World Cup 2006

[The Quasi Juice]

1-0 Zambrotta, nice goal.

[GoGo Yubari]

This doesn't bode well for the Ukraine. It was a very nice goal indeed.

[TheArsenal]

Italy for the win. Hurrah!

Ukraine substitution in the nineteenth minute? And no injury......

Switching to a 4-3-3 could spell the end of Ukraine.....

[The Third Dukes]

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- This was a game that DID deserve to go to penalties. It was awful.

Instead of urging their stars to play positive, attacking soccer, Germany's Juergen Klinsmann and Argentina's Jose Pekerman must have shown them the tape of their 1990 World Cup meeting in Rome -- the worst final ever.

That game was decided by a penalty six minutes from the end. The neutrals in Rome's Olympic Stadium 16 years ago were thankful that Andreas Brehme's successful spot kick for the Germans meant they weren't forced to watch 30 minutes more.

Fast forward to Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Friday and Germany triumphed again, 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 tie.

Pity the shootout didn't come at the start of extra time instead of the end.

What had all the makings of a classic between two teams who were talented, confident and in form, turned out to be a big letdown. There were few eye-catching moves and, until the shootout, neither goalkeeper made a memorable save.

The game also had a testy beginning and an ugly finish. Several Argentina players vented the anger of defeat on referee Lubos Michel and, while the Germans celebrated their place in the semifinal, there were violent scenes on the field as the South American stars were prevented from getting close to the Slovakia official.

That anger should have been turned on themselves.

Having overtaken defending champion Brazil as the title favorite, Argentina was a pale shadow of the side that crushed Serbia-Montenegro 6-0 with a polished display of passing and finishing. Pekerman's team also showed in a 0-0 tie with the Netherlands it had the backup players to put on a show even if they didn't hit the target.

When it came to the biggest game in this tournament so far, a meeting with the host in Berlin, Pekerman's team was dull and lacked imagination. The coach's own performance was disastrous, capped by his resignation just minutes after the game was over.

He was unlucky that he had to replace goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri with 20 minutes to go. After Roberto Ayala's header had given Argentina the lead soon after halftime, the goalkeeper went down trying to reach a cross and injured his chest.

But why did Pekerman also take off playmaker Juan Riquelme within a minute of changing his goalkeeper?

Removing his most creative player damaged his team's chances in two ways: Not only did Pekerman take the heat off the German defense, he also left himself with only one more change.

Soon after Julio Cruz replaced fellow striker Hernan Crespo, Germany equalized on Miroslav Klose's header.

Pekerman was stuck. He had taken Riquelme off and, having made all three changes, couldn't put on his other prize attacking star, Lionel Messi, who never saw the pitch on Friday.

Two minutes from the end, Maxi Rodriguez was shown a yellow card for diving over Philipp Lahm's challenge inside the penalty area and the game went to extra time and then penalties.

After goalkeeper Jens Lehmann saved twice in the shootout, the Germans celebrated a 10th appearance in the semifinal. In addition to winning the title three times, they have been three-time runners up -- including the 2002 World Cup -- and also reached the semifinal in 1934, '58 and '70.

But even Klinsmann's rejuvenated team didn't provide many thrilling moments in this game.

As they have done so often in the past, the Germans fought back to earn a deserved tie. But twin strikers Klose and Lukas Podolski showed few of the combinations that had earned them seven goals before this game and the strikeforce only began to worry the Argentina defense when winger David Odonkor went on to use his speed down the right.

Their fans and a grateful nation won't mind that they didn't entertain. Usually just advancing to World Cup semifinals is entertainment enough.

Argentina's stars go home feeling aggrieved without reason.

It was the fans who suffered. And the game itself.

Edited June 30, 2006 by Dukes

[fineintent]

I enjoyed the match, bit like chess - nice patient game, with both teams trying to get a goal on the break. Is that an American article? It would explain a lot.

[Herr Matzat]

miroslav KLOSE!!!!

BREMEN POWUH~!

[therockbox]

SHUT UP MR. O'NEILL, STOP MAKING AN IDIOT OUT OF YOURSELF!

[John Stones' Paint Trophy]

How fucking boring is O'Neill?

[therockbox]

Pekerman has quit as boss of Argentina, Lineker makes a shit joke.

[TheArsenal]

Confirmation.......

Jose Pekerman has quit as coach of Argentina following their quarter-final loss to Germany on penalties.

"This has come to an end and I will certainly not go on," he said.

"You have to make a decision and I'm convinced I've done everything in my reach, and it's time to look for something else.

"I'm very sorry for the coaches and the fans and the players, this team deserves to go further but we couldn't make it."

Argentina led through a Roberto Ayala goal but Miroslav Klose's late equaliser sent the game into extra-time.

Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso both missed in the penalty shoot-out to see the hosts progress 4-2.

The 56-year-old Pekerman added: "It was a very exciting match. We also played like favourites and gave our best although we lost.

"The penalties were a consequence of a very even match. It's a shame for Argentina who played very well and in the whole championship."

Klose's equaliser came eight minutes after Pekerman had taken off playmaker Juan Riquelme.

Pekerman took over as Argentina coach in September 2004, having previously led the Under-20 side to three World Youth Championships.

[GoGo Yubari]

3-0 Italy. Ukraine is just getting pummeled.

[TheArsenal]

Italy have managed to score twice more and no-one posts here?

For shame EWB......for shame.....

[IAceI]

Love how Toni thought he'd just scored the greatest individual effort since Maradonna :-\

[thatshortguy]

As pretty much expected, Italy is spanking Ukraine trois-zéro and I would not be surprised if they piled on more with roughly 20 to go.

Looks like it'll be the Germans and the Italians, and frankly...go Deutschland.

[kimigoeswm]

The same what Matzat said is going on here in Leipzig. Many people with flags are doing party at the streets and everyone is happy. It's just great, on every car and on every house are german flags and many people are chanting the usual songs. You guys really should be in Germany.

kimi

[Lineker]

KARATE KICK TO THE GROIN!!

¬_¬

[IAceI]

The same what Matzat said is going on here in Leipzig. Many people with flags are doing party at the streets and everyone is happy. It's just great, on every car and on every house are german flags and many people are chanting the usual songs. You guys really should be in Germany.

kimi

[Dan]

with roughly 16 hours to go till kick-off I'm quite confident, but a bit nervy already.

COME ON ENGLAND!!!

[Liam]

Pekerman should have resigned because he was going to get fired otherwise....that second half was like a 101 on how to throw away the World Cup in 45 minutes. Argentina almost had it in the bag (I think they'd do Italy) personally, but the manager fucked it up royally.

[9 to 5]

with roughly 16 hours to go till kick-off I'm quite confident, but a bit nervy already.

COME ON ENGLAND!!!

Much the way I feel. Just afriad Big Phil might find us out again, but then they do lack of their best players...