Germany Rolls Through Argentina, Into Semifinals With 4-0 Win

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Germans Walk Over Argentines, Into Semifinals

Three goals in the final 22 minutes gave Germany an easy 4-0 victory over Argentina, qualifying them into their third consecutive World Cup semifinal.

The Germans were up after three minutes through Thomas Müller, the 20-year-old attacker heading home a Bastian Schweinsteiger dead ball for an early 1-0 lead.

Thought a push from Argentina at the end of half that saw half-chances for Ángel Di María and Gonzalo Higuaín, Germany took their 1-0 lead into a second half that opened with up-and-down play, though neither team was initially able to create scoring chances.

That changed in the 68th minute when Müller, on the ground, fed a pass behind the right side of Argentina's defense for Lukas Podolski.  The left winger made for the near post and, once he got goalkeeper Sergio Romero to commit, fed a ball into the six yard box for Miroslav Klose, who converted to give Germany a 2-0 lead.

Six minutes later Argentina put the match away, again exploiting the right side of Argentina's defense.   Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was able to dribble through that side, get to the by line and cut a pass back for central defender Arne Friedrich, who right-footed home is first international goal.

Near the end of the match, Podolski earned another assist when he floated a ball to Klose, who volleyed a ball past Sergio Romero for his 14th World Cup goal, putting Germany up 4-0.

With the goal, Klose tied Gerd Müller for second all-time in World Cup goals.  The German striker is now behind Brazil's Ronaldo for the all-time lead.

The only bad news for Germany came near the end of the first half, when a hand ball called on Thomas Müller earned the attacker a yellow card and, having carried a card into this match, a suspension for Wednesday's semifinal.

There, Germany will play the winner of Spain-Paraguay, to kick-off in Johaneesburg later today.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Miroslav Klose's 14th World Cup Goal Puts Germany Up 4-0

Miroslav Klose is within one of tying the record for most career World Cup goals after scoring his 14th in the 88th minute against Argentina, putting Germany up 4-0 and on the verge of the semifinals.

A counterattack led to Lukas Podolski with the ball on the left flank, the Köln  attacker floating a  cross for Klose, whose right footed volley was perfectly placed in Sergio Romero's lower right-hand corner, giving the Germans a 4-0 lead.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Thomas Mueller Substituted For Piotr Trochowski

Thomas Müller has been brought off by Joachim Low, with winger Piotr Trochkowski brought on in the 84th minute.

Müller scored the first goal and contributed to the build-up toward the second, though the right winger picked-up a yellow card along the way, earning him an accumulation suspension for the semifinal.

Müller has four goals for the tournament, tying the competition's high mark.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Marcell Jansen, Toni Kroos On For Germany

Joachim Löw has used two of his substitutions, bringing Marcell Jansen on at left back, Toni Kroos on in midfield.

Jansen was brought on in the 72nd minute for Jerome Boateng, who limped from the pitch, possibly aggrevating a leg injury from which he suffered earlier in the tournament.

Kross has taken the place of central midfielder Sami Khedira.

World Cup 2010, Argentina vs. Germany: Sergio Aguero On For Angel Di Maria

Forward Sergio Agüero has been brought on for Ángel Di María, Diego Maradona's second substitution, subbing a midfielder off for a forward.

The move came in the 75th minute, leaving Argentina with four forwards, three midfielders and three defenders as they chase Germany's 3-0 lead.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Arne Friedrich Goal Puts Argentina Away

Arne Friedrich has his first international goal, a surprisingly easy score for Germany, putting the team up 3-0 with one step into the semfinals.

The goal came as midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger beat a number of Argentine defenders through the right side of their  defense, getting to the by line near Sergio Romero's right post before cutting the ball back for Friedrich, still forward after a corner kick.  The central defender's right footed shot into an almost undefended net made the score 3-0 Germany in the 74th minute.

Friedrich had 76 international appearances for Germany before today's quarterfinal, having never scored a goal.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Javier Pastore Brought-On For Nicolas Otamendi

Diego Maradona has made his first change, bringing on creative midfielder Javier Pastore and ending a tough day for right back  Nicolas Otamendi.

Otamendi lost Thomas Müller on the set-piece responsible for the first goal from a foul he had give.  The Vélez Sársfield central defender had also picked-up a yellow card and was part of the breakdown on Miroslav Klose's goal.

The substitution looks to take Maxi Rodriguez to right back.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Miroslav Klose Benefits From Podolski, Mueller Work, Puts Germany Up 2-0

An open second half that had given few clear scoring chances was broken open in the 6thh minute when Miroslav Klose scored his 13th World Cup goal to put Germany up 2-0 over Argentina.

The play began with build-up through the left side that was eventually played behind the line for Lukas Podolski by Thomas Müller, who turned while on the ground to put a pass beyond the right side of Argentina's line.  Podolski went toward the near post and put a ball across the six for Klose as goalkeeper Sergio Romero committed. 

Klose took two touches to push Germany to a 2-0 lead.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Thomas Mueller Goal Stakes Germany To 1-0, Halftime Lead

Germany's 20-year-old attacker Thomas Müller continues to make this World Cup into his coming-out party, scoring in the third minute to give the Germans and early lead in their quarterfinal against Argentina.

Müller ran onto the Bastian Schweinsteiger set piece and headed the Germans in front, having lost his mark and creating an easy finishing opportunity.

It was Müller's fourth goal of the tournament, tying him for the competition's lead, though it was not all good news for the Bayern Munich starlet.  Toward the end of the first half, Müller picked-up a yellow card for a hand ball, earning him a suspension.

By that time, Argentina had evened-out the match, controlling play in at the end of the half, keeping the match in Germany's defensive third.  Argentina, however, has only two shots on goal - two chances from the right of goal, from Angel Di María and Gonzalo Higuaín.

Lionel Messi has been marked by Bastian Schweinsteiger throughout the first half, having less of an effect on this match than he's had on Argentina's previous four.

Argentina has held 56 percent of the match's possession.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Thomas Mueller Yellow Card Earns Potential Semifinal Suspension

German winger Thomas Müller will miss the semifinal, should Germany advance past Argentina, after picking up a yellow card in the 35th minute against Argentina.

Müller was shown yellow after the a ball off the chest of Lionel Messi hit his left arm as the German tried to trap it.

Müller scored in the third minute to give Germany the lead, his fourth goal of the tournament.

Carrying a yellow card into the match, Müller will be suspended for either the semifinal (if Germany advances) or the  first match of qualifying for the 2012 European Championships.

Germany remains up 1-0 on Argentina in the 41st minute.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Gonzalo Higuain Provides First Test For Manuel Neuer

Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain has provided Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with his first test of the match in the 34th minute, putting a left-footed shot to Neuer's lower left-hand corner, forcing the German `keeper to lay-out to save the show.

Higuaín, with the ball on the right side of attack, cut-back onto his left foot, creating room between himself and defender Arne Friedrich.  The ensuing shot was hit along the ground to  the near post, the be saved by Neuer.

Argentina now has two shots on goal though 37 minutes, with Germany leading 1-0.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Miroslav Klose Puts German Chance For Second Goal Over Crossbar

A relatively easy chance for Miroslav Klose has gone over the crossbar in the 24th minute, leaving Germany up one goal over Argentina.

Build-up through the right side eventually put Thomas Müller with speed into the right side of Argentina's penalty area.  As Nicolas Burdisso moved to play the oncoming attacker, Müller cut the ball back to Klose, by himself 12 yards from goal.  Klose opened his right foot onto the ball only to put the shot  well over the crossbar.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Nicolas Otamendi Picks Up Match's First Yellow Card

After what was far from the most egregious tackle of the first 11 minutes, Nicolás Otamendi's difficult start against Germany got worse when he was shown a yellow card.

Otamendi's tackle on Arne Friedrich deep in the Germany end brought out the card, though Otamendi could have been carded eight minutes earlier, cynically taking down Lukas Podolski after the winger had played a  ball past him.  The card stayed in Ravstan Irmatov's pocket, though Germany scored on the ensuing set piece, Otamendi having lost goal scorer Thomas Müller on the play.

Minutes before Otamendi's first foul, Miroslav Klose committed what appeared to be a caution-worthy tackle on Maxi Rodríguez,  though only in the second minute of the match, Irmatov kept his card in his pocket.

The match is now in the 15th minute, with Germany maintaining a 1-0 lead.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Thomas Mueller Puts Germany Up In Third Minute

Germany easy converted a set piece in the third minute to take a 1-0 lead over Argentina in the teams' 2010 World Cup quarterfinal match-up.

Bastian Schweinsteiger service from the left flank, a dead ball won by Lukas Podolski against Nicolás Otamendi, was curled toward the near post where Thomas Müller was running clear of his man (Otamendi) to easily head the opening goal past Sergio Romero.

The 20-year-old attacker is now tied for the tournament lead in goals with four.

The match is now in the seventh minute with  Germany leading 1-0.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Joachim Loew's Starting Lineup

Like Diego  Maradona, Joachim Löw has no surprises for him XI to face Germany in 20 minutes.  Lukas Podolski and Mesut Özil, both held-out of training this week, are in the team.

Germany Starting XI
G - Manuel Neuer
LB - Jerome Boateng
LCB - Arne Friedrich
RCB - Per Mertesacker
RB - Philipp Lahm
M - Bastian Schweinsteiger
M - Sami Khedira
LW - Lukas Podolski
AM - Mesut Özil
RW - Thomas Müller
F - Miroslav Klose

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany: Diego Maradona's Starting Lineup

Diego Maradona has no surprises for us on Saturday, starting the XI that had been speculated:

Argentina's Starting XI
G - Sergio Romero
LB - Gabriel Heinze
LCB - Nicolás Burdisso
RCB - Martín Demichelis
RB - Nicolás Otamendi
DM - Javier Mascherano
LM - Ángle Di María
RM - Maxi Rodríguez
SS - Lionel Messi
LF - Carlos Tévez
F - Gonzalo Higuaín

Walter Samuel, the normal, starting left-center-half is expected to miss the match with a hamstring injury.

World Cup 2010, Argentina Vs. Germany Preview: Reason To Be Nervous

Diego Maradona led Argentina to their second World Cup in Mexico 1986 where the current Argentina coach overcame  double-marking from West Germany to set-up the match-winning goal.

Four years later, Italia 1990’s final featured a rematch, with West Germany earning a head-shaking win after a 10-man Argentina was called for a dubious,late penalty, Andreas Brehme winning the World Cup for the Germans.

So it was that the Argentina-Germany rivalry calcified, though the lead-up to today’s quarterfinal between the teams has focused on a more recent match. Germany veterans Bastian Schweinstager and captain Philipp Lahm have each pointed to the teams’ meeting in the 2006 quarterfinals, won by Germany, with behavior by the Argentines after the match having Lahm label them bad losers, saying he hopes they react better when (not if) they lose today.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona responded by claiming Schweinsteiger and the Germans nervous. That’s easy for him to say, knowing he’ll be standing on the sidelines, though let’s face it: If Diego Maradona where playing today, the Germans would have reason to be nervous. But with Lionel Messi on the pitch today for Argentina, perhaps the Germans still do.

Argentina, Going Forward: Gonzalo Higuaín and Carlos Tévez will play in front of Messi, the reigning World Player of the Year a free, withdrawn role. In front of a three-man midfield, this leads to almost everything going through Lionel Messi, with Tévez occasionally taking things into his own hands.

But the German impetus will be impeding Messi, a task which will fall to Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira. Germany’s deep-sitting midfielders occupy the area of the pitch Messi will seek to control, and while the mere presence of defensive midfielders is not enough to slow Messi, Germany has more quality in that position than Messi’s faced to this point.

Mexico seemed to give Messi trouble, with Rafael Márquez, Gerardo Torrado and Andrés Guardado taking turns troubling the Argentine star before two curious goals broke open the Round of 16 match. That spell of trouble lasted only twenty minutes. It’s unclear whether Germany can create similar problems for ninety.

Even if they can, they still have to worry about Tévez, who (as he reminded us in the second half against Mexico) is capable of creating goals on his own. Having long had trouble transferring his club form onto the international stage, Tévez is now showing signs of being as good for the Albiceleste as he is for Manchester City. Often being deployed to the left of Higuaín in the middle, Tévez will run-up against Lahm and Per Mertesacker and, if he can garner attention similar to Messi, will create a lot of room for Higuaín and an oncoming Ángel Di María.

Germany, Going Forward: The most interesting individual match-up of the day will be German attacking midfielder Mesut Özil against Argentina’s captain, defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano. Mascherano will need to disrupt his 20-year-old counterpart at the point when Özil receives the ball, before the attacker can turn up-the-pitch and get the ball wide to Thomas Müller (right) and Lukas Podolski (left), sending Germany moving forward. To deal with them, Argentina will have to get better, wider play from Maxi Rodríguez and Di María, which may open up space for Schweinsteiger and Khedira.

Those formation issues are compounded by personnel problems at the back. Opposing players have been able to take advantage of left back Gabriel Heinze and right center-half Martín Demichelis.  Left center-half Nicolas Burdisso is a sturdy option but a second choice to Walter Samuel, who will miss this match with a hamstring injury. Right back Nicolás Otamendi is also a second option, replacing the ineffective Jonas Gutierrez. All four are more suited to center half roles, with their lack of foot-speed problematic against the likes of Podolski and Müller.

With Miroslav Klöse’s play along the line always occupying at least one central defender, Argentina’s back line will be stretched any time Germany can flow into attack. If Mascherano can stop the attacks before Özil sets them upon the line, Argentina’s biggest weakness will continued to be masked.

How The Match turns: To this point, Argentina has deployed a relatively narrow midfield, with players like Rodríguez and Di María, normally wingers, playing inside of the area they’d occupy at club level, attempting to cut-down the space in front of Mascherano. If Argentina can adjust and deploy players wider through the midfield, they will have a better chance of slowing down Germany when they attack. This might involve conceding the space in front of Mascherano and hoping the fear of Messi keeps Schweinsteiger and Khedira pinned back. It might involve dropping Tévez, a sacrifice Maradona may have to consider as t he match plays out.  Unless the Argentines can create more obstacles for Podolski and Müller, Argentina could lose this firefight.