Germany handed Diego Maradona’s Argentina an absolute 4-0 football lesson, on the back of comical defending, clinical build-up play and finishing, and some tactical brilliance from the man on the side line – Joachim Low.
There was so much from Low that exposed Maradona.
We all saw the great man’s passion in games beforehand, but it wasn’t enough on this occasion.
The comprehensive tactical victory was stunning.
The first lesson was occurring in the opening three minutes. Low’s men came out firing, Maradona’s didn’t.
A good team will show you up if you aren’t up for the game from the opening whistle.
Thomas Muller’s opening header was poor, poor defending.
Muller was one of three Germans that had got on the goal side of their Argentine defenders, but he was in the prime position and a glancing header was good enough to score.
His marker, Nicolas Otamendi, was metres behind him.
It was horror defending so early in a World Cup quarter-final, unlike the compact Germany.
Low set his men to defend narrowly.
Much has been said about Maradona not being a huge fan of fullbacks, and it was exposed in a great fashion.
On a number of occasions in the first half, players had opened on to the flanks but went unused.
It was a fresh reminder of how Switzerland outdid Spain earlier in the tournament.
They were happy to allow Spain to cross, whom was Argentina going to cross to?
Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain or Lionel Messi? Not much to aim for with Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich in the middle.
The narrow defending, including the tremendous Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, closed what some believe is a vulnerable centre of defence of Germany.
It also meant Messi was forced to retreat to halfway to gain possession, and wasn’t damaging in a crowded attacking third.
Schweinsteiger was allowed to pull all the strings in the middle – and he did with amazing success.
If Maradona wanted to allow Messi, Tevez and Higuain to not track back like other times this tournament, Argentina had to press and hard.
When they did, they regained possession, when they didn’t; it left five German midfielders in acres of space against only Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria and Maxi Rodriguez.
It was asking for trouble.
Muller, who will miss the semi final through suspension, and Lukas Podolski exposed 22-year-old Otamendi on the right of the Argentine defence.
The defending was a shambles for the most part, highlighted by Schweinsteiger’s run to set up Friedrich for the third.
The Germans were simply too quick – as expected – but also supremely clinical and efficient.
The players need to take responsibility too, but Low’s men exposed, and how, Maradona’s tactics.
Hats off.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
I was one who underestimated them when Kevin Prince-Boateng slid in at Wembley. Your points are all very valid - exposed Argentina, dismantling by Germans. If there is any team that has the game to beat Germany, it's probably Spain, but who'd back against Germany? As for the Jabulani - well, they've scored quite a few 'indoor-like' goals - cut back, slide into open net? But yeah, valid again - they do knock it around in general play better than almost any other side in the tournament.
tommy_doleman
Roar Pro
Good read Dejan Must say I wasn't surprised at all with the German win, but I was surprised by the magnitude of it. It was HUGE!!! I think a lot of people under-estimated Germany before the world cup, especially when Ballack went down in the FA Cup final... I think that's turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The run that the Argie Bargies had to the quarter final was hardly challenging, and they hadn't come across a defence as rock solid as Germanys to date. At the other end, playing centre backs in the full back positions will eventually be exposed against the better teams. The Germans really are the real deal but, they've not only beaten sides but they've completely dismantled them! Amazing counter-attacking and solid at the back. I think they can beat Spain as well and then beat the Dutch in the final (at their own game ironically) - In reverse it seems that the Dutch are playing like the classic Germany sides in the past! And isn't it a coincedence that they've played with the Jabulani in the Bundesliga this season? The only european nation to do so......
JR
Guest
yah yah yah agree with the fight and challenge thing. But no vision or creativity and he kept Messi out of his most dangerous position - fail, Maradona. I was looking for a change much earlier too, Dejan, but very surprised by Pastore or whatever his name was. As I said above, this game was lost in the midfield. Like your stuff, Dejan, keep it up mate!
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
I don't think JR is a big Tevez fan. I just felt a change was needed earlier. It wasn't working in the opening hour, why would it start to work in the final half hour? Maybe not Tevez, maybe Higuain - but someone, something - before the second killer blow.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Can't agree with the Tevez comments. He fights and challenges with a zeal that is rare to find. Agree there are finer players of the game, but none with the fight of Carlos Tevez.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
I really think you have to play two holding midfielders against Germany, and I give Spain a chance for that reason - they employ a 4-5-1, even if they aren't in great form. As for the defence... why doesn't Maradona like to play with fullbacks?
JR
Guest
It's a big disappointment for me not to see more of Aguero, and I'm really lukewarm about Tevez. Well, maybe a better coach would have gotten more out of this Argentina side, but they would never have been able to hide that defence and goalkeeper. Zanetti would have been handy, last night! And maybe even Cambiasso.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
I wrote yesterday Argentina would win so I'm not much better JR! Allowing the three of them to not drop back was ludicrous because Germany had way too much space. I was surprised Milito, Aguero didn't get a run/get a run earlier.
JR
Guest
When I saw the team lineups, Argentina playing two midfielders against the Mercedes-smooth German five-man midfield, the only thought in my mind was "how large can the goal difference be?" I'm not all that smart though becuase I tipped Argies in the tipping comp :( (I don't count Messi as a midfielder, he is a striker and him playing that deep is patently ridiculous. As was Maradona's attachment to Tevez. I'm waiting for Tony T to destroy Maradona for us).