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Germany's Thomas Muller celebrates after scoring a goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Argentina and Germany at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, July 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Diego Maradona once thought Thomas Müller was a ballboy, but the writing was on the wall for Argentina as early as the third minute when the German youngster headed home. It was the beginning of the end for the Argentines, as the World Cup’s most exciting team got down to business.
Time and again Germany’s pace and penetration proved decisive in their rampant 4-0 quarter-final win over Argentina, although the Albiceleste didn’t exactly help themselves by conceding such a soft opener following Bastian Schweinsteiger’s curling free-kick.
Schweinsteiger was everywhere for Joachim Löw’s side as he turned in an outstanding individual display, with the Bayern Munich midfielder deservedly winning Man of the Match honours for his impressive performance.
However, he wasn’t the only German player to make headlines – as Miroslav Klose moved to within one goal of Brazilian great Ronaldo’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record with a typically predatory brace.
Four years ago I watched from a packed Stuttgart café as Klose calmly scored the equaliser in Germany’s quarter-final win over Argentina, and the veteran goal-getter proved as influential as ever in Cape Town as he once again spearheaded the German attack against their South American counterparts.
Löw’s decision to persist with veteran Klose and out-of-form Köln attacker Lukas Podolski in the international arena has paid off, with their poor domestic form all but forgotten as the pair continue to play a key role in Germany’s exciting World Cup campaign.
Yet it’s the form of several youngsters that has also caught the eye, with midfielder Müller impressing not only via his goals, but also through his composure on the ball and intelligent runs into space off it.
Germany’s strength in depth was underlined against the Argentines when they introduced youngster Toni Kroos for the impressive Sami Khedira, with Kroos spending the past 18 months on loan at Bayer Leverkusen because he couldn’t break into a star-studded Bayern Munich midfield.
And it’s the injection of youth into Germany’s well-balanced side that has made them such an exciting and unpredictable team to watch.
Before the tournament kicked off, many questioned the wisdom of Löw’s enthusiastic regeneration of his squad – wondering whether the likes of Mesut Özil, Jerome Boateng, Müller and Khedira possessed the temperament to propel Germany into the latter stages of the tournament.
Such doubts have been categorically laid to rest, with Germany’s incisive counter-attacking game so far reaping four-goal hauls against Australia, England and now Argentina.
Those who insist that speed and fleet-footed attacking drive are the exclusive domain of the English Premier League are mistaken – the likes of Müller, Kroos and Piotr Trochowski are all products of the Bundesliga – a league which has contributed significantly to some of the most vibrant football played in this year’s World Cup.
Trochowski will replace the suspended Müller in the semi-final, and time will tell whether Löw’s impressive blend of youth and experience can go one step further than they did in 2006, as the Germans look to book their place in the final at Soccer City on July 11.
But with the tournament so far dominated by cagey football and cautious tactics, Germany’s approach has been a breath of fresh air, and the case could be made that they’ve been the most exciting team to date.
I’ve certainly enjoyed watching their games – the “Disaster in Durban” aside – and I eagerly await their semi-final performance to see whether Löw’s confident side can keep up their free-flowing attacking displays.