It would have been a classic World Cup final: Germany vs.
Argentina in Berlin's 72,000-seat Olympic Stadium, a showdown
between two soccer powers with five titles between them.
Instead Friday's match is only a quarterfinal. But still
special.
"In terms of potential, this could easily be a final," said
Franz Beckenbauer, chief of the organizing committee, who twice
faced Argentina in the World Cup as German coach. "It's a shame,
but both of us are going to consider it a final."
The could be counterproductive if the game takes too much out of
the winner. Then again, getting past such a strong opponent in the
quarterfinals could provide tremendous momentum.
"We are looking forward to this game, it's a very special
occasion," Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said Thursday. "We are
full of energy and enthusiasm, we are very confident, although we
have great respect for Argentina. It's one of the best teams in the
world.
"There is no trace of overconfidence in our team. We will go in
with total aggression and total passion and we'll see how Argentina
reacts," he said.
Germany is playing at home. In seeking its fourth title,
Klinsmann promised his team will use all its "power and
vehemence."
Captain Michael Ballack, fully recovered from a slightly swollen
ankle, believes Germany has a 60-percent chance to win the
match.
"With the performances we've shown here, we don't need to hide
from anyone," Ballack said. "If we produce our best, we have a
realistic chance of winning. We are very hungry to play three more
games."
Argentina had the look of a champion early on, but was pushed to
the limit in the second round by Mexico. The two-time champions
needed an extra-time stroke of genius by Maxi Rodriguez to
advance.
"The game will be very hard-fought and close," Argentina's
22-year-old striker Carlos Tevez said. "It's going to be very tough
for us -- and for them."
There is plenty of World Cup history between Germany and
Argentina, apart from contrasts in style.
A few things to ponder:
-- Germany and Argentina have met twice in World Cup
championship games, each winning once: Argentina 3-2 in the 1986
final and West Germany 1-0 in 1990. This will be their fifth game
in all World Cup play, and Germany has won two, draw one and lost
one.
-- Argentina coach Jose Pekerman and Klinsmann, both widely
criticized, have proven the skeptics wrong. Both have gone with
relatively young teams.
-- It will be Germany's size against the relatively small and
much quicker South Americans.
-- Both teams feed off two topflight midfielders, Argentina's
Juan Roman Riquelme and Germany's Ballack.
Germany and Argentina have played attacking soccer throughout
the tournament, so there should be goals. They've both scored 10,
although six of Argentina's came in a 6-0 landslide over
Serbia.
Argentina is likely to keep the ball on the ground and try to
beat Germany's bigger defenders that way. Germany will go after
Argentina's small defense, which doesn't have a player over
6-foot.
"I've been playing against players who are always bigger than me
for a long time, so I'm used to it," said striker Javier Saviola,
who is 5-7. Fellow strikers Tevez and Lionel Messi are in the same
height range.
"We have to the keep the ball on the ground, be quick and play
as we did against Serbia," Saviola added. "If we play well, if we
impose our game, we are difficult to beat."
Argentina's only tall potential starter up front is Hernan
Crespo, who is 6-1. The Germans will start with two towering
defenders in Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder. Mertesacker
is 6-5 and Metzelder is 6-3.
The Argentina backline could be tested. Nicolas Burdisso is back
practicing and could return from a knee injury. Another injured
player, midfielder Luis Gonzalez, also might play Friday. If both
are fit, Pekerman could start the same lineup that smothered
Serbia.
"Argentina doesn't know how to sit back," Argentine midfielder
Javier Mascherano said. "Let's hope that a great team like Germany
will also come out and play the game."
English bookmakers William Hill rate the game a toss-up.
Germany and Argentina played twice last year, and both games
ended 2-2. One was played in Nuremberg in the Confederations Cup
and the other was a friendly in Duesseldorf.
Germany played both of those games without Ballack and striker
Miroslav Klose. Klose leads the tournament with four goals. He and
Ballack hope to dominate the air in front of the Argentina
goal.
"The captain is back and will lead us," Klinsmann said. "We are
going to give them a great fight and we want to win."
"We've made great strides since then and we're playing good
soccer now."
(AP via China Daily June 30, 2006)