Germans eager to tame Argentina
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
ERASMIA, June 28 (AFP): Less than 24 hours after their stunning 4-1 win over England, Germany were already planning for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Argentina - and how to contain Lionel Messi.
Germany hammered England in Bloemfontein Sunday with goals by Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and two second-half strikes from midfielder Thomas Mueller in the Round of 16 match to book their last eight berth.
Now they take on Diego Maradona's Argentina in Cape Town Saturday and according to midfielder Sami Khedira, the key will be to contain Barcelona's Messi, the world footballer of the year and Argentina's talisman.
"Messi is a difficult player to play against, if not the best in the world, there is no way one player can keep him at bay for the full 90 minutes," he said after Messi helped his side to a 3-1 win over Mexico in the Round of 16.
"It will be a team effort and we may have to put several players on him.
"Having said that we have nothing to fear and we have a good chance of beating Argentina."
Veteran German striker Miroslav Klose, who scored his 50th goal on his 99th appearance for the national side against England, said the young side are reaping the rewards from playing as a unit.
"If you look at the two sides, you have to say Argentina look stronger on paper, but the same went for England, they were better known and are more famous than us, but that wasn't represented on the pitch," said the 32-year-old.
"We were compact and have proven again that we are a 'tournament team' and we can raise our game.
"Argentina are a class up from England, but we can hurt them with our tactics and we have to believe in ourselves."
The game is already being touted as a revenge match for Argentina who lost 4-2 on penalties to Germany at the quarter-final stage four years ago at Berlin's Olympic Stadium when the Germans hosted the last World Cup.
Germany hammered England in Bloemfontein Sunday with goals by Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and two second-half strikes from midfielder Thomas Mueller in the Round of 16 match to book their last eight berth.
Now they take on Diego Maradona's Argentina in Cape Town Saturday and according to midfielder Sami Khedira, the key will be to contain Barcelona's Messi, the world footballer of the year and Argentina's talisman.
"Messi is a difficult player to play against, if not the best in the world, there is no way one player can keep him at bay for the full 90 minutes," he said after Messi helped his side to a 3-1 win over Mexico in the Round of 16.
"It will be a team effort and we may have to put several players on him.
"Having said that we have nothing to fear and we have a good chance of beating Argentina."
Veteran German striker Miroslav Klose, who scored his 50th goal on his 99th appearance for the national side against England, said the young side are reaping the rewards from playing as a unit.
"If you look at the two sides, you have to say Argentina look stronger on paper, but the same went for England, they were better known and are more famous than us, but that wasn't represented on the pitch," said the 32-year-old.
"We were compact and have proven again that we are a 'tournament team' and we can raise our game.
"Argentina are a class up from England, but we can hurt them with our tactics and we have to believe in ourselves."
The game is already being touted as a revenge match for Argentina who lost 4-2 on penalties to Germany at the quarter-final stage four years ago at Berlin's Olympic Stadium when the Germans hosted the last World Cup.