Spain vs. Germany: Position by Position

With one game left to crown either Spain or Germany the new European champion, it’s time to take a look at each one’s strengths and weaknesses. Here is a position by position look at the finalists, and who I think has the upper hand in each. Feel free to argue in the comments.

Keeper
Iker Casillas (Spain) vs. Jens Lehmann (Germany)
This is perhaps the clearest difference between the two sides. Casillas has not been perfect this tournament, but he is a great keeper at the top of his game, showing against Italy that he can step up to the biggest games. Lehmann has fumbled his way through the knockouts, depending on his offense to make up for his mistakes.
Advantage: Spain (1-0)


Right Back
Sergio Ramos (Spain) vs. Arne Friedrich (Germany)
Ramos was brilliant in the semifinal against Russia, but Friedrich has done well also. They are very different sorts of right backs, with Ramos playing most of the game in the attacking half, more than maybe any other right back in Europe. As good as he can be, this often leaves a hole, and if he’s beaten back to his spot, he’ll often respond with an unnecessary foul or mistake. Without that temper, Ramos would win this contest. As it stands, I’m calling it a draw.
Advantage: Draw (1-0)

Center Backs
Marchena and Puyol (Spain) vs. Mertesacker and Metzelder (Germany)
This final is an interesting microcosm of the tournament, in that I don’t expect a clinic on central defending. As much as we’ve all loved to see all the goalscoring in this Euro, it has been down to some serious errors at center back. Still, thought neither of these are the equal of Italy at this position, I’d rather have Marchena and Puyol than Mertesacker and Metzelder.
Advantage: Spain (2-0)

Left Back
Joan Capdevila (Spain) vs. Philipp Lahm (Germany)
Lahm has his shaky moments, but in terms of both defending and overall value to the side, I have to give him the edge over Capdevila, who had a great year at Villareal but might just be a bit outclassed here.
Advantage: Germany (2-1)

Right Winger
Andres Iniesta (Spain) vs. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Remember, I’m basing this on form, not career. Schweinsteiger has been one of the players of the tournament, not only with his goalscoring, but with his overall attacking play. Aside from the two matches with Russia, Iniesta has been a bit disappointing to me, and this one isn’t much of a contest on current tournament form.
Advantage: Germany (2-2)

Central Midfielders
Senna / Xavi / Fabregas (Spain) vs. Hitzlsperger / Rolfes / Ballack (Germany)
This is a very interesting one. Fabregas started the tournament on the bench, and has worked his way into an early sub or even a start. Rolfes and Hitzlsperger are recent additions to the starting center for Germany, partially due to the injury to Torsten Frings. Overall, especially with Frings available from the bench, I have to give a slight edge to Germany here. Xavi has been invisible for long stretches of this tournament (goal aside) and I’d pick Ballack over anyone else in the pool here. If Ballack doesn’t play, this goes to Spain, hands down.
Advantage: Germany (2-3)

Left Winger
David Silva (Spain) vs. Lukas Podolski (Germany)
This one is tight. Podolski was the only player to score for Germany in their first two matches, and sits on three goals from a wing position. Silva has only a single goal, but has been playing better as the tournament goes on. As much as I want to keep this close, I have to give the edge to Podolski, who will have the additional motivation of knowing he’s a single goal away from sharing the golden boot with injured David Villa.
Advantage: Germany (2-4)

Strikers
Torres and Guiza (Spain) vs. Klose and Gomez (Germany)
Without knowing the mind of Jogi Löw, it’s hard to say whether Podolski will play wing or forward, but since we’ve already counted him on the wing, he’s ineligible here. That leaves as Germany’s backup forward the most disappointing player of the tournament, Mario Gomez. Torres has been off of his game most of the tournament, but Klose hasn’t been tearing up any record books either, and right now I’d take Guiza over two or three Mario Gomezes … unless it was for a penalty.
Advantage: Spain (3-4)

There are, of course, plenty of arguments to be had about these picks, but for my money, position by position, there’s a slight edge to Germany, concentrated in their midfield, with the defense and strikers coming up Spain. If you count center backs, central midfielders, and strikers as two positions each, it’s all even at 5-5. Again, if Michael Ballack doesn’t make the final, I give the edge to Spain.

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