Argentina were thrashed 4-0 today by a dominant German team. Before the match began I had expected the encounter to be a close affair with the strong possibility of a penalty shoot-out to break the deadlock. However, the omens didn’t look good for the South American side when Germany’s Thomas Müller opened the scoring within three minutes of the start. Maradona’s team never really got going and their annihilation surely mended a few broken English hearts still licking wounds from Germany’s 4-1 drubbing of England last week.
Doyle: I think most pundits expected Argentina to cruise past Germany seeing as the Germans have had a suspect defence in recent matches. Argentina’s superior attackers should have given the opposing goalkeeper a lot more of a test.
Hibbert: Typical German efficiency and organisation which constantly see them hitting above their weight. On paper, you would not have expected Germany to reach the Semi-Finals but as with previous competitions, you just can’t rule out the Germans, ever.
You have to admit though that they do have some star players like Miroslav Klose, Bastian Schweinsteiger and the little heard of Thomas Müller.
Doyle: All great players but compared to the skills of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tévez and Gonzalo Higuaín, they are not in the same league. Argentina should have won.
Langton: You forgot to mention the young star Mesut Oezil. Brilliant player who has been the revelation of the whole tournament rather like Michael Owen back in the 1998 World Cup. A wonderful story of Germany’s modern and multicultural society. Kevin-Prince Boateng is another of these success stories.
Hibbert: Think you’ll find that it’s Jérôme Boateng, Kevin-Prince’s younger brother. Kevin-Prince Boateng actually plays for the Ghanaian national team. Apparently he decided at the last moment back in 2007, that he didn’t want to play for Germany and would instead play for Ghana. The two nations actually played one another in the group stages of this World Cup, with the two brothers facing one another on opposing sides. First time in World Cup history that this phenomenon has ever happened.
Langton: Sign of the times and a welcome one at that. Nations evolve and change and this should be seen as a good thing. Mesut Oezil of Turkish descent will soon become one of the greatest German players ever.
Pilcher: Yeah, just a shame he doesn’t care for the German anthem and recites the Koran instead.
Langton: Perhaps he can’t sing and your Islamaphobia is doing nothing for this discussion.
Doyle: Going back to the match. I was expecting Argentina to make a comeback in the second half but that never materialised. Germany in fact repeated the feat they carried off against England, where they made use of counter attacks, pace and highly functional team play. Three times in one World Cup tournament where they have scored four goals in one match. They have got to be favourites now, right?
I should think so but I still fancy Spain to finally reach the summit.
Langton: Can’t see it. This is Germany’s year. No doubt about it.
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I too was one that thought Argentina would have gone all the way. Never thought Germany would have won, much less thrash them like they did. I was hoping for Marradona to get some vindication for the past mistakes hes made.