Germany edge Klose to the title
CAPE TOWN:
Germany stormed into the World Cup semi-finals with a 4-0 demolition of Diego Maradona’s outclassed Argentina as Miroslav Klose edged towards becoming the tournament’s greatest ever goal-scorer.
It was the third time at these finals that rampant Germany had scored four goals in a match while Argentina superstar Lionel Messi once again failed to reach the heights expected of him.
A third-minute goal by Thomas Mueller gave Germany a 1-0 lead, before the three-time champions turned the screw after the interval.
Klose, winning his 100th cap, netted in the 68th minute, centre-back Arne Friedrich scored his first for his country six minutes later before Klose completed the rout with an 89th-minute volley which gave him a 14th World Cup goal, just one behind Ronaldo’s record of 15.
Messi was tightly marked by Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger as Argentina’s star-studded side failed to shine. The only blot on Germany’s copybook was Mueller’s first-half yellow card which sees him suspended for the semi-final.
Klose was lucky not to receive a yellow card in the opening minute, when he fouled Argentina captain Javier Mascherano, but the Germans were soon in front.
They took the lead after just three minutes when Mueller headed home a Schweinsteiger free-kick for his fourth goal of the tournament, the ball deflecting in off goal-keeper Sergio Romero’s leg.
Argentina right-back Nicolas Otamendi earned the first yellow card of the game on 11 minutes for a foul on Friedrich.
The South Americans’ first sight of goal came when Messi slid a pass through the German defence to Tevez, but goal-keeper Manuel Neuer raced from his line to deal with the threat.
Mueller’s bright start then suffered a setback when he picked up his yellow card for handling the ball on 35 minutes.
Argentina had an encouraging start to the second-half as Real Madrid new boy Angel Di Maria fired a long-range shot which had Neuer at full-stretch on 48 minutes and Per Mertesacker blocked a shot from Tevez on 54 minutes.
But Germany extended their lead when Podolski found space on the left flank and passed back inside for Klose to score on 68 minutes.
Schweinsteiger helped make sure of Germany’s place in the last four when he darted through the Argentinian defence to give Friedrich a simple tap in on 74 minutes to claim his first international goal on his 77th appearance.
Argentina’s defence crumbled as Klose completed the demolition with his 52nd goal for Germany as he volleyed home a cross from Mesut Ozil just before the final whistle.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2010.
Germany stormed into the World Cup semi-finals with a 4-0 demolition of Diego Maradona’s outclassed Argentina as Miroslav Klose edged towards becoming the tournament’s greatest ever goal-scorer.
It was the third time at these finals that rampant Germany had scored four goals in a match while Argentina superstar Lionel Messi once again failed to reach the heights expected of him.
A third-minute goal by Thomas Mueller gave Germany a 1-0 lead, before the three-time champions turned the screw after the interval.
Klose, winning his 100th cap, netted in the 68th minute, centre-back Arne Friedrich scored his first for his country six minutes later before Klose completed the rout with an 89th-minute volley which gave him a 14th World Cup goal, just one behind Ronaldo’s record of 15.
Messi was tightly marked by Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger as Argentina’s star-studded side failed to shine. The only blot on Germany’s copybook was Mueller’s first-half yellow card which sees him suspended for the semi-final.
Klose was lucky not to receive a yellow card in the opening minute, when he fouled Argentina captain Javier Mascherano, but the Germans were soon in front.
They took the lead after just three minutes when Mueller headed home a Schweinsteiger free-kick for his fourth goal of the tournament, the ball deflecting in off goal-keeper Sergio Romero’s leg.
Argentina right-back Nicolas Otamendi earned the first yellow card of the game on 11 minutes for a foul on Friedrich.
The South Americans’ first sight of goal came when Messi slid a pass through the German defence to Tevez, but goal-keeper Manuel Neuer raced from his line to deal with the threat.
Mueller’s bright start then suffered a setback when he picked up his yellow card for handling the ball on 35 minutes.
Argentina had an encouraging start to the second-half as Real Madrid new boy Angel Di Maria fired a long-range shot which had Neuer at full-stretch on 48 minutes and Per Mertesacker blocked a shot from Tevez on 54 minutes.
But Germany extended their lead when Podolski found space on the left flank and passed back inside for Klose to score on 68 minutes.
Schweinsteiger helped make sure of Germany’s place in the last four when he darted through the Argentinian defence to give Friedrich a simple tap in on 74 minutes to claim his first international goal on his 77th appearance.
Argentina’s defence crumbled as Klose completed the demolition with his 52nd goal for Germany as he volleyed home a cross from Mesut Ozil just before the final whistle.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2010.