On the Germany - Argentina game:
While talking to a friend the day before, I remarked that Argentina had a lot of space in front of their defence. With Mascherano playing further upfield than he does while with Liverpool and Martin Demichelis doing a terrible job impersonating Ezequiel Garay (who's not even in the 23 man squad) I remarked that Germany would look to repeat their heroics versus England. Argentina were ripe for a mauling.
Of course the opening goal is crucial, with Thomas Mueller lucky to score, but Germany absolutely battered Argentina.
I was right and should have bet on this game.
Lionel Messi tried hard but just could not turn on his magic against a well drilled German defence who afforded him little space and cut out space for exit passes. Germany were much more penetrative going forward and seemed to open up their opponents at will. Miroslav Klose scored his 14th World Cup and 51st international goals in the match as Mueller had a sublime game behind him. As usual Germany's front 5 were in epic form and exploited Argentina's lack of back tracking for maximum damage. Had Klose not missed a sitter in the first half at 1-0, the score line could have been even more epic.
The fullbacks, were generally too wide and Burdisso, although competent looked rusty after a season of warming Inter's bench. How Argentina would have wished for Zanetti to line up on the right with Nicolas Otamendi partnering Garay in the middle.
Germany had no such problems with everyone fitting in like dutiful cogs in a well oiled machine. And one that knew a few different numbers to its usual routines.
I still think their defence is slow but Argentina barely attacked it. I expected Angel Di Maria and Carlos Tevez to try to pass around Arne Friedrich and Per Mertesacker. To pull them apart but they seemed more keen on either going at it alone or simply handing off the ball to Messi. Who dribbles around and around in circles.
Germany got everyting right while Argentina got everything wrong. Maradona must be a broken man but Joachim Loew didn't even have to outwit him, just beat him comprehensively.
This game will go down as one of the all time demolitions, used for training videos all over.
Germany 4 - 0 Argentina
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