The Giant Germans

The Junkiez continue to analyze International teams and link physicality to style of play and next on the list is Germany. There's only one thing that these guys have in common. They all remind you of that freak at your gym. Germany has always produced the biggest footballers and despite the valiant and admirable attempts made by Ozil and Lahm to break the trend, Germany still stands safely at the top of the "Average Weight" and "Average Height" rankings. Here's the line-up: Manuel Neuer ( 6ft 4" and 200lbs), Mats Hummels ( 6ft 3" and 200lbs), Per Mertesacker (6ft 6", 187lbs), Bastien Schweinsteiger ( 6ft 0", 174lbs), Mario Gomez ( 6ft 2 1/2", 187lbs). Really? Is this the WWE?

Now, when 9 of 11 players on the field are above 6ft tall, its easy to see why Germany are always a great threat from set pieces, especially when they always seem to have a Ozil to swing the crosses in. Their vertical dominance, however, seems to be best expressed defensively. At six feet plenty, Germans are defensively well placed. Set pieces are defended easily, and their long reaches mean that their sliding tackles stretch to infinity and beyond. Their weight also allows them to push the opponent off the ball and play a more physical game. Its also more defensively assuring to have a giant between the sticks. Oliver Khan (6ft 2"), Jens Lehmann (6ft 3") and Manuel Neuer (6ft 4") represent commanding penalty area presences. Germany are known for their powers of penalty taking. The specialist say penalty taking is about psychological as much as technical dominance. So the secret behind Germany's penalty success is absolutely crystal as a man 6ft 6" is much more intimidating than one 5ft 7''.

There is only one possible downside to the German style of play. In this era of obsession with player protection and "beautiful" football and the increased number of Olympic divers in the sport, Germans are quickly penalized by referees for as much as rubbing on another player. No matter how good a team is......if you're 1 man down, you're gonna find it hard to win games.

Kareem.......signin' out!

The Portuguese Pretty Boys

The Junkiez would be exploring 5 international teams and link physicality to the counrty's football. First the Portuguese Pretty Boys, headed by Ronaldo, Quaresma and Nani. Over the years Portugal have been known to produce the most fancy wingers known to world football. Figo, Ronaldo, Quaresma, Nani, Simao......and the list goes on. Its almost as if to be in the Portuguese team the requirement is to move your feet 5 rpms a second! When you hear "pretty" used as a football terms, you think of fancy footwork, bended free kicks and inch-perfect crosses.

The only down-side is that pretty in football also brings with it "soft". The players sometimes lack that physicality in thier game and they sometimes have to rely on their speed and not strength to win balls. They are also get frustrated easily, its as if they' ve been spoilt their entire lives and as soon as a Cambiasso or a De Rossi runs them over they want to cry. They also concede many fouls, as you expect from footballers whose main goal seems to be to embarass the opposition. This can be both good and bad since one of two things can happen. 1. Someone can step up and bend the ball into the onion bag or place a cross right on your eyelids OR the referee begins to get fed up with you and totally ignore you EVERYTIME.

All in all Portugal has brought nothing but interest and flair into this beautiful sport. Not every team in the world produce 7 out of 11 players that can move the ball so fast it breaks your ankles, bend a ball like a boomerang or could place a cross on your nose-peak. I mean lets be serious.....RICARDO can do it! God Bless the Portuguese.

Preview of Mayweather vs Ortiz : Prediction

Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. (41-0 25KO) is set to fight the young, talented Victor Ortiz (29-2-2 22KO)on September 17th for the WBC Welterweight belt. Mayweather, the egocentric, often-criticized, controversial boxer has definitely set his eyes on accomplishing a goal; and that is to be once again considered as the pound for pound best. So who better to challenge than the young, powerful southpaw Victor Ortiz; whose fresh off an impressive victory over Berto to gain his first World Title. Looking to be the first to defeat Mayweather, Ortiz is as dangerous a fight as they come and would be no easy push-over for Mayweather, or so they say. Now that we've gotten the details out the way, the question you've all been waiting for: Who's ass is getting whopped? I must say, though this is an easy one to predict, don't sleep on Mr.Ortiz. Floyd has had trouble in the past fighting southpaws, ala Zab Judah and DeMarcus Corley to name a few, but none as consistent and relentless as Ortiz. However, Mayweather possesses the ability to adjust to any fighter in the ring, a skill possessed by few. His speed and agility combined with his power will eventually prove too much for Ortiz. This fight is nothing more than a tune-up for "Money May" to prepare for the possible mega-fight of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. This bout does promise to be an entertaining one, and one that will be highly anticipated. Sure we might see a couple hard straight jabs, some jaw-shattering uppercuts, and a few head-twisting hooks, but at the end of it all, Mayweather will be 42-0 and Ortiz will probably be needing a few stitches and face mask.

John, and I'm out.