GERMANY v ARGENTINA - MATCH PREVIEW
Andy Morgan

Germany - 1st, Group A

Group Statistics: W3 D0 L0 F8 A2 Pts9
Second Round: Germany 2-0 Sweden
Top Scorer: Miroslav Klose, 4 (40% of Germany's goals)
Clean Sheets: 3
Failed to Score: 0
Best World Cup record: Won 3 times, in 1954, 1974 and 1990.
2002 World Cup Record: Runners-up to Brazil
Overall World Cup statistics (excluding when playing as West Germany): World Cups 6, P27 W18 D4 L5 F55 A31
Interesting Stat: With four goals to his name, Miroslav Klose is still the favourite for the Golden Boot going into these quarter-final games. His compatriot Lukas Podolski is just behind him on three. Bastian Schweinsteiger meanwhile has contributed to the German cause by providing more goal assists than any other player in the competition (three).

Argentina - 1st, Group C

Group Statistics: W2 D1 L0 F8 A1 Pts7
Second Round: Argentina 2-1 Mexico (aet)
World Cup 2006 Top Scorers: Hernan Crespo, Maxi Rodriguez, 3 (30% of Argentina's goals each)
Clean Sheets: 2
Failed to Score: 1
Best World Cup Record: Won 2 times, in 1978 and 1986
2002 World Cup Record: Finished third
Overall World Cup statistics: World Cups 14, P64 W36 D9 L19 F112 A73
Interesting Stat: Argentinians Maxi Rodriguez and Hernan Crespo also pose a serious threat to Klose at the top of the Golden Boot table, with three goals each.

Match Preview

Introduction

Confidence has been the key to Germany's success in this tournament so far. Despite starting with a scare against Costa Rica, they showed their class against Poland and Ecuador before nonchalantly dismissing a disappointing Sweden in the Second Round. This game against Argentina will be their first major test however and it will give a good idea as to whether they have the mettle to win this competition in their own country. The Argentinians are bloodied however, after scraping past a creative Mexican side after extra-time it is possible that some of their big name players will be weary after the physical and emotional rollercoaster that that game was. With the German's extra day's rest to boot, coupled with the power of home support, Germany has never had a better opportunity to beat the South Americans.

Germany

German coach Jurgen Klinsmann is hopeful that Chelsea's new signing Michael Ballack and top scorer Miroslav Klose will recover from minor injuries picked up in training. Ballack is suffering from a swollen ankle whilst Klose has an acute form of tendonitis. These are unlikely to keep them out of the starting line-up however, with assistant coach Joachim Loew stating that they should play. This means that Klinsmann will be able to play the exact same eleven that so imperiously dismissed Sweden in the Second Round. This element of team unity is vital against a classy Argentinian outfit and if they can play to the level that they played against the Scandinavians then expect them to give their opponents a tough test. Stability has been the key to Klinsmann's team selections - he has only made two changes to his starting line-ups and both of those were enforced through injury.

Ballack and Klose are vital to this set-up. Most of the creativity against Sweden came through Ballack and the German side looks considerably weaker without him. Inspirational as a captain and determined as a player, Ballack can also tackle and harry and is the archetype of the all-round midfielder. Although many pundits' view that he is Germany's only world-class player have fallen by the wayside through other German performances, it is fair to say that without him they suffer. The only worry for Germany is that he is one of five players on a yellow card, which may limit his combatitive midfield presence. Expect him to push further forward then, in search for his first goal of the tournament. With the impressive Torsten Frings likely to provide defensive cover, Ballack can feel at liberty to push forward. Equally Klinsmann could bring in the experienced Sebastian Kehl in the centre of midfield to bring that defensive edge to that area of the pitch.

Miroslav Klose has been, like Frings and Phillipp Lahm, one of the revelations of the tournament so far. Always seemingly an also-ran in the major competitions, the twenty-seven year old has come of age this year and looks a significant threat in attack. Feeding off the balls fed to him by Bayern Munich's Bastien Schweinsteiger, Klose has been a constant pain for opposition defences. Now gunning for the Golden Boot there is every chance he can score here against Argentina, particularly when he has the creativity of Schweinsteiger and Frings to back him up. He is also strong on headers and has the height to trouble the South American's defence. Full of confidence after an exceptional season in the Bundesliga, it would be a fool to back against him adding a fifth goal in this competition here.

Added to this is the form of Klose's strike-partner Lukas Podolski, who now has three goals to his name and is hot on the heels of Klose for the coveted Golden Boot. Seven goals between them and goals from midfield mean that this German side has no trouble scoring.

Argentina

Argentina, like Germany, are likely to be at full strength for this encounter, with right winger Luis Gonzalez recovering from a groin injury and set to play. He was substituted a mere sixteen minutes into their 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro and has not played since, sitting on the bench for both the Netherlands and Mexico games. He is likely to be introduced against the Germans however as he does provide a better balance in the Argentinian midfield, particularly in attacking options. This implies that Argentina coach Jose Pekerman is going for a more attacking formation against Germany as Gonzalez is likely to replace the more defensively minded Esteban Cambiasso.

This has its advantages and disadvantages. Christoph Metzelder and Per Mertesacker in the German defence have yet to be really tested in this competition - and when they were against Costa Rica they were found wanting. Not one of Poland, Ecuador or Sweden really attacked so if Argentina do, with the players they have, then it is hard not to see them scoring. Metzelder also has a booking to his name so needs to be careful if he does not want to miss any potential semi-final.

However using Gonzalez may be a mistake from the point of view that he has barely played half an hour all competition and his form at Portuguese club Porto was disappointing. If they do play in a more attacking manner then Frings, Klose and Ballack may be given right to play at the other end, resulting in a free-flowing and attacking game.

Nicolas Burdisso is still a doubt with a knee injury so expect the equally experienced Fabiricio Coloccini to play in the left-back position. He is more attacking than Burdisso and again shows the attacking intent of Pekerman.

At the same time Leandro Cufre is likely to replace West Ham's Lionel Scaloni in central defence in what is a new look back-four. Cufre is more defensively minded and will add an added weight to the Argentinian's rearguard.

Overview

Argentina and Germany have played each other in two World Cup Finals, in 1986 and 1990. The Argentinians got the better of the Europeans in 86 whilst the reverse was the case in Italia 90. History counts for nothing, as demonstrated by Pekermann himself when praised by Klinsmann's transformation of an ordinary German side. Pekermann is expecting an attacking German side but striker Carlos Tevez is also warning that Germany will have to raise their game if they are to beat his side.

Klinsmann is saying that his side will fight for every inch on the pitch in a battle that will be physical yet full of flair. Passion and aggression are the key. He knows that Juan Roman Riquelme is the player for his side to watch, but he has no intention of man-marking him.

Attacking is the buzz word in this game as both sides have scored ten goals each in the tournament so far. This is more than any other side (and equal to Brazil). This game is too tough to call as both sides have significant weapons in their arsenals. It will probably go down to who can convert their chances. However with a home crowd on side and an energy that may be slightly lacking in the Argentinians, bet on a narrow German win.

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