2010 FIFA World Cup Germany’s got Game
It is not often that Germany goes into any World Cup Tournament as the overwhelming favorites, but it is seldom that they don’t emerge as one.
Germany made a strong statement of intent last night when they demonstrated why they should be taken seriously when it comes to winning the premier football competition in the world. For the sixth time consecutive Germany have started the tournament on a winning note and that too in such an emphatic manner that it only suggests to the whole wide world that they are immune to the opening game nerves that so many other teams suffer from.
Germany vs. Australia is by no means a walk over for the 3 time world champions especially when the Socceroos are boasting the talents of Everton's Tim Cahill, Vince Grella, Brett Emerton and Mark Schwarzer. But on the pitch it was a mismatch as big as anyone can imagine.
Germany outclassed their opponents on the night in such a manner that it was almost a disgrace for a team that qualified topping their group in the qualifying stages.
The Game started at a frantic pace and only in the opening exchanges of the match Australia had a golden opportunity to go in front early. But only the legs of Bayern Munich defender and the German international captain Phillip Lahm denied Garcia, who had a simplest of tap-in’s from inside the 6 yard box.
That wasted opportunity proved to be Australia's undoing as just a few minutes later the Germans were up and running. A thunderous shot from the edge of the box by Lukas Podolski was too hot to handle for Fulham's Mark Schwarzer.
The creation of the goal was classy as it gets when a marauding run by the teen German sensation, Mesut Ozil of Werder Bremen found Mueller on the right side of the pitch. The lanky midfielder cut back across the box only to miss Miroslav Klose but the ball fell invitingly for the on-running Podolski to unleash a lethal left foot thunder bolt.
The direction of play from then on was unrelently towards Schwarzer’s goal. Australia never recovered. Podolski and Mueller played havoc on the wings and whenever Lahm decided to join in on the attack, the Socceroos looked out of sorts.
Miroslav Klose, after having a disappointing season for Bayern Munich, had a chance to make it 2-0 shortly after. But only he knows how he missed from close range when Ozil’s sublime pass found him with just a simple tap-in to make but the striker made amends only minutes later when he bagged his 49th international goal for Germany rising above Niell and Schwarzer in the box to bang home Germany’s second. It was question of striker’s bravery and courage when his risked getting a punch in the face but the striker finished with distinction.
Australia never threatened to take control of the game and it was all too easy for the Germans in the end. Ozil had a chance to make it 3-0 but only he was denied a last ditch goal line clearance by O’Neil when he latched on to a sublime through ball by Lahm.
Australia had a miserable evening made worse when their inspirational striker Tim Cahill was handed his marching orders for a miss timed tackle. The red card blew out any life left in the Socceroos and Mueller and Cacau banged two more goals for the Germans to complete an impressive night’s work for the Germans in Durban.
It was not classic Germany, this was attacking flare, panache and flamboyance that is often not associated with Germany.
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