FIFA 2010 World Cup: Germany powers 3 ahead of Argentina
Germany went into half time in the 3rd quarter final of Fifa World Cup 2010, one goal to the good against Argentina. Muller headed one just 3 minutes into the game and rattled the favourites Argentina.
At the magnificent Cape Town Stadium in South Africa, the quarter-final got under way.
And as soon as the 3rd minute, a tournament of rubbish goalkeeping, we could add another to the list. Bastian Schweinsteiger curled over a wickedly in-swinging free-kick from the left, and after Thomas Mueller header helped it towards the goal, Sergio Romero was in no-man's land. The ball hit his right leg before flying into the net. It was first blood to Germany.
What a start it was. They had raced out of the blocks and only an alert Sergio Romero racing off his line thwarted Sami Khedira from scoring again.
Argentina's defence was all over the place. But the Germans broke with pace and Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain queued up at the back post. Angel Di Maria wasted a great crossing chance from their left.
Argentina played some keep-ball at the back for a while, presumably trying to take some of the pace out of the game after a flying start from Germany. Nicolas Otamendi fouled Arne Friedrich and he picked up the game's first yellow.
When Germany forged forward they looked alarmingly clinical. Lukas Podolski's right-foot shot from 18 yards took a deflection before sailing wide and Argentina had not even got started yet.
Argentina were finding space of their own when they managed to get forward, but again Angel Di Maria's cross from the left was not accurate enough and Germany cleared. Javier Mascherano slid in recklessly on Bastian Schweinsteiger, but he escaped a booking.
Messi was invisible and sitting very deep, playing almost as a quarter-back to try and get the ball off his centre-backs. It meant the little magician had a lot to do when he got the ball.
For all the talk of the flair teams at this World Cup, the pace, movement and intelligent off-the-ball work of this Germany side took some beating. They switched positions brilliantly too, making the front players hard to pick up.
Lionel Messi played a Xavi-like cute pass into the Germany area and Carlos Tevez just could not quite get there ahead of Manuel Neuer, who did well to race off his line.
Suddenly there was much more in the game. Gonzalo Higuain turned inside Arne Friedrich just inside the area and shot towards the near post, only for Manuel Neuer to get down well to save. Moments later, Thomas Mueller handled the ball 22 yards from his own goal, and as well as giving Lionel Messi another chance to shoot, he was booked and will miss a potential semi-final.
Lionel Messi's shot hit the wall, but from the rebound Argentina got the ball in the net - however, you could choose between any of four players who were standing in an offside position, so the correct decision was made there.
So that summed up the half for Argentina, and they went to locker rooms scratching their heads, while Germany would be thinking they have one foot in the semi final.
Second half Argentina did well in the first 15 minutes and then Germany out played them scoring two more goals taking the total to 3 goals to 0. Germany first put England out of the world cup and today it has done to same to Argentina. Game over Maradona, Messi and the Co. Still no goals for Messi; Germany is looking very strong and they just scored another goal.
It is now 4-0 for Germany and game over for Argentina.
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