World Cup Soccer 2010: Road to the semi-finals – Germany
Before the tournament started, Germany was among the outsiders to win South Africa 2010 as they were missing a number of their ace strikers including their regular captain Michael Ballack. But as the tournament progressed, Germany proved that notion wrong.
It was largely due to the performances young players like Sami Khedira, Thomas Muller and playmaker Mesut Ozil that Germany restored self-belief. Soon, Germany settled a team formation as if the players were playing in a team for many years. However, the fact is that the trio has just been included in the German senior team after their extra-ordinary performances in the 2009 Under-21 European Championships. It was in this tournament that Germany beat England in the final by 4-0. Khedira was captaining his side back then which proves that the player has leadership qualities. Muller needs to polish his raw talent whereas Ozil is undoubtedly the find of this World Cup who replaced Ballack with some decimating performances. The German team’s average age is under 26 which makes it the country’s youngest ever squad playing in a World Cup.
In fact, Germany was the first team in this World Cup to show their title winning credentials. Their 4-0 routing of Australia in their opening Group D match was the only performance of some notice by any team in the first round of group matches. Germany was in total control of the match whereas all the other big names struggled to settle in. France, England, Italy and Portugal failed to win, while Argentina and Brazil won by a one goal difference. On the other hand, pre-tournament favourites Spain lost in their respective opening matches. Germany lost to Serbia in the second group match by 1-0. The Germans had to play a majority of the match with 10 men after Miroslav Klose managed to get two yellow cards in first half. This loss was probably a blessing in disguise as it was necessary for the German team to forget their excellent performance in the first match. Germany won the last group match against Ghana 1-0 to finish the group at the top spot which had actually become an almost must-win match for them.
Germany faced England in the Round of 16 in the most anticipated match of the second round. Germany was cruising right from the start and lead 2-0 at a stage when England was trying to fight it out. Soon, England brought the deficit to just one goal. Moments later, England equalised with 2-2 within the space of a minute but Frank Lampard’s legitimate “goal” was disallowed when it had clearly crossed the goal line. It was a repeat of the infamous controversy in the 1966 World Cup final but this time round, the Germans gained the advantage. Germany took control of the match right away and looked as the only team which could win the match. Two more goals followed in the second half to complete a 4-1 thumping against their fiercest rivals. The win over England confirmed their place in the quarter-finals in their eighth consecutive World Cup since Spain 1982.
Germany faced Argentina in the next match in repeat of the 2006 World Cup quarter-final. Four years ago, Germany had come from behind to take the match to a penalty shootout where Germany scored all four of their penalties after Argentina had missed two. Many had backed the Argentineans to take revenge but they were completely demolished. Thomas Muller scored his fourth goal of the tournament in just the 5th minute of the match. Miroslav Klose followed him with a goal in the second half to take his goals tally to 4 in South Africa 2010 and 14 in the three World Cups he has played since 2002. This brace has placed him alongside the legendary prowess of Gerd Muller and just a goal behind the leading World Cup goal scorer Ronaldo.
Germany will now face Spain in the semi-final in a repeat of the 2008 European Championships final. Some are putting Spain as the slight favourites but a majority will agree that only the Germans are the deserving team to win this South Africa 2010.
Tags: