Match Review & Highlights: Argentina 0-4 Germany

July 3rd, 2010 | by: Daryl |

capress-soc_wcup_argentina_germany-3842298 Maybe we should have seen this coming. Diego Maradona’s Argentina had spent the entire tournament so far on the front foot, without facing any opposition capable of counterattacking. Germany had beaten England 4-1 in the Round of 16 doing exactly that, letting England over commit and then tearing holes through the defence on the break.

Maybe a more experienced – or more tactical – coach than Diego Maradona would have seen that game and thought about some sort of alternate gameplan. Sadly he didn’t, and so Argentina went out with the same attacking lineup as in the first four games, which played right into Jogi Loew’s hands.

Thomas “ball boy” Mueller scored an early early first half goal, and from there the pattern was set. Argentina attack, Germany counter with young legs and an experienced striker. Miroslav Klose got two in the second half, which gives Klose 14 total World Cup goals and puts him level with compatriot Gerd Mueller and just one goal behind Ronaldo in the all-time World Cup goalscoring stakes. Even 31 year old defender Arne Friedrich got on the scoresheet, his first ever international goal.

Argentina had their moments of nice passing and both Leo Messi and Carlos Tevez struck a few shots, but nothing that really troubled Manuel Nueur. No matter how many extra attacking talents Maradona threw into the mix – Sergio Aguero and Javier Pastore for example – the shape of the game was basically the same: Germany were solid enough (with Bastian Schweinsteiger especially impressive, supposedly playing defensive mid but appearing to be everywhere at once) to sit back and then hit Argentina on the break.

Goals:

Mueller:

Klose:

Friedrich:

Klose:

- Reactions at the Germany blog and Argentina blog

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http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/TSRN3LZRVQDWRG2AJQ3NRFJ3NU Dipankar

Germany all the way !!! Let the young team show the way for the future. No hype, no over rated players…just pure class, iron will and belief in themselves .
TewDollars

Pretty straightforward. No controversial moments.

Spain, after their match with Paraguay, should be spending a lot of time viewing tape replays.
http://twitter.com/nickprice91 nick price

Maradona won't be seen jogging naked through downtown Buenos Aires
Bense235

Don't cry for yourselves Argentina, the truth is you've been outcoached. Thru all our wild days, our mad existance, we kept our promise, and kicked your asses…!
mondolibero

Germany, what a sublime win … stuffed sausages would have left the stadium with more dignity.
netsez

Wow, graceful in victory I see lol. If Germany looses you will be pretty upset.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Gaston-Mulisanga/1102718568 Gaston Mulisanga

argentina made it this far because of the talent of the team. otherwise against an organized, discipline and motivated team, they were dissected apart like a pig.

and the team was too individualistic
Bense235

No, I won't. You can lose against Spain or the Netherlands when they best you on that day. But a 4:0 smells like somebody just got their asses handed to them. It comes down to day shape. But Germany shoved Maradonas big words up his throat today. Come on, smack talk, this is football. They're not playing mini-golf, either. Since Maradona was wrong, there obviousely is no god, either. Or he simply doesn't digg Argentina.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001137348380 Ssa Bhakta

I am concerned about Germany's next game. Who will be Muller's replacement? He got an unfortunate yellow today for unintentional hand ball in the midfield.
Bense235

Okay, so let me understand that: You're complaing because they were celebrating their 4:0 victory over Argentina? Sure. They should have just shook hands, went to the locker room and get a shower. Or you might be just pissed that Germany won. Probably the latter.
Bense235

Marin, Jansen or Kroos can replace him. Not a problem at all.
Bense235

And thanks god for that.
mondolibero

My dear Bense, sublime is the key word. I find a proud butcher that carefully disinfects his stainless steel implements, well, beautiful in its own right.
Bense235

That was little more sublimity one can ask for ;-)
eddinanM3

Muller's yellow was unjustified by the ref, he was no more than a couple feet from the Argentina player who the ball rattled off of and had zero reaction time and it was completely unintentional where as Di Maria's handball was completely intentional and NO yellow was given, now does that make sense??? Lucky for the Mannschaft that was one of the very few things the ref got wrong.
eddinanM3

It has been awhile since somebody took it to Argentina like that at a World Cup game, but then they were warned from England, so I guess Maradona thought that Messi would just waltz through the German defense and score at will? Well next time maybe he should think about his defense and midfield before the game actually starts. Well at least he can hit his coke stash tonight and feel better for a few minutes!