It was touted to be one of the most competitive matches in the FIFA World Cup 2010 when Argentina took on Germany, but it ended up harshly one sided with a 4-0 scoreline. iSporter Pulasta Dhar tries to find out where Argentina malfunctioned.
Argentina had scored the most number of goals in the World Cup 2010 before this clash and had gone through the group stages and Last 16 matches with a breeze. The attacking instincts of Tevez, Di Maria, Messi and Higuain had passed all expectations as they attacked with pomp and with support from Mascherano and Otamendi.
On the other hand, the Germans had just one blip in an otherwise largely successful campaign where they proved all the critics wrong and whoever questioned the selection of a young and inexperienced squad for such a major tournament.
Podolski and Klose may be of less use to their respective clubs but when they wear a German national shirt, they are an unstoppable force. The former FIFA Young Player of the Tournament Lukas Podolski had returned to his old club from Bayern Munich this year and if he wants to make a move to a major club, his performances have only strengthened the probability.
It was therefore no surprise as both teams went on a head on collision with full force. The Germans drew first blood early in the game when a lovely free-kick from an influential Schweinsteiger was glanced in by an equally impressive Thomas Mueller, who actually happens to be only 20 years of age.
There was no way one would write off the chances of Argentina because they were equally capable of bringing the scoreline back to equals. A free-kick from Messi hit the wall but was played in again and found a charging Carlos Tevez, who laid it up for Higuain but the goal was flagged offside. This was the first real threat and maybe the best spell Argentina enjoyed.
Looking at it from a tactical point of view, Diego Maradona should have made Jerome Boateng the target for any mistake by playing Lionel Messi on the left. He could have given him the freedom to switch flanks with Di Maria, whom I thought should have been replaced by a fast, flamboyant and seriously talented Sergio Aguero.
On the other hand, Maradona deployed his usual tactics and did not force the Germans to think out of the box. We have known throughout history that the Germans are good at meticulous planning and in this case they succeeded again. An attack consisting of Tevez, Higuain, Messi and Aguero should have been preferred with Mascherano protecting the back four.
Di Maria, though brilliant is very bad at falling back and this was needed against a counter attacking German team. This was no surprise as they exploited the failure of England to fall back and trounced them with 4 goals.
Some brilliant work by Mueller then allowed Podolski through and he teed up an incoming Klose who walked the ball into the net, making amends for an earlier miss when he scooped the ball over from 10 yards out. 2-0 to Germany and an uphill task for Argentina.
Messi was reduced to finding space in the middle, when there was ample in the wings but I think he was forced to stay in the center and supply Higuain, someone who barely knows how to play the one-two and rather stays in one place for tap-ins.
There were enough chances for Argentina but they failed to take them and Neuer was hardly troubled with a serious attempt. It was time now for Schweinsteiger to make his mark as he surged past a hapless Argentina defense and found Friedrich to poke it in (another German player who has not been in great form defensively in the league and found his club relegated this year).
Argentina were now trying to finish with a respectable score but Mesut Oezil chipped in a brilliantly weighted cross for Klose to find the bottom corner and equal the great Gerd Meuller's 14 goals in World Cup tournaments.
The goal came after Messi, who was shadow marked by the Germans lost possession and a breath-taking counter attack found its way into the net.
For Messi, who commented on England's performance against the Germans in the last press conference, it was a hard capsule to swallow....
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