FIFA World Cup 2010: Can Germany Tame Spain in the Clash of the Titans World Cup Semi-Finals
The eyes of the entire world would be on Durban stadium on 7th July, when Germany takes on Spain in the semi final of the FIFA World Cup 2010. The most anticipated match would never have been possible since both the teams lost a first round match and were on the brink of exit. The strikers and the mid fielders however, had other ideas and they managed to take their sides to the last 4, where the clash of the titans will see the best team win.
Both the teams have had a contrasting journey in World Cup football competition. Talking of Spain, the European champions may be the second best side in the world, but they have never featured in the grand finale of the most prestigious competition. They didn’t enter the inaugural event in 1930 but made it to the quarter finals in their first attempt in 1934. Civil War in Spain made FIFA ban them from the 1938 World Cup. However, when they did return in the next event in 1950, they reached as high as the semi finals, ending 4th.
So far, that has been their most impressive performance in the event since afterwards, their performance declined. They failed to qualify in the next two editions, were knocked out in the first round in 1962 and 1966, while they didn’t qualify in 1970 and 1974. In 1978, they didn’t go beyond the first round and four years later, they were sent packing after losing in the second stage. They did manage to reach the quarter final in the 1986, 1994 and 2002 event and the last 16 in 1990 and 2006, yet their first round exit in 1998 dims their accomplishments.
Germany on the other hand has been there, done that, being World Cup winners on 3 and runners up on 4 occasions. If they manage to reach the finals, it will be their 8th such attempt, the most by any country. Their journey in World Cups has been positive than negative, although they couldn’t make it to the first edition, since their federation couldn’t afford the trip to Uruguay. When they did appear in the competition, they came third in 1934. Four years later, they were knocked out in the first round and were not allowed to take part in 1950 event, since Germany was banned from all events, after the Second World War.
Any other country would have given up hope of representation at the international circuit, but Germans never gave hope. They came charging into the 1954 World Cup and were crowned the champions for the first time in history. Four years later, they reached the semi finals but couldn’t qualify for the grand finale, and came fourth. They were knocked out in the quarter finals in 1962, while reached the final in 1966, where luck and Bobby Charlton kept them away from lifting the trophy.
They ended with the bronze medal in the 1970 event, while in 1974; Franz Beckenbauer led his team to their second World Cup title win. After a second round ‘shock’ exit in 1978, the Germans reached consecutive finals, losing first to Italy in 1982 and then to Diego Maradona’s Argentina in 1986. They had to get the services of Franz Beckenbauer as coach, who became the first person to win a World Cup, both as a player and a coach, when the Germans conquered the world in 1990.
The Germans failed to go beyond the quarter finals in 1994 and 1998 but reached the final in 2002, where they were undone by Brazil’s Ronaldo. They came third in 2006, but on current form, there is nothing that can stop them from conquering the world for the fourth time.
As for the matches between Germany and Spain, the former has had a better run than the latter. They have played 20 international matches, out of which Germans have won 8, while 6 have ended in favour of the Spaniards. In the World Cup competitions, these two sides have clashed thrice, with Germans winning twice and one match ending in a draw. Their form in the current World Cup is excellent since Germany has scored 27 goals in contrast to Spain’s 22. If Klose’s magic works, who knows what the Germans would do to their European counterparts, who will be banking on David Villa to get them through to their maiden final!
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