FIFA 2010 World Cup Preview: Argentina 0 - 4 Germany

Germany pass Maradona test

Six days after turfing England out of the World Cup with a magical display, Germany cast their spell on Argentina with a brilliant quarter-final performance. Argentina were buried thanks to a third-minute goal from Thomas Muller and two second-half efforts from Miroslav Klose either side of one from Arne Friedrich.

Argentina 0-4 Germany: Die Mannschaft Comprehensively Outclass Maradona's Men

Germany hammered Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup on a gorgeous afternoon in Cape Town. Thomas Mueller opened the scoring for die Mannschaft after just three minutes, and Germany took second half goals from Miroslav Klose (68, 89), and Arne Friedrich (74) to round off their comprehensive victory.

Following emphatic wins in the Round of 16, coaches Diego Maradona and Joachim Loew named unchanged lineups. There had been fitness concerns for Argentine forward Lionel Messi and German winger Lukas Podolski, but the pair were declared ready to play from the start.

For Argentina, Gabriel Heinze and Javier Mascherano entered the game just a yellow card away from missing out on a possible semifinal berth. The Germans had to be more careful, with Arne Friedrich, Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Oezil, Thomas Mueller, Philipp Lahm, and substitute Cacau all set to earn suspensions in the event of a booking.

Germany beats Argentina to reach World Cup semifinals

 Argentina out of the 2010 FIFA W/Cup

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)—Germany’s goals flowed freely once again at the World Cup, this time battering Argentina 4-0 on Saturday to propel the three-time champions into the semifinals and send both Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona home.

Miroslav Klose scored two of the goals to take his World Cup tally to 14 in three tournaments, equaling the German record held by Gerd Mueller. Brazil striker Ronaldo has the overall World Cup record with 15 goals.

“I am so happy for Miroslav Klose to get two goals in his 100th game,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

“What he has already shown is of the very highest level,” Loew added of Klose, who scored only three goals in the Bundesliga last season but has four so far in South Africa. “It is entering history.”

FIFA 2010 World Cup - Argentina-Germany Clash

Analyst's review and opinion

"Everyone is over-excited. Maradona has been successful in rallying everyone around him - the fans, the media and the team are a completely different bunch than they were before the (qualifying) game against Peru. Maradona’s tricks are working - so far

FIFA 2010 World Cup Preview: Argentina 3 - 1 Mexico

Tevez inspires win amid controversy

Controversy reigned again at Soccer City as Carlos Tevez's opener for Argentina against Mexico was yards offside. However, after Gonzalo Higuain's second, no-one could argue with his rocket shot that put Argentina three up before Javier Hernandez hit back with his own stunner. On a day to forget for match officials, the Manchester City striker benefited from an offside decision blunder that was so blatant it ranked alongside the one that denied Frank Lampard in the England game four hours previously.

FIFA 2010 World Cup Preview: Maradona wants an apology

Diego Maradona said his Argentina team's easy progression to the knockout stages has silenced the critics, who he insisted should apologise for the way they dismissed his side.

Argentina's 2-0 victory over Greece - thanks to late goals from Martin Demichelis and veteran striker Martin Palermo - saw them top Group B with maximum points.

That contrasted sharply with their performances in the qualifying campaign - when they had to win their last two matches to reach South Africa.

"They (the critics) should apologise to the players, who are 100% professional,'' said Maradona. "We are doing our duty, which is to defend the Argentina shirt. Sometimes they are wrong, but those who have also criticised are wrong and should apologise.''

Argentina struggled to break down a stubborn Greece defence whose resistance was finally broken seven minutes from time.

Goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas was busy for most of the night but Maradona criticised the often physical approach of Otto Rehhagel's side which he felt was unnecessary.

He added: "Where is the famous fair play? If every time Lionel Messi grabs the ball as thrown to the ground, what are we talking about? They should get a yellow card to stop it, because that is in the rules.''

Maradona said they would treat Sunday's last-16 opponents Mexico "calmly but with respect''.

"We're going to find their weak spots with players who are better,'' he said. "At this level you cannot have errors. We must try to go as far as we can. What matters for my players is that we are a great group and this is reflected on the pitch.''

Rehhagel admitted his side were second-best, but that was to be expected.

"It was a well-deserved victory, no doubt about that,'' said the 71-year-old German. "We wanted to avoid an early goal, we managed to do that, but of course Argentina had more class and that earned them the win.'' My players played with their hearts and with excitement

"But it was just not enough to cause Argentina much trouble.''

WORLD CUP 2010: Argentina 4 - 1 Korea Republic

Higuain hat-trick gave Argentina a superb victory

 

Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat-trick as Argentina underlined their World Cup credentials with a 4-1 victory over South Korea in an entertaining encounter at Soccer City in Johannesburg.  

Diego Maradona's side were two up inside 33 minutes, a calamitous Park Chu-young own goal being followed by a close-range header from Higuain.

But South Korea stole a goal against the run of play on the brink of half-time through Lee Chung-yong only for Higuain to score from close range on 76 and 80 minutes to end their hopes.

Maradona fielded an attacking line-up and his side produced some exhilarating football with Angel Di Maria, Carlos Tevez and naturally Lionel Messi creating a glut of chances.

Argentina had impressed in their opening victory against Nigeria and were ahead inside 16 minutes.

Oh Beom-seok fouled the impressive Di Maria to gift the twice champions a free-kick in a dangerous area, on the left, which was swung over by Messi. It was completely missed by Martin Demichelis but the ball bounced off the shin of Korean forward Park Chu-young and into the net.

And it was another set-piece that brought the second goal with the tireless Tevez winning a free-kick in the left corner. It was worked short to Maxi Rodriguez whose cross was flicked on by sub Nicolas Burdisso and the unmarked Higuain planted his header home from close range although keeper Jung Sung-ryong should have done better.

Tevez had earlier whistled a rocket of a free-kick over the crossbar from 20 yards while Messi produced a scintillating run, surging past Lee Jung-soo and then cutting inside Oh Beom-seok and Kim Jung-woo before a delicate chip landed just the wrong side of the far post.

Korea, themselves on three points after their victory over Greece, had been outplayed and only a long-range strike from Ki Sung-yong had concerned Sergio Romero before a defensive calamity from Demichelis in first-half injury time.

A long goal-kick threatened little danger but the Bayern Munich central defender lingered far too long on the ball and Lee Chung-yong nicked it off him before calmly slotting home.

Argentina started the second half with the same intent, this time Jung Sung-ryong doing well to turn Higuain's volley from point-blank range around the post before the Korea custodian pushed a diagonal drive from Tevez away.

Korea did have one gilt-edged chance of an equaliser but Yeom Ki-hun shot wide after a superb flowing move featuring Bolton's Lee Chung-yong.

Gabriel Heinze found himself unmarked from a corner but headed over. Argentina had threatened more goals for a while - and two came within four minutes.

Messi was the inspiration for the third. His first shot was superbly saved by Jung Sung-ryong's foot then a lightning follow-up hit the post and rolled across the goal to allow Higuain to tap home from two yards.

Higuain completed his hat-trick with the best goal of the bunch. Messi produced a delicate dink over the top to sub Sergio Aguero whose delicious chip with the outside of his boot found 'Pipita' who put his header back across goal and into the net.

Maradona was jubilant and, on this evidence, he has a side capable of matching his own glorious achievement as a player in 1986.

Match Facts

Argentina v South Korea

Goals 4-1

1st Half Goals 2-1

Shots on Target 8-2

Shots off Target 7-7

Blocked Shots 3-7

Corners 6-2

Fouls 19-19

Offsides 4-0

Yellow Cards 3-2

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 86%-72.5%

Tackles 21%-30%

Tackles Success 90.5%-80%

Possession 61.7%-38.3%

Territorial Advantage 49.9%-50.1%

WORLD CUP 2010: MESSI FOR SOUTH KOREA

Argentina star set to inspire team

Lionel Messi and a vast array of offensive talent are major reasons Argentina is considered a favourite to win a third World Cup title in South Africa. Capitalizing on scoring chances is going to be key if the squad plans on accomplishing that lofty goal.

Messi looks for get Argentina’s offensive play going when it meets South Korea in Johannesburg today. Argentina opened the World Cup with a 1 – 0 win over Nigeria on Saturday, as defender Gabriel Heinze scored on a diving header in the 6th minute. La Albiceleste failed to add to that despite holding a 7 – 1 advantage in shots in goal.

“We should not forgive, that’s what I told them after the match,” coach Diego Maradona said. “In football, to forgive is to pay”.

Messi will be relied upon to drive Argetina’s offensive play again, but he may be looking for some results of his own. The playmaking forward came up empty on eight shots – four on net – and he hasn’t scored for the national team since a 2 – 1 loss at Spain on Nov. 14, 2009.

Despite his struggles scoring for La Albiceleste, Messi is again expected to start behind forwards Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain.

“The only thing I tell Leo is that he should have fun playing football. He should not feel any pressure when he is playing,” Tevez said about the 22-year-old FIFA player of the year.

Production from Tevez and Higuain might take some pressure off Messi. Tevez and Higuain had 29 goals each for Manchester City and Real Madrid, respectively, last season.

Diego Milito, who had 30 goals in all competitions for Italy’s Inter, is expected to be available off the bench.

“This team doesn’t just depend on me,” Messi said. “There are many players who can determine a match.”

South Korea is coming off another tournament-opening victory, 2 – 0 over Greece on Saturday. It held a 16 – 6 shot advantage and never appeared to be in much danger.

Your comments are highly appreciated….

World Cup 2010 - FIFA Referee commitee slams referee over Argentine goal

The German referee that handled the Nigeria and Argentina match on Saturday has been severely criticized by FIFA’s Referee’s Committee for allowing the South Americans’ goal.

The committee criticised Wolfgang Stark’s decision not to give a foul for Walter Samuel’s obstruction in the build-up to the goal.

Argentina missed several gilt-edged chances on their way to a 1-0 victory on Saturday; however, according to FIFA the one attack that did finish with the net bulging should have been disallowed by referee Wolfgang Stark.

FIFA post-match analysis ruled that there was a foul in the build-up to Gabriel Heinze’s stunning header, and that Stark should never have allowed the goal.

The referees’ committee released their findings on Tuesday, as a guide for future judgments in this year’s tournament. And among other rulings, they made it clear to referees that they must watch for infractions at corners and free-kicks - specifically attacking players blocking markers, as happened on Saturday.

Because “As Juan Sebastian Veron’s cross floated over, Walter Samuel enveloped Chinedu Obasi and stopped him from moving, thereby giving Heinze all the space he needed to propel the ball home.

”Stark should have therefore penalised Samuel for obstruction and awarded a free-kick to the Super Eagles - a judgment that could have changed the course of the whole game for Argentina,"

Odemwingie eyes Argentina revenge

 Peter Osaze Odemwingie was recently featured on the cover of his Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow’s magazine under the words ‘Odem-Wingman’ and a picture of the player dressed up like Superman.

It was Lokomotiv’s way of celebrating the 28-year-old forward, who will be their only torch bearer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, but it was also a fitting tribute to the player who is surely key to the lofty ambitions of 150 million Nigerians. If the Super Eagles are to go far in the first finals on African soil, surely it will take a superhero effort from the fast and daring ‘Osas’.

But Odemwingie, who most frequently lines up on the wing but can also play through the middle, plays down any star talk, insisting on the need for collective work. “Playing for the Eagles is like going to the battle front, you are like a soldier and you just have to be determined to represent your country,” he recently told FIFA.com. “We finished top of our qualifying group thanks to the commitment and discipline of all those involved. We all know that the Super Eagles are full of stars, but we really need to put our reputation behind us if we are to forge ahead.”

It is six years now since the son of a Nigerian father and a Russian mother first burst onto the international scene, becoming an all-action real-life hero courtesy of two well-taken strikes against South Africa. Proven strikers Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Victor Agali had been dramatically dropped for violating team rules at the 2004 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, so up stepped an unfazed Odemwingie to fire a brace against Bafana Bafana in a key group game.

As a 20-year-old, Odemwingie had shown enough promise to be one of four players put on standby for the Super Eagles 2002 FIFA World Cup squad after a goal-scoring debut against Kenya in Lagos. “It was a massive thrill to see the little boy who I remember giving my club jersey to on the promptings of his mother, now become part of our World Cup training camp,” recalled former Nigeria international star Garba Lawal. “Even then, he showed he could play. But his lack of experience, and the fact that he was then playing in the local league, worked against him making the final squad.”

I sincerely believe we have the players to now beat Argentina.

Odemwingie on facing Argentina in their opener

Despite all that early promise it was not until about two years ago that Odemwingie really established himself in a star-studded Nigerian team overflowing with exciting attacking talent, from Aiyegbeni to Obafemi Martins. Last year, the former Lille star was named Nigeria’s best player by a leading local television station on the back of his goals and whole-hearted commitment to the Nigeria cause on the road to South Africa.

At South Africa 2010, the Lokomotiv star will again come face-to-face with Argentina two years after he clashed with the South Americans in the final of the Olympic Football Tournament at Beijing 2008. Nigeria also lost to Argentina in the final of the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup and at both the 1994 and 2002 FIFA World Cups to further raise the stakes when the west Africans clash again with their old adversaries in a Group B showdown on 12 June at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.

I’m still not fulfilled because I also wish to shine at the World Cup.

A good run at the Olympics is not enough for Odemwingie

For his part, Odemwingie now relishes the prospects of the Eagles avenging those defeats. “We need to take our own pound of flesh against Argentina. There was something lacking in our game before, but this time around I hope we can do better,” said the striker now closing in on half a century of international caps. “I hope we can give them a good fight and hopefully score some goals. Football is a team sport, and I think lately we have seen a lot of teams who have big stars but have failed to win games. I sincerely believe we have the players to now beat Argentina.”

‘Osas’, who has a year left on his contract at Lokomotiv and has remained the subject of transfer speculation, is a man for the big occasion and they do not come any bigger than the World Cup. At the 2008 Olympics, he insisted to coach Samson Siasia that he could play a bigger role in the team and then went out and backed up the plea with a lesson in clinical finishing as his strike inspired Nigeria to a 2-0 victory over talent-laden Côte d'Ivoire in the quarter-finals.

“It was great to be involved in such a major tournament like the Olympics and end up with a silver medal,” he said. “But I’m still not fulfilled because I also wish to shine at the World Cup.”