FORMER Germany skipper Lothar Matthaus is bringing his unique tactical insight to SunSport’s star Euro 2016 line-up.
For Lothar, tonight’s semi-final between his nation and France conjures memories of the 1982 World Cup and he is anticipating a fascinating duel.
THIS is a beautiful game. It is a semi-final, full of so many brilliant battles.
The world champions versus the hosts.
France’s Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid on one side, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos of Germany on the other, replaying the Champions League final.
Plus two of the best goalkeepers in the world — the No 1 Manuel Neuer and Hugo Lloris of France. But there are bigger questions for German boss Joachim Low than his opposite number Didier Deschamps, because of the injuries and suspensions he has.
He is without Mats Hummels, Mario Gomez and Sami Khedira.
So Low has to make some mighty big decisions, while Deschamps can stick with the side that overwhelmed Iceland, or bring in N’Golo Kante.
FRANCE are sure to think Germany will be easier to hurt if they have four at the back.
I’m assuming Germany will play Benedikt Howedes, a natural centre-back, with Jerome Boateng — especially as France striker Antoine Griezmann is able to run off the back of Bastian Schweinsteiger and link with Olivier Giroud. But that is why they may stick with the back three they played against Italy — but with Shkodran Mustafi in for the banned Mats Hummels instead of Howedes.
Giroud loves playing against Germany and he makes Griezmann more dangerous. When Griezmann starts wide he can get into the box.
But if he is closer to Giroud, he comes alive in the penalty area.
THIS will be a tactical game. Normally coaches don’t want the opponent to know what they will do but France are not Italy as they have a back four and two wide men.
France know Germany will have more of the ball but they will be happy to hurt them on the counter.
They key for them is how Paul Pogba plays. He got forward more against Iceland and that’s what he has to do in Marseilles, with Blaise Matuidi sitting if boss Didier Deschamps sticks to a 4-4-2.
Iceland are not Germany, though. France played with the handbrake on in the second half and kept plenty in hand for the semi-final.
I KNOW why Germany manager Joachim Low was so happy to be able to say that Bastian Schweinsteiger is fit — it is because of his experience and know-how.
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The brave alternative would probably have been to go with Julian Weigl against France alongside Toni Kroos in midfield.
Borussia Dortmund’s Weigl is only 20 years old but he is a classy player, very smart and elegant, who controls the game and knows the position.
But while I wonder about Schweinsteiger’s speed as much as Weigl’s, Manchester United’s Schweini will do what he has to do for the team, even if that’s kicking his opponent.
Without the injured Mario Gomez, I think Germany might have been looking at playing Thomas Muller as the centre-forward, with Leroy Sane on the right.
That way they could expose France’s weakness at left-back, where 35-year-old Patrice Evra is looking old and slow.
But I don’t think Low is looking to do that, even with Schweinsteiger in there.
I therefore expect that they will go back to the way they started the tournament, with Mario Gotze as a false nine and Muller staying on the right.
Muller would be better at No 9 because he has more presence in the box.
He has not scored in the tournament yet but I feel his goals will come if he gets the chances.
Gotze, for me, is too small and has not got the same speed or impact.
And if they had Sane on one side and Julian Draxler on the other, they would pose more of a threat to France.
I WILL always remember the 1982 World Cup semi-final.
That was a really dramatic game and this one can be very similar.
It will be decided by how the coaches react to the other team.
Didier Deschamps knows about the power and speed of Germany.
France have shown their goal threat but their defence is a problem.
They need to get the balance between attack and defence right and they haven’t done that so far.
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