GERMANY v ARGENTINA
On paper? A not-to-be-missed match, end-to-end, neck-and-neck.
On the pitch… Argentina got creamed. Germany won by a resounding 4 – 0 margin. The one and only question I had at the end of the 90 minutes was, “How the hell is anybody going to beat these guys?”
Argentina’s pride was crushed as thoroughly as their hopes. Lionel Messi — arguably the best footballer in the world — wept inconsolably in the dressing room. Manager Diego Maradona had to take time to to compose himself before addressing the media. A team that looked full-willing to go all the way, the best Argentinian team to take to the field since Maradona wore the captain’s armband were handed their 2nd biggest defeat in their nation’s WC history.
On a Maradona’s-karma level, the result may be justified. El Diego’s chequered WC past includes being kicked off the pitch for kicking a Brazilian player in ’82, his “hand of God” goal in ’86 (part legitimate header, part divine dexterity, according to Maradona), a black mark by association for the “holy water scandal” in ’90 (a Brazilian left-back alleged the water bottle passed to him by the Argentinian staff during the match was laced with tranqs), and another that same tournament for suggesting that as he’d just helped Naples to a 2nd Serie-A title, Neapolitans should support Argentina over Italy in the semi-final (being held in — you guessed it — fair Napoli), and dismissal from the ’94 WC after testing positive for ephedrine.
To be fair, Maradona was a brilliant player. He won the golden Ball in ’86 and scored what may well have been the best goal of that tourney against England (after the deity-assisted handball). To be fairer, the exceedingly talented Argentinian team we’ve been watching in 2010 has clearly not been playing under anybody’s karmic burden. In fact, Argentina had a relatively easy ride to the Quarterfinals. In this — their toughest match — their skill and style simply weren’t enough to combat the merciless brilliance of the young German lions. Neuer’s confident acrobatics, Podolski’s incisive command of the left, old-man Klose’s still keen instincts in front of goal, Özil’s precision switching for hook-up play, Bastian Schweinsteiger’s jaw-dropping, inspirational, indomitable skill and Germany’s cohesion as a team overwhelmed the less experienced Argentine players and exposed their organizational weakness.
On a side note, un-merrie olde England, while still and forever in the doghouse for their lackluster crash-and-burn, can take a modicum of comfort that they scored at all against Germany, while the star-studded Albicelestes failed to find the back of the net even once. Germany goes on, and well they should. They play like true champions.
***
PARAGUAY v SPAIN
In the earlier game of the day, Germany and Argentina seemed to be playing each other from across a Great Divide of quality and confidence. In this game it took 2 penalties, a passel of shots off-the woodwork and 83 minutes to separate the Spaniards from the Paraguayans.
Paraguay’s game is not the free-flowing, attacking football we all love so well. Paraguay’s game is protect the goal, let nothing in, capitalize on the other team’s errors or on the break, and grind out a squeaky victory. The 1st option gives us an open game — footy “eye-candy.” Paraguay’s strategy has done them proud in this tourney and carried them far — but it’s “nails-on-the-chalkboard” for viewers like me. For them, it’s a risky gamble.
If Paraguay’s opponents make no fatal errors and neutralize their efforts to score (as did Spain, with a few close-call exceptions), then Paraguay isn’t defending a pending victory, but only a chance to go to extra time and penalties. The longer the game goes on, the more likely Paraguay will lose — because if their defense fails and their opponents nab a goal late in the match, they suddenly and belatedly need uncommon strength, stamina, skill and luck to get back on level terms. (83rd minute, Villa… hel-lo?)
Coming into the match with one of the best defensive records in the tournament, it’s easy to see why Paraguay centered their tactics on maintaining the back line and holding the midfield. Offensively, Paraguay managed only 3 goals from their previous matches. Defense is grand, but bottom line, you can’t win if you don’t get the ball across your opponent’s goal-line.
The match was a tense, frustrating, finally nail-biting experience for the Spanish players, bench and fans — but all it took was 1 quick-reaction goal (from David Villa, naturally) to transform anxiety to relief and send Spain to the Semifinals.
Sloppy officiating at the end of the match added excitement while keeping the scoreline unfairly low. First Pique gave away a penalty, but Casillas prevented Paraguay from equalizing with one of the most astonishing saves to date; he didn’t just stop the ball — he held it. Moments later, Alonso was awarded a penalty at the other end of the pitch. His shot found the back of the net, but the ref ordered it re-taken. Penalties favor the striker, but re-taken penalties tip the scales in the goalkeeper’s direction. Alonso’s 2nd try was saved, but in the follow-up scramble, the keeper unfairly brought Fabregas down in the box. Spain should’ve been awarded another crack at goal, but there was no call. An incredible amount of action in a fantastically short space of time… and it had zero effect on the score.
Spain’s triumph sets us up for a Euro-Cup rematch, Germany v Spain. I am so there.