It was billed as 'the final before the final' and although it was probably worthy of a 'finals' match, I don't think anyone in their right minds could have predicted this outcome. Everyone was anticipating a close one but actually, it was anything but!
A fascinating encounter, between two very talented sides ended up with the Germans whacking a somewhat embarrassing 4 goals past Argentina and handing them their worse world cup defeat for over 50 years.
It took only 3 minutes to open the scoring in a goal, somewhat reminiscent of the Germany of old. A dangerously whipped in free kick from the left got the deftness of touches from Thomas Mueller and they were up 1-0.
That kind of shock at the beginning of a game can produce either one of two things with your opponent; a stinging response or a stumbling performance. Unfortunately for Argentina, it was the latter that ensued.
The South American's did manage to keep it like that till half time, but they could and should have been behind by more. Germany wasted a couple of opportunities, Klose being guilty of the worse one after Muller had burst through the defense, but the striker was always leaning back too much and it fizzed over.
Argentina did have a couple of chances towards the end of the half, but the unimpressive Messi & co. just couldn't get in anything better than a few shots from distance, all of which were wide, high or dealt with easily by Manuel Neuer in the German goal.
Half time brought a well needed brake for the South American's and they did look a little re-galvanized at the beginning of the second half but the Germans kept them at bay and then smacked'em heavily on the counter.
As the goals poured in, so Maradona's demeanor did slump and there was nothing he could do but watch in horror as his globetrotter, super-studded, star-filled side were torn to shreds by a very exciting, fast moving and slick-passing German side.
Somebody asked me before the match, which team I wanted to win, to which I just replied "I don't really like either team but, you know I love football so I just hope we see something good".
Honestly, I didn't think it would be that good!!! I've never seen a German side so good. In fact, I'm trying to think whether I've ever seen a side, take a team with the caliber of Argentina apart like that.
It was truly ruthless and when Klose got his well-deserved second and Germany's 4th late on, one of the most surprising results of this and many a tournament had spelt doom and true gloom for Maradona's Argentina.
In fact, you could even say that, because of the striker and his team mates, Argentina didn’t even come Klose to winning this one ;) Did you like that one? That was especially for you guys out there ;) hehehe
Maybe it was poetic justice for Maradona but in spite of all his truly cocky fighting talk dished out before the match, you just had to feel a little sorry for the poor guy.
Cutting a dejected figure on the sidelines as the final whistle was blown, credit to the man, he was the first on the pitch to congratulate the Germans and commiserate with his players.
Cutting a dejected figure on the sidelines as the final whistle was blown, credit to the man, he was the first on the pitch to congratulate the Germans and commiserate with his players.
Compassion is a strange 'ol drug, eh?
Mind you, the truth there was quite simple too. I don't think he had enough managerial experience to cope with what happened and his team took the kind of walloping they'll not be forgetting for a long, long time now.
His players have already come out and backed him up, but whether he stays on or not will probably depend on how he personally, as a man, recovers from this kind of embarrassment.
If he does stay on, I think he could do well in the future. There's no doubting his motivating skills. But can he learn how to take it from being a player to a manager?
We shall see, as they say...
As for Spain, well, Spain was a little boring to tell the truth. A little boring and also maybe a little lucky. Paraguay will feel hard done by as they had a goal ruled out for offside.
It was a questionable one too. A cross came in from the right and although Nelson Valdez scored with a cool header, another player was adjudged to be interfering with play and the offside was called.
It was a little harsh but still, it won’t detract from the fact that the game was for the most part, rather uneventful.
In fact, there were only a frantic and rather dramatic few minutes in the second half where Paraguay first got a penalty for the most obvious penalty in the world. What Pique was thinking of when he tugged back Cardozo is anyone’s guess!
Cardozo himself stepped up and smacked a low shot, down to Iker Casillas' left but the keeper got down well and did brilliantly to hold on to it.
With the next attack, the Spaniards then went up the other side and got a penalty of their own, this time for a push on Villa. Alonso then stepped up a struck a beauty into the top right corner but the referee decided there was encroachment in the box and ordered a re-take.
Alonso stepped up again but this time, changed his mind and went low right. Problem was, the keeper guessed it and kept it out! Mental stuff!
To top it all, the keeper then blatantly fouled Fabregas on the follow up but after all that fracas, there was no way the ref was gonna give another penalty.
The Paraguayan's played well enough but Spain had the edge at the end and they got their goal on the 82nd minute through top-scorer Villa. The striker was in the right place at the right time to seize on a shot by substitute Pedro that came back off the post.
Villa's shot then hit one post before smacking the other and then finally going in and the Spaniards had grabbed the last semi final spot to set up, what should be 'another' final-before-the-final with Germany.
So, 3 games left! Suarez-less Uruguay vs ...*ahem*... my prediction for the tournament, The Netherlands and blimmin Spain vs super cool-looking Germany. I'm going for a Netherlands vs Germany final and of course, how could I then not bet for the Orange Machine to lift that trophy!!! Hehehe :)
Let’s go Holland!!!!
Mind you, the truth there was quite simple too. I don't think he had enough managerial experience to cope with what happened and his team took the kind of walloping they'll not be forgetting for a long, long time now.
His players have already come out and backed him up, but whether he stays on or not will probably depend on how he personally, as a man, recovers from this kind of embarrassment.
If he does stay on, I think he could do well in the future. There's no doubting his motivating skills. But can he learn how to take it from being a player to a manager?
We shall see, as they say...
As for Spain, well, Spain was a little boring to tell the truth. A little boring and also maybe a little lucky. Paraguay will feel hard done by as they had a goal ruled out for offside.
It was a questionable one too. A cross came in from the right and although Nelson Valdez scored with a cool header, another player was adjudged to be interfering with play and the offside was called.
It was a little harsh but still, it won’t detract from the fact that the game was for the most part, rather uneventful.
In fact, there were only a frantic and rather dramatic few minutes in the second half where Paraguay first got a penalty for the most obvious penalty in the world. What Pique was thinking of when he tugged back Cardozo is anyone’s guess!
Cardozo himself stepped up and smacked a low shot, down to Iker Casillas' left but the keeper got down well and did brilliantly to hold on to it.
With the next attack, the Spaniards then went up the other side and got a penalty of their own, this time for a push on Villa. Alonso then stepped up a struck a beauty into the top right corner but the referee decided there was encroachment in the box and ordered a re-take.
Alonso stepped up again but this time, changed his mind and went low right. Problem was, the keeper guessed it and kept it out! Mental stuff!
To top it all, the keeper then blatantly fouled Fabregas on the follow up but after all that fracas, there was no way the ref was gonna give another penalty.
The Paraguayan's played well enough but Spain had the edge at the end and they got their goal on the 82nd minute through top-scorer Villa. The striker was in the right place at the right time to seize on a shot by substitute Pedro that came back off the post.
Villa's shot then hit one post before smacking the other and then finally going in and the Spaniards had grabbed the last semi final spot to set up, what should be 'another' final-before-the-final with Germany.
So, 3 games left! Suarez-less Uruguay vs ...*ahem*... my prediction for the tournament, The Netherlands and blimmin Spain vs super cool-looking Germany. I'm going for a Netherlands vs Germany final and of course, how could I then not bet for the Orange Machine to lift that trophy!!! Hehehe :)
Let’s go Holland!!!!
you need to write your last post about the final.
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