Germany ready to sink Spain in clash of the titans

Germany’s abrupt coming of age at this World Cup has caught almost everyone by surprise but their coach Joachim Loew.

Written off as too inexperienced in the run-up to the finals, Loew’s squad will kick off today’s semi-final against Spain as slight outsiders.

“I’ve never doubted this team’s potential or development,” said Loew. “They’ve shown a thirst for victory that is worthy of world champions.”

Australia, England and Argentina - all of whom saw their own World Cup dreams shattered by four-goal thrashings at the hands of the Germans - will testify to that.

“It’s a nice team,” Loew said. “They like to learn, they’re very motivated and I’m very proud of them. It has been a great experience, on and off the pitch.”

While Germany’s performances have surpassed what was expected of them, Spain have not yet delivered a collective display equal to the sum of the individual talents in their ranks. “We’ve had tough games against opponents who, above all, wanted to stop us playing,” said coach Vicente Del Bosque. “I think the semi-final will be different. Both teams want to reach the final.

“We know we can play better than we have done so far, hopefully it will be an open match and a good advert for football.”

Del Bosque has not changed his line-up and is set to keep faith with misfiring Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, who has struggled in a lone striker role while team-mate Villa has plundered five goals from a deeper position on the left.

Germany though will still be wary of the striker who scored the only goal of the match when Spain beat Germany in the Euro 2008 final. “It’d be nice to do it again, but it doesn’t matter who scores as long as we win,” said Torres.

The only injury concern Spain have is that of midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who is a doubtful starter after injuring his right leg in training while Germany will be weakened by the loss of midfielder Thomas Mueller, who is suspended.

Loew has to decide between Hamburg attacking midfielder Piotr Trochowski and Toni Kroos as a replacement for a match in which one goal will see striker Miroslav Klose equal Ronaldo’s record of 15 in World Cup finals.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2010.