2010 World Cup: Argentina v Germany full time report
Argentina 0 Germany 4
An emphatic 4-0 victory sent Germany to the 2010 World Cup semi-finals at the expense of the well-beaten Argentina.
A brace from Miroslav Klose, plus further goals from Thomas Mueller and Arne Friedrich stunned Diego Maradona's side in Cape Town.
It was another brilliant display from Joachim Loew's side following their 4-1 demolition of England last weekend, as they confirmed their status as potential World Cup winners with arguably the standout performance of this summer's finals.
Germany got off to the perfect start at the Green Point Stadium, leaving Argentina with an uphill struggle from as early as the second minute. Bastian Schweinsteiger's delightfully whipped-in free-kick from the left was headed in neatly by the impressive Mueller, who grabbed his fourth goal of the World Cup.
Argentina struggled to find their feet in the match, and were failing to dominate the tempo in the same manner as their previous games in this tournament.
Klose was then presented with a glorious opportunity in the 23rd minute to double Germany's advantage, but the striker – making his 100th international appearance today – could only shoot over the bar after a clever pass from the impressive Mueller.
As expected, it was Lionel Messi providing the inspiration for Diego Maradona's side. The star man in the Argentina team weaved his magic on a couple of occasions, but found himself having to drop deep to spark the Albicelestes into life.
Argentina ended the first half in the ascendancy, but were struggling to find a way past Germany's disciplined, solid defence. And it wasn't just the back four they had to breach either; even their strikers were keen to get back and clear their lines. The Germans' team ethic and work rate had been exemplary.
Maradona's side began the second half full of life, though, and Angel Di Maria went close with a 25-yard left-footed effort.
As the second half progressed, the game became increasingly stretched, but good defending from both sides meant that shots on goal were few and far between.
Carlos Tevez, Higuain and Di Maria all went close around the hour mark, forcing the reliable Manuel Neuer to make several decent saves.
However, Maradona would soon have to implement a Plan B, and quickly. On the 67th minute, Klose scored his 13th World Cup finals goal, making it 2-0 to Germany and leaving the South Americans with a mountain to climb.
The instrumental Mueller found Podolski in space on the left of the penalty area, who teed the ball up for Klose, and he was left with the simplest task of tapping the ball into the empty net.
The Germans, full of confidence after adding a second, had Argentina exactly where they wanted them. And before their opponents had time to regroup, Friedrich made it 3-0 and effectively sent Germany through to the semi-finals.
The Argentina players were visibly demoralised and looked to have already accepted their fate. Therefore, Schweinsteiger was left with the simple task of gliding into the Argentina penalty area on the 74th minute, breezing past two effortless challenges before squaring the ball for Friedrich, who done the rest.
Maradona and the Argentina players looked on dejectedly. There was no way back from this. The South Americans were braced for elimination at the quarter-final stage yet again, by Germany - yet again.
As the clock ticked down to the full time whistle, Klose rubbed further salt into Argentinean wounds, with his 14th World Cup finals goal in the 89th minute.
Another excellent counter-attack from the Germans eventually resulted in Mesut Oezil playing a delightful chipped ball from the left-hand side of the 18-yard box, which found the predatory Klose with consummate ease.
The revered German striker tucked the ball away on the volley, low past Sergio Romero, to complete the rout and equal Gerd Mueller's record of 14 goals in World Cup finals matches.
It was the third time this summer that Germany have netted four goals in a single match. And on the evidence of this performance, they're certainly the team to beat at this summer's tournament.
Few would have predicted it before the World Cup started, but the famous motto about never writing off the Germans continues to serve shrewd advice.
Should they now be considered favourites to lift the World Cup for a fourth time? You'd be foolish to bet against them.
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