in concentration, which perhaps a player like Kevin-Prince Boateng will be able to exploit in the World Cup.

Toni Kroos seemed more absent than Miro Klose in a Bayern shirt today. It must be said that the Hungary players tackled him harshly. Mesut Ozil needs to improve his finishing ability, as Klose's confidence level is very low at the moment. Klose committed some fouls that the referee let go of, as it was a friendly.

Dennis Aogo didn't start well in the second half but managed to get things together as the half progressed. Manuel Neuer needs to be careful. I am not sure how to judge Westermann's game. Lukas Podolski drifted in and out of the match.

In Conclusion:

Just by looking at this match, Low has a few decisions to take. First of all, Low will perhaps play a lone frontman—if he does will it be Klose or Cacau?

Who will sit beside Per Mertesacker in central defence: Arne Friedrich or Heiko Westermann? The friendly on third June against Bosnia Herzegovina in Frankfurt will tell us more about the starting 11 for the World Cup.