Germany–Argentina, a tournament classic
June 28, 2006
FIFA
When the ball gets rolling on Friday at 17:00 local time at Berlin's Olympiastadion, millions around the globe will take sides. FIFA World Cup™ meetings between Germany and Argentina are often the stuff of legend, and with a semi-final spot up for grabs on Friday, this latest clash should be no exception.
Colours for the game
Germany: White shirts, black shorts and white socks
Argentina: Blue shirts, black shorts and white socks
The story so far
After a convincing last-16 win over Sweden, there has been nothing but good vibes emanating from the German camp. The players have enjoyed spending some well-deserved time with their families and friends, while several squad members took up the offer of archery lessons for a bit of additional target practice. As for the team, all the indications are that coach Jurgen Klinsmann will start with the same 11 players who earned the hosts their place in the quarter-finals last Saturday.
As for Argentina, Jose Pekerman has also declined to confirm his starting XI ahead of the game, though he too is unlikely to make unforced changes to the side that saw off Mexico in their Round of 16 tie. Pekerman's only doubts concern the right side of his defence and midfield. At the back, it is not yet clear whether Nicolas Burdisso, who started in the team's first two games, will line up on Friday. If not, then either Lionel Scaloni, Fabricio Coloccini or Leandro Cufre will be ready to step in. As for midfield, Porto's Luis Gonzalez looks likely to return on the right side, although it is conceivable he could yet lose out to the in-form Esteban Cambiasso.
Past meetings
Although this will be the teams' fifth encounter at a FIFA World Cup, it is the last two games – the Finals of Mexico 86 and Italia 90 – that cemented the fierce rivalry between the sides. In the first of these, the inspiration for the South Americans' 3-2 win came from one Diego Maradona, who will doubtless settle for a repeat of that scoreline as he roars his compatriots on from the stands. Four years later, the Nationalmannschaft exacted immediate revenge, when Andreas Brehme's 84th-minute penalty handed them a 1-0 victory and the world title in the decider in Rome.
Two interesting facts add even more spice to Friday's showdown. The first is that at Italia 90, the Albiceleste reached the Final after eliminating the hosts in the previous round. The second is that since Germany's victory over the South Americans in that year's decider, they have not beaten their old foes once.
The duels
Not one, but two spring to mind for Friday's showdown: Michael Ballack v Juan Riquelme and Miroslav Klose v Hernan Crespo
Ballack and Riquelme are both intelligent midfielders with great vision and shooting skills, although the pair have their differences. The German is more direct than the Argentine playmaker, who prefers to vary the tempo of the game and cut swathes through defences with his long and short-range passing. No one has any doubt that the effectiveness of both teams' play, and thus the outcome of the game itself, will depend a great deal on how the pair perform.
The second battle will be fought in front of goal and pits Klose, scorer of four goals already at Germany 2006, against Crespo, who has three strikes thus far. Both are leading candidates for the adidas Golden Shoe. The German sharpshooter has picked up where he left off four years ago in Korea/Japan and now has an impressive nine FIFA World Cup goals to his name. Not to be outdone, the Argentine front-runner has found the net in his last four FIFA World Cup games – his team's final game of Korea/Japan 2002 against Sweden followed by his three appearances for the Albiceleste here in Germany: against Côte d'Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro and Mexico (he did not play against the Netherlands). It seems almost certain that one of the lethal pair will have a say in the final outcome tomorrow.
What they're saying
Miroslav Klose, Germany striker: We're not particularly nervous about facing Argentina, even though they're a strong side and one of the favourites for the title. Now that they have had the misfortune to come up against us, we hope we can send them home.
Carlos Tevez, Argentina forward: The key to beating Germany? Fight to the death. As well as that we have to play football and keep the ball on the ground, but first and foremost we have to fight.