PREVIEW:WELL HERE we are. The madness versus the method in a World Cup quarter-final that couldn't be freighted with greater expectation or possibility.
The wild and turbulent ways of El Diego against the solid German virtues of planning and progress. Two sides with a bit of a history which stretches beyond both of them beating England regularly. Impressions. Few people expected Diego Maradona’s Argentina to be more than a Punch and Judy sideshow here despite the weapons they have at their disposal. We expected chaos and the odd innocent journalist to be mowed down in the crossfire.
That’s how qualification was. Instead they have advanced in harmony and serenity and look like a side pacing themselves. If they often look as if they are just making it up when they attack perhaps that is the stroke of genius which the Argentinians hoped for when they surprisingly appointed Maradona.
He has built a side who defend deep and strongly, has identified the virtues of Javier Mascherano as the best defensive midfielder of his generation and seemingly (and despite initial mistrust) decided to let the threat of Lionel Messi do the rest. Pay too much attention to Messi and Gonzalo Higuain or Carlos Tevez will take liberties. Leave Messi to conventional shackling and he will play havoc with you.
Perhaps El Diego knew what he was doing all along. Throw in a couple of wide midfielders in Maxi Rodriguez and Angel Di Maria who can torture defences and you can see the size of Germany’s worries. They have a lot of mice to be minding at the crossroads.
Germany have Lahm, Friedrich, Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Muller, Ozil and Cacau all on yellow cards. They will have to tread lightly in a game which needs something more urgent. And despite the favourable impression of their games to date the Germans have pretty conventional tools for breaking the Argentina down. Thomas Muller tends not to take players on in one-on-one situations. Lukas Podolski is something of a battering ram. The best hope may be the head of Miroslav Klose.
In terms of weakness the Germans will think they have found it in Martin Demichelis who conceded a free header to Higuain in the Champions League final, gifted a goal to South Korea in the group stages and was turned with ease by young Javier Hernandez in the last round against Mexico. He should be in for a torrid afternoon.
Which brings us to the most interesting element of the game. Germany’s revelation in this tournament has been Mesut Ozil whose creativity has oiled all parts of the machine. However he will be contested today by the peerless Mascherano, the best and toughest defensive midfielder in the business. If Mascherano plays with the authority which Maradona expects of him the German supply lines will be severely interrupted.
Not that Ozil is the sum total of Germany’s options. Philipp Lahm’s runs from right back have been a key feature but today he may have his hands full stymying Di Maria. Sami Khedira has been overshadowed by Ozil so far but his form has been excellent and Michael Ballack hasn’t been missed.
Germany have worries over the fitness of Podolski ahead whose thigh problem that has restricted him to light training. Fellow forward Cacau is still suffering from a strained abdominal muscle and is unlikely to play a part. To the alarm of a nation Messi sat out training on Thursday suffering from a mild cold.
Walter Samuel has recovered from his thigh strain and is on standby should Martin Demichelis commit another howler. In March Argentina beat Germany in Munich with a swagger that belied the 1-0 scoreline. The result sent the Germans off looking for a new goalkeeper for the World Cup. Things haven’t changed too much since.
In the last World Cup Germany bundled Argentina out at this stage in a game which lacked sweetness and light. He may be mad but El Diego, who was there as a sort of demented cheerleader, hasn’t forgotten. Today should be the day when revenge is exacted.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
ARGENTINA(4-3-3): Romero; Otamendi, Demichelis, Burdisso, Heinze; Maxi, Mascherano, Di Maria; Tevez, Higuain, Messi.
GERMANY(4-4-1-1): Neuer; Lahm, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Boateng; Schweinsteiger, Khedira; Ozil, Podolski; Muller; Klose.
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov(Uzbekistan)
– Tom Humphries
