June 30: The Daily World Cup Wrap
Quarter finals are the best. Better match ups than the second round (Ukraine vs Switzerland?) but not as nervy as the semis or the final. Germany and Argentina produced a proper penalty shoot out, with fingernails being reduced on two continents and a big team going out no matter what. Jose Pekerman will forever regret crawling into a defensive shell after taking the lead, as Argentina looked toothless once Germany equalised. Aimar, Messi and Saviola had to watch extra time and penalties as unused substitutes. Still, no excuse for the Argie bargy that took place after the final whistle.
Italy did a professional job to beat Ukraine, Zambrotta effectively ending the competition after 6 minutes. How Ukraine would have loved to take Italy to a shootout. Proof that attacking football like Germany’s wins games at this World Cup while the defensive approach of Ukraine (the whole tournament) and Argentina (after taking the lead today) can only stretch so far.
Daily Wrap Awards:
Top Man: Michael Ballack for playing injured.
Top Team: Germany.
Top Goal: Zambrotta’s left footed strike for Italy.
Bit of Skill: Shevchenko’s turn to beat two Italian defenders, then quick one-two.
Saw That Coming: Germany’s penalty proficiency.
But Not That: Argentina’s response to losing.
Germany vs Argentina | LiveBlog | Germany World Cup Gear, Argentina World Cup Gear
Germany 1 (Klose 80)
Argentina 1 (Ayala 49)
aet Germany won 4-2 on penalties.
All the knowing pre-match talk about how the taller German team would have an advantage from set pieces, but it was Argentina who took an early second half lead when Ayala headed home a Riquelme corner. It had been an interesting game up to that point, though not the classico we’d all been expecting.
Perhaps unwisely, Jose Pekerman decided to defend the one goal lead, taking off Riquelme and Crespo and for Cambiasso and Cruz and leaving Argentina short of creativity. Pekerman may have planned to introduce either Saviola or Messi if required but he was forced to use his third and final substitution when goalkeeper Abbondanzieri received a hip injury
So, when Miroslav Klose headed home an equaliser in the 80th minute, Argentina had the talents of Crespo, Riquelme, Saviola and Messi all sitting on the bench. German captain Michael Ballck set an example for teammates, playing on despite ankle and calf injuries, even receiving treatment with an ice pack in the break between full and extra time.
The extra 30 minutes produced no further goals, and the penalties went down like this (from our LiveBlog, courtesy of Chris):
Germany penalty #1: Neuville, the veteran. He scores! Great strike to the right side. Blasts it home, even though Franco guessed correctly.
Argentina penalty #1: Cruz steps up. Lehmann guesses right but it’s in the top left corner.
Germany penalty #2: Ballack is next. He buries his penalty and inspires his team.
Argentina penalty #2: Ayala the goal scorer. He misses! Lehmann smothers a weak penalty. The crowd erupts. Poor penalty.
Germany penalty #3 – Podoloski scores! Hit to the lower right. Nice penalty.
Argentina penalty #3 – Maxi Rodriguez with a good penalty right in the corner. Lehmann guessed correctly. Only a matter of time before he gets another save.
Germany penalty #4 – Borowski scores! Strong, confident penalty.
Argentina penalty #4 – Cambiasso! Lehmann saves! He was due as he’d been picking the correct way all night. Lehmann is the hero. Cambiasso misses his penalty and Argentina are going home. Germany through to the semi-finals.
Confident, clinical stuff from the host nation, not so much from Argentina who didn’t take kindly to defeat. Something unsavoury occured in the aftermath, with early reports suggesting Heinze and Tevez got physical with the celebrating Germans, and one report suggesting Heinze “attempted to get at a German official before being restrained.”
Whatever happened, Argentina are out and Germany will face Italy in the semi-final.
Video highlights here.
Fan Photos: Argentina and Germany fans before the game…
- Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
- Want to discuss todays action? Go to the Germany or Argentina team pages (where Pekerman has announced his resignation).
- Buy World Cup tickets to Germany’s next match.
Italy vs Ukraine | LiveBlog | Italy World Cup Gear, Ukraine World Cup Gear
Italy 3 (Zambrotta 6, Toni 59, 69)
Ukraine 0
Any plans Ukraine had of defending their way to a penalty shootout were ruined after 6 minutes when Zambrotta lashed home a left footed drive from outside the box. Coach Oleg Blokhin responeded with an early attacking substitution, replacing defender Sviderskyi with attacker Vorobey.
Ukraine kept trying but Italy had the game under control, with Buffon looking more or less unbeatable. Luca Toni (finally) scored in the 59th minute, bending low to head in a Totti cross, then scored again with a simple tap in ten minutes later.
Shevchenko looked impressive in spells, but never really got enough support. One 360 degree turn away from two Italian defenders hinted at what he’s capable of, but the new Chelsea signing can’t do it all alone against a defence like Italy’s. Ukraine can be proud of their quarterfinal run, but were defeintely outclassed by a professional Italian team tonight.
Video highlights here.
Fan Photo:
…will appear later…
- Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
- Want to discuss todays action? Go to the Italy or Ukraine team pages.
- Buy World Cup tickets to Italy’s next match.
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Comments
By Zé | July 1st, 2006 at 1:27 am 
From my point of view, Germany had a lot of things going right, and Argentina had a lot of things going wrong.
On Germany’s side, Lehmann’s ability to defend penalties struck me. The guy is good. Even on the goals he didn’t defend, he did jump to the right side and almost got it. Argentinians would need very good kicks on the corner to get the ball past him. I don’t think I’ve seen a GK so sure when defending penalty kicks as he has been.
On Argentina’s side, I agree with you Daryl – putting the team on a more defensive formation AND losing the 3rd replacement was doom for Pekerman. With Messi on the bench, it’s probably hard for any Argentina supporter to understand why the team lost it.
Here in Brazil, the feeling is a mix of joy (as always, since it’s Argentina) and surprise with small touches of sadness, because most people DID want an Argentina vs Brazil final and it’s strange to see them going so soon.
We also have a big Italian community/heritage specially here on my city of São Paulo (my great-grandparents were Italian for example) so we had fireworks and all that for Italy’s great victory.
By Troglodyte | July 1st, 2006 at 1:55 am Buffon is amazing.
Posted from 
United States
By Thol | July 1st, 2006 at 3:25 am It was Argentina, a better team from today’s game. German attack couldn’t do anything for 80 minutes.
They were just lucky to get through.
Posted from United States
By ab initio | July 1st, 2006 at 4:06 am Argentina was the better team but their coach let them down with a major tactical error in substitution when several key players in their offense tired. That brought up the second point that Argentina’s physical fitness was definitely below Germany’s.
The coach’s substitution really did not make sense and their second half tactics was their big error. One goal in a WC means nothing. Argentina was doing well when their attack was in place. They could not defend against a more physically fit and bigger sized Germany for so long. If the substitutions had been Aimar and Messi they would have the compensation for lack of sufficient physical fitness and been able to continue the attack keep Germany on defense. That could have led to the most important second goal. The coach realized his mistake and resigned which is good. Hopefully Argentina also realizes the mistakes and prepares better for the next WC. In the knock outs there are no room for error. Only perfection and some luck wins. I don’t buy the refreeing bit as it goes both ways. I thought the referee did a very good job. They will never get every call right without the benefit of instant replay.
Posted from United States
By diego | July 1st, 2006 at 4:11 am The truth is that even though Argentina had the better team, they gave away the game when they decided to crawl back into their shell and defend that meek 1-0 lead. They have no one to blame but themselves. Not the fans, who were quite loyal till the end, not the Germans, who played their own game with clinical precision, and least of all the referee, who in my opinion, did quite a decent job – and by the way, NO! That was NOT a penalty! Rodriguez was in mid-dive before there was even any contact with Lahm.
Furthermore, as a South American – and by association, a reluctant Argentinian supporter – I was embarrased by the sorry display of sore-loser-ness at the end of the game. TThose ugly couple of minutes managed to erase all the good feelings that their inspired play in the early rounds had managed to build.
Posted from United States
By armando | July 1st, 2006 at 5:36 am wow, so will it really be Brazil vs Germany?
Germany showed us all today that surprises are football’s nature…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA
Posted from 
Israel
By enzo | July 1st, 2006 at 5:46 am Germany has proven once again not to underestimate it. Past WCs reveal the same doggedness until the final whistle. Their football may not be pretty to watch but the results are always there, constantly in the quarterfinals, now semifinals and to play their old foe, Italy. But then Germany has many old foes, as Italy has many old foes and England has many old foes. Old foes have old foes, I suppose. Italy’s game against Ukraine was predictable. It seemed a warmup match for Italy even though Ukraine had more possession, like Australia, it didn’t achieve much, in fact, nothing – came close to a goal, once or twice, otherwise quite a disappointing performance. If Portugal doesn’t defeat England then the semis will be between the big guns, just like FIFA wants.
Posted from 
Australia
By Stewart | July 1st, 2006 at 6:45 am When we finally get a game that the referee doesn’t decide – then the “better team” wins. Argentina most definately a team of champions – however Germany showed themselves a champion team. And we all know how that saying goes. Then again, on refereeing, its the fairest I’ve seen yet this cup, however I guess it was difficult for the referee to choose a side, as they are both big name sides.
Posted from 
China
By prastuh | July 1st, 2006 at 7:52 am well if someone has to be blamed its pekermen and not argentine performance or players
if u r 1 0 up doesnt mean that u go defensive ..on the contrary u should attack only
best way of defence is attack …
if he wouldnt have subtituted our attacking players then even if germany equalises we had a chance to comeback and score
even if game goes into penalities we had penalty takers like riquelme crespo and messi to score….
it was a tactical blunder by pekerman that caused arg’s the game and the cup(or atleast semi berth)
Posted from 
India
By amar | July 1st, 2006 at 10:54 am y everybody is blaming pekerman. I agree it was tactical blunder but we shld accept argentina cant handle crunch situation. That was reflected in their body language when they were takiing penalties.
Posted from India
By Lindsay | July 1st, 2006 at 12:11 pm Argentina loss to Germany
# this was one game that kept me on my toes !!!! I felt really sad for My fav team the Bocca Jrs. Germany played well but had the home ground to their advantage .
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Posted from India
By NICK | July 6th, 2006 at 10:17 am wow, so will it really be Brazil vs Germany? WHO THE THOUGHT THAT WOULD HAPPEN?NOT!! HAHAHA !! BRAZIL HEAD POPED AND THEY WENT HOME BRAZIL THEY SUCK!!!.. ITALY WILL WIN
Posted from United States
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