Argentina and Germany have been arguably the most aggressively exciting teams at this World Cup, making this match at Cape Town on Friday, a mouth watering prospect.
In contrast to their qualifying campaign, Argentina have been on top of their game, whether passing, or retaining the ball or finishing.
After cruising through the group matches with easy wins over Nigeria, South Korea and Greece, Argentina ran into Mexico in the round of 16. Contrary to expectation, Mexico disappointed, and barring the first 10 minutes or so, Argentina ruled, with Tevez's twin strikes deciding the issue. Higuain also got his name on the scorecard thanks to a blunder by Osario.
Messi has been the creative hub, despite not scoring himself, and Tevez and Higuain have benefited. the midfield has been in capanble hands, led by Javier Mascherano, and Angel di Maria and Maxi Rodriguez have supplemented the attack whenever possible.
The back-line led by Martin Demichelis is the only weak area, with a goal gifted to the South Koreans a case in point. Concentration lapses have also occurred too often for comfort, such as towards the end of the Mexico game.
German youth overwhelmed English experience, 4-1, in their round of 16 match, the worst defeat england have suffered in any World Cup finals.
This was a repeat of their group match against Australia, but that was followed by a shock defeat to Serbia. But Germany soon erased the memory with a 1-0 win over Ghana in their last group game to top the group.
Germany have looked complete in every aspect: Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich in the back line, Sami Khedira filling in for Michael Ballack, Bastian Schweinsteiger champion in the midfield, Mesut Oezil the brightest spark of the tournament for Germany, Klose a man for big occasions, the list looks non-ending.In fact, Germany's biggest enemy against Argentina could be overconfidence.
Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the key for Argentina. Without his selfless team spirit, apart from his supreme ball skills, Tevez and Higuain wouldn't have been half as effective.
Mesut Oezil was unknown before the World Cup. Here is the star of the future; mature beyond his years, he uses his prodigious talent to devastating effect.
Maradona is unlikely to tinker with his starting eleven. He will rely on Demichelis and Burdisso to counter Klose.
Germany Manager Joachim Leow could also opt for an unchanged side from the one that played against England. Klose, at their spearhead, rely on support from Oezil, Mueller and Podolski. The defence will be led by Lahm who is an additional attacking option, and the back-line will have Freidrich and Mertesacker.
This is a game of classic contrast in that Argentina have individual stars who can rule a game on their day, and Germany have youngsters with talent and energy but lack experience, at these rarefied heights. This lack showed up for the 15 minutes leading up to half-time against Lampard and company in the Ehgland game. For me, the result of this match will revolve around the question: can Germany's inexperience can weather the Messi storm?
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Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger.
I felt so sad for Argentina when they lost! I mean, both teams seemed so good and in equal conditions!! Argentina did not deserve that. It was a big humiliation in front of the whole world. I watched the game in on of those Buenos Aires apartments my friends were staying and our neighbours were almost crying. It was kind of disappointing. I hope they will have better luck in 2014.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Tracy