BERLIN -- It would have been a classic World Cup final: Germany vs. Argentina
in Berlin's 72,000-seat Olympic Stadium, a showdown between two soccer powers
with five titles between them.
Instead Friday's match is only a quarterfinal. But still special.
"In terms of potential, this could easily be a final," said Franz
Beckenbauer, chief of the organizing committee, who twice faced Argentina in the
World Cup as German coach. "It's a shame, but both of us are going to consider
it a final."
The could be counterproductive if the game takes too much out of the winner.
Then again, getting past such a strong opponent in the quarterfinals could
provide tremendous momentum.
"We are looking forward to this game, it's a very special occasion," Germany
coach Juergen Klinsmann said Thursday. "We are full of energy and enthusiasm, we
are very confident, although we have great respect for Argentina. It's one of
the best teams in the world.
"There is no trace of overconfidence in our team. We will go in with total
aggression and total passion and we'll see how Argentina reacts," he said.
Germany is playing at home. In seeking its fourth title, Klinsmann promised
his team will use all its "power and vehemence."
Captain Michael Ballack, fully recovered from a slightly swollen ankle,
believes Germany has a 60-percent chance to win the match.
"With the performances we've shown here, we don't need to hide from anyone,"
Ballack said. "If we produce our best, we have a realistic chance of winning. We
are very hungry to play three more games."
Argentina had the look of a champion early on, but was pushed to the limit in
the second round by Mexico. The two-time champions needed an extra-time stroke
of genius by Maxi Rodriguez to advance.
"The game will be very hard-fought and close," Argentina's 22-year-old
striker Carlos Tevez said. "It's going to be very tough for us -- and for them."
There is plenty of World Cup history between Germany and Argentina, apart
from contrasts in style.
A few things to ponder:
-- Germany and Argentina have met twice in World Cup championship games, each
winning once: Argentina 3-2 in the 1986 final and West Germany 1-0 in 1990. This
will be their fifth game in all World Cup play, and Germany has won two, draw
one and lost one.
-- Argentina coach Jose Pekerman and Klinsmann, both widely criticized, have
proven the skeptics wrong. Both have gone with relatively young teams.
-- It will be Germany's size against the relatively small and much quicker
South Americans.
-- Both teams feed off two topflight midfielders, Argentina's Juan Roman
Riquelme and Germany's Ballack.
Germany and Argentina have played attacking soccer throughout the tournament,
so there should be goals. They've both scored 10, although six of Argentina's
came in a 6-0 landslide over Serbia.
Argentina is likely to keep the ball on the ground and try to beat Germany's
bigger defenders that way. Germany will go after Argentina's small defense,
which doesn't have a player over 6-foot.
"I've been playing against players who are always bigger than me for a long
time, so I'm used to it," said striker Javier Saviola, who is 5-7. Fellow
strikers Tevez and Lionel Messi are in the same height range.
"We have to the keep the ball on the ground, be quick and play as we did
against Serbia," Saviola added. "If we play well, if we impose our game, we are
difficult to beat."
Argentina's only tall potential starter up front is Hernan Crespo, who is
6-1. The Germans will start with two towering defenders in Per Mertesacker and
Christoph Metzelder. Mertesacker is 6-5 and Metzelder is 6-3.
The Argentina backline could be tested. Nicolas Burdisso is back practicing
and could return from a knee injury. Another injured player, midfielder Luis
Gonzalez, also might play Friday. If both are fit, Pekerman could start the same
lineup that smothered Serbia.
"Argentina doesn't know how to sit back," Argentine midfielder Javier
Mascherano said. "Let's hope that a great team like Germany will also come out
and play the game."
English bookmakers William Hill rate the game a toss-up.
Germany and Argentina played twice last year, and both games ended 2-2. One
was played in Nuremberg in the Confederations Cup and the other was a friendly
in Duesseldorf.
Germany played both of those games without Ballack and striker Miroslav
Klose. Klose leads the tournament with four goals. He and Ballack hope to
dominate the air in front of the Argentina goal.
"The captain is back and will lead us," Klinsmann said. "We are going to give
them a great fight and we want to win."
"We've made great strides since then and we're playing good soccer now."
