World Cup Semi Final
Durban
June 7th 2010
7:30pm (Irish Time)
Either Germany or Spain will take on Holland in Sunday's World Cup Final in Johannesburg. That challenge may seem so close but the likelihood still remains that a game with Uruguay awaits on Saturday. This semi final is so finely poised that either fate is equally possible for both teams.
Germany enter the game as the World Cups form team. Three four goal hauls against Australia and more recently England and Argetina has seen their stock rise since the competition began. Jogi Low's team arrived in Germany as an unknown quantity. The injury suffered by captain Michael Ballack was viewed as the end of any chance the Germans had this summer. Pre-tournament predictions have been discarded however as this new mannschaft have taken all comers by surprise.
A new generation of multicultural talent has reenergised the team since Euro 2008. No longer are Germany regarded as an organised, efficient machine but have reinvented themselves as a quick, inventive, unpredictable counterattacking outfit.
Since defeat to Switzerland in their opening game, also in Durban, Spain have adopted something of a cautious approach. A mantra of safety first has dictated their performances in their four games since. Even though la furia roja dispatched Honduras, Chile, Portugal and Paraguay to reach the semis, they did so unconvincingly, without the free flowing passing and movement they are renowned for. That said, at least they are finally here, only once have they ever reached the final four and that was when the tournament was decided by round robin in 1950.
Unlike the Germans, la seleccion have had problems with the form of their players. Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta have been the most obvious examples. Both have contributed a lot of minutes but have failed to hit top form as yet. David Villa has almost carried the team with his five goals, while the German effort has been far more collective.
Spain, however, go into the game full strenght which can't be said about their opponents. Thomas Muller, scorer of four goals so far, is suspended having picked up a soft yellow card against Argentina. The 20-year old sensation looks set to be replaced by Hamburg's Piotr Trochowski on the right hand side of the German attacking triumvirate.
Revenge is in the minds of the German players for their defeat in Vienna two years ago. Fernando Torres changed the mentality of Spanish footballers with his dink over Jens Lehmann but this is a different German team two years on. Half their team didn't play that night in the Ernst Happel Stadium while the likes of Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger will feel they underperformed that night.
Spain have also developed slightly, but not for the better. The relegation of David Silva to the bench and emergence of Sergio Busquets in central midfield has been something of a backwards step. Spain have become more defensive and far narrower in midfield because of it. Their tiki-taki approach to the game therefore has less outlets from which to score from.
The Germans may not get the space to create at will like they did against two extremely flawed sides in the last two rounds but opening will no doubt arise as the Spanish defence has been shaky at times itself.
Germany will have to be more careful at the back themsleves as Spain are likely to pose a greater attacking threat than England or Argentina, as well as control the ball for far longer spells.
With the game so delicately balanced, both have reason to dream of a final on Sunday. The Germans may be the free scoring surprise package of the last three weeks but Spain are the European champions and the best national side in the world over the past three years. Whoever wins, they'll be favourites to beat Holland.
Probable Teams:
Germany (4-3-3): Neuer, Lahm, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Boateng, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Trochowski, Podolski, Klose.
Spain (4-4-2): Casillas, Ramos, Pique, Puyol, Capdevila, Busquets, Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Torres.
