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BBC MUNDO RADIO
Argentina
Argentina
0 - 4
Germany
14:00 GMT, July 3, 2010
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa
Read our full match report on Germany's latest four-goal haul here.
Lionel Messi looks shell-shocked as Argentina head home. Don't look back in anger, LionelArgentina were completely blunted. They had no idea how to break down a solid Germany rearguard. They were outclassed.
FULL TIME Germany with an emphatic victory. What a result, what a performance, hats off to Joachim Low, what an impressive team.
Arne Friedrich joined Miroslav Klose on the scoresheetONE MINUTE ADDED TIME
GOAL Miroslav Klose with another! Germany breaking at will now. Ozil clips a delightful ball into Klose who simple side foots it home. He's now level with Gerd Muller on World Cup goals. One behind Ronaldo...Germany have defended so solidly. Argentina haven't created a single clear cut opportunity. Low's men look like the team to beat in South Africa...
Javier Pastore has at least looked interested since he came on. Cutting in from the left, he hits a woeful shot well wide.
Muller has had a fantastic tournament. What a shame he'll be out of the semi-final.
Trochowski on for Thomas Muller
Miroslav Klose taps the ball home for 2-0Kroos with a fierce effort, Romero does well to make the save.
Mascherano finally gets the yellow card he's wanted since kick off. Have Argentina got anything left? They look entirely deflated.
- Toni Kroos on for Sami Khedira
ESPN Stats & Info: Only Ronaldo (11) and Jurgen Klinsmann (10) have scored in more World Cup matches than Miroslav Klose (9).
Miroslav Klose now has just two fewer World Cup goals than Ronaldo- Sergio Aguero on for Angel Di Maria
- GOAL Friedrich with his first goal for Germany! Schweinsteiger took the corner short a danced through the defence. Fantastic football and he pulls the ball back to a greatful Friedrich to tap home!
Argentina look out of it. Germany keeping the ball and cutting them open at will. They have another corner.
- Marcell Jansen on for Jerome Boateng
Germany with another free kick, Mascherano felling Schweinsteiger.
Argentina need a goal and soon. Pastore's first involvement is to whip a dangerous ball across the German goal. No one there to get on the end of it though.
- Pastore on for Otamendi
- GOAL Klose with yet another World Cup goal! Muller threads through Lukas Podolski. He has Klose alone in the six-yard box left with a simple tap in.
Manuel Neuer takes evasive action in the German goalPoor delivery, his cross hits the first man and is cleared.
Otamendi concedes another free kick. How is he still on the pitch? Free kick Germany...
Di Maria testing Germany again, cutting in from his wide right position and firing at Neuer. Again it's straight at the Germany 'keeper.
ESPN Stats & Info: Germany have not conceded a second half goal in this World Cup.
Last-ditch defending by Lahm! Messi's effort is deflected into the path of Higuain, he looks certain to slot home before the Germany captain gets a vital toe on the ball.
Lahm loses the ball, Tevez is 30 yards from goal. His effort is well struck, but Neuer holds onto it.
Schweinsteiger's effort is poor again, hit straight into the wall.
Dangerous free kick for Germany. Otamendi loses the ball at the back, and responds by clattering Klose. Can Germany double their lead...
ESPN Stats & Info: Prior to kick-off, Germany had scored four of their nine (44.4 %) goals this campaign between the 61st and 75th minute.
The game is starting to get stretched. Messi is dispossessed and Podolski breaks down the left. He crosses the ball towards Klose, but the veteran forward gets nowhere near it.
Diego Maradona shows Lukas Podolski how to do itPodolski's effort hammers into the wall and through to Romero.
Germany free kick. Could be dangerous...
The corner is cleared, but Argentina come again. They're giving Jerome Boateng a torrid time, Higuain the latest man to test him. He gets to the byline, cuts the ball back towards Tevez, Neuer gathers, spills the ball and Germany are lucky to clear!
Both teams are struggling to settle in possession since the break, it's fairly scrappy. Maxi Rodriguez chests a cross into the path of Tevez. He hits a full-blooded volley straight into Mertesacker's face. Brave defending!
Mascherano somehow stays out of the book. The Liverpool man lunges in studs first on Schweinsteiger, free kick but no card!
Higuain called offside after a Demichelis clearance, free kick Argentina.
Germany having their first forray forward since the break. Ozil unable to find a way past Demichelis.
Di Maria with a thunderous strike! Bringing the ball onto his favoured left foot, he unleashes a piledriver that flashes just wide! Very unlucky.
Bright start from Argentina. Heinze drills the ball into Maxi Rodriguez. A great touch to bring it down, his shot is closed down though.
KICK OFF The second half begins.
The teams are back out in Cape Town. Germany to get us restarted.
Germany seem to be getting better and better as the tournament goes on. Impressive against England, explosive at the start here, are they en route to the semi-finals?
Lionel Messi is desperate to get himself involved. At some point, surely he'll have his say?
It has been a frustrating first half for Lionel Messi and ArgentinaComment from Joy Gupta in Cape Town: Germany began and ended brightly but Argentina bossed the middle. Messi has been good in parts but Germany seem to have cut of his supply line.
ESPN Stats & Info: Argentina have never come back to win at the World Cup when trailing at half-time.
HALF TIME You can't help but be impressed by Germany. They have a deserved 1-0 lead thanks to Thomas Muller.
Messi trying his upmost to get involved. He skips around Schweinsteiger, his shot is high, wide and not too handsome.
ONE MINUTE ADDED TIME
Argentina are starting to lose their cool here. They need a cool head in the dressing room. Over to you Diego...
Romero punches clear excellently. Is it me or have corners been really poor in this competition?
The next second Germany break, Lahm leaves Heinze behind and pulls back Muller. His shot deflects of Burdisso and for a corner.
Argentina just started to press Germany now. Can Low's men survive?
Germany clear and quickly break. Podolski finds Ozil, who is tackled superbly by Mascherano, fantastic defending.
The corner is played short, Neuer punches clear, but only to Di Maria. His shot clatters into Khedira, another corner.
Di Maria runs at Boateng again, Podolski gets back and clears for a corner...
Podolski with a snapshot, it's well struck, just a yard or so wide.
Argentina have the ball in the net, but four Argentina players are in offside positions. Messi's free kick hit the wall, the ball played back through found Tevez, but the flag was raised.
Messi over the free kick again...
- Muller booked for handball. It didn't look like handball. It didn't even hit his arm? He'll miss the semi-final, should Germany get there.
Smart play from Higuain. Inside the box, he twists and turns around Friedrich. His left foot effort, like Di Maria before him, is not the best.
ESPN Stats & Info: Argentina have won all nine matches that they have played in 2010 so far.
Argentina starting to find space. Tevez finds Di Maria. Running at Boateng Di Maria cuts inside, his low effort is poorly struck at straight at Neuer.
A German fan gets into the swing of thingsMessi is effort is powerfully struck, too powerfully as it rises way over the bar.
A soft free kick for Argentina. Tevez runs into Podolski, the referee award a free kick. Messi is over the ball...
Messi is having to drop very deep to try and get involved. He lays the ball to Heinze, who has a very curious, and poor, effort at goal.
The pace of the game has dropped slightly, it had to at some point! Argentina just looking for a sustained spell of possession.
ESPN Stats & Info: The past two matches that Argentina have conceded first at the World Cup, they have not lost. They came back to win in the 2006 second round against Mexico and in the 2002 group stage came back to draw with Sweden.
It should've been two! Muller is gifted possession, no one can catch him has he gets into the box. He square to Klose, whose left with a simple finish, but he lofts it over the bar.
Germany look sharper than Argentina. Their constant pressing is completely stopping Argentina. Messi threads a beautiful ball to Tevez, Neuer out smartly to gather the ball.
Thomas Muller celebrates his goal against ArgentinaComment from Joy Gupta in Cape Town: Is it just me or is Messi playing unusually deep? His first touch was from near his own area, his second, now, was inside his own half....
Mertesacker heads clear. Heinze's ball in finds Otamendi in an offside position.
Lovely football from Argentina. Otamendi released down the right, his cross is forced behind for a corner...
Argentina looking to get their attacking talents into the game. They've been completely stifled so far.
ESPN Stats & Info: Thomas Muller has been involved in seven goals at this World Cup (four goals, three assists), more than any other player.
Mascherano lucky to escape the book! A cynical lunge on Schweinsteiger as Germany break.
An incisive break from Argentina. Tevez plays a fantastic ball to Di Maria, he cuts in from the byline and finds Higuain in the box. His touch is heavy and Germany clear.
Thomas Muller heads the ball past Sergio RomeroBurdisso heads the corner away.
The game seems to have settled down a little bit, thankfully for Argentina! As I type Ozil dances along the penalty box. The ball falls to Podolski, who's shot is deflected for a corner. Ozil over the dead ball...
- Otamendi is the first in the book for a late challenge of Friedrich.
You've been Merked: Angela Merkel enjoys Germany's opening goalA dangerous corner is cleared by Tevez. Cue Messi. He bursts into the Germany half and finds Di Maria. The new galactico is hesitant and his attempted cross is cleared.
German corner. What a start!
Argentina look a team in shock! Maradona may not have been sure Muller was a player before the World Cup, he's certainly aware of him now!
ESPN Stats & Info: Germany have won 47 of 58 games at the World Cup when scoring the first goal of the match, Argentina have lost 17 of 25 when allowing first.
What a start from Germany! Full of pace, energy and desire. Schweinsteiger lets fly from 25 yards, but is effort is wide.
Comment from Joy Gupta in Cape Town: Well...Germany certainly were quicker off the blocks and it paid off for them.
Almost a second! Khedira and Muller with an excellent one-two. The through ball just slightly over hit.
- GOAL Thomas Muller heads home the free kick! A fantastic delivery from Schweinsteiger, Muller glances towards goal, and Romero fumbles it into the net!
Otamendi trips Schweinsteiger. First free kick for Germany...
First foul of the game and it wasn't a good one! A very clumsy challenge from Klose on Mascherano.
KICK OFF Argentina get us started!
Michael Ballack is present at the game in Cape TownESPN Stats & Info: Germany have scored only four goals in their last six World Cup quarter final ties.
Comment from Joy Gupta in Cape Town: This is the game I'm looking forward to the most. Argentina for obvious reasons but Germany have taken me by surprise. I suspect Argentina will be too strong, though, and Germany's yellow cards will affect their play.
The teams are out on the pitch, with Table Mountain in the background the scene is perfectly set for a fantastic game.
ESPN Stats & Info: Argentina have won only four of their last 16 World Cup meetings with European sides.
We have a few minutes before kick-off so why not take a read of Uli Hesse's preview of the big game.
Two of the tournament's brightest players go head-to-head today. Mesut Ozil v Lionel Messi. Let's hope they both bring their best form to Cape Town.
A really tough one to call, two free-flowing, attacking teams. I can't wait for this game.
Unsuprisingly, after they both cruised through their second round matches, these two sides are unchanged. Meaning Lukas Podolski is deemed fit to play.
We begin at the Green Point Stadium today, where two World Cup heavyweights collide. Argentina face Germany in what promises to be a closely-contested classic.
Join us at 1400 GMT to see if Argentina can pass their first real test against Germany.
Full-time
14:00 GMT, July 3, 2010
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa
14:00 GMT, July 3, 2010
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa
Germany pass Maradona test
Scoring Summary
| Argentina | Germany |
|---|---|
|
| Thomas Müller (3') |
|
| Miroslav Klose (68') |
|
| Arne Friedrich (74') |
|
| Miroslav Klose (89') |
Teams
| Argentina | Germany |
|---|---|
| 22 Sergio Romero | 1 Manuel Neuer |
| 4 Nicolás Burdisso | 3 Arne Friedrich |
| 2 Martín Demichelis | 17 Per Mertesacker |
| 14 Javier Mascherano | 20 Jerome Boateng |
| 6 Gabriel Heinze | 16 Philipp Lahm |
| 15 Nicolás Otamendi | 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger |
| 10 Lionel Messi | 6 Sami Khedira |
| 7 Ángel Di María | 11 Miroslav Klose |
| 20 Maxi Rodríguez | 8 Mesut Özil |
| 9 Gonzalo Higuaín | 10 Lukas Podolski |
| 11 Carlos Tévez | 13 Thomas Müller |
| Substitutes | |
| 8 Juan Sebastián Verón | Hans-Jörg Butt 22 |
| 13 Walter Samuel | Piotr Trochowski 15 |
| 18 Martín Palermo | Mario Gomez 23 |
| 19 Diego Milito | Dennis Aogo 4 |
| 16 Sergio Agüero | Tim Wiese 12 |
| 17 Jonás Gutiérrez | Marcell Jansen 2 |
| 1 Diego Pozo | Stefan Kießling 9 |
| 3 Clemente Rodríguez | Cacau 19 |
| 23 Javier Pastore | Serdar Tasci 5 |
| 5 Mario Bolatti | Marko Marin 21 |
| 21 Mariano Andújar | Toni Kroos 18 |
| 12 Ariel Garce | Holger Badstuber 14 |
| Substitutions | |
| · Squads: Argentina | Germany | |
Six days after turfing England out of the World Cup with a magical display, Germany cast their spell on Argentina with a brilliant quarter-final performance.
Argentina were buried thanks to a third-minute goal from Thomas Muller and two second-half efforts from Miroslav Klose either side of one from Arne Friedrich. Even Diego Maradona would had appreciated it had he not been in the opposite dug-out. An imperious masterclass from a side on the march.Games of this magnitude can often be dull, sterile affairs, where two giants cancel each other out completely. This spectacular never had a chance of being that way.An Argentina team containing Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez, managed by one of the most creative forces there has ever been, is not exactly set up to defend. Germany's talents are not as well known. But over the past week Joachim Low's team have made some statement.When Nicolas Otamendi brought Podolski down by the touchline, the start of what turned out to be a tortuous opening period for the young full-back, Bastian Schweinsteiger curled the free-kick to the near post. Muller escaped Otamendi's attentions and rose unchallenged.The youngster should have sent a firm header into the corner. Instead, he got the faintest touch which deceived Sergio Romero, who must have thought he was going to be beaten anyway. It shot off the Argentina keeper's leg and rolled into the net.For a good 15 minutes, those famous blue and white shirts were seen twisting and turning in all directions as they tried to keep their opponents at bay.Klose wasted a golden opportunity to double the advantage when Muller capitalised on Gabriel Heinze's error and squared for the veteran frontman. On his 100th appearance, it should have been his 51st goal. But he rushed the opportunity and side-footed over.Too young to be considered for Germany's triumphant Under-21 squad at last summer's European Championships, what a year Muller has had. In reaching the Champions League final with Bayern Munich, he had already confirmed himself as one of the best young players in the world.On successive weekends, both England and Argentina have discovered the 20-year-old is a rich talent as well. Unfortunately, football can be a cruel sport and a harsh booking for handball means the youngster will miss Wednesday's semi-final in Durban.After being hurt so badly so quickly, Argentina at least managed to clear their heads and began to respond. The problem was Germany's defence was rock solid, their movement choreographed superbly.Messi tried to sparkle but he was forced further back to gain meaningful possession, and then surrounded instantly to ensure there was no escape.Another star name destined to leave South Africa without making a significant mark, or scoring a goal, Messi did his best with the scraps that were offered without making the mesmerising burst or defence-splitting pass his team craved.On the touchline, Maradona stood, knowing the difference between a great player and the absolute best is their ability to produce when the pressure is at its greatest, as he did in 1986. Since then, Germany have gained revenge, both in the 1990 final and the quarter-final four years ago.In his amusing dismissal of England, German skipper Philipp Lahm said he wanted to win inside 90 minutes, for his country to finally defeat a big team. It was time for his youthful team-mates to announce their arrival.First, a prone Muller stabbed the ball into space and set Podolski free to present Klose with a tap-in.Then, pushing forward even though the game was won, Friedrich was on hand to finish from close range after Schweinsteiger had cut through the Argentine defence like a knife through butter.Klose finished the rout and with another four-star performance, Germany roll into the semi-finals with every chance of lifting the trophy.
Germany have sent out a real signal of intent with this latest victory. No team will relish the prospect of facing Die Mannschaft.