Tears From A God As Germans Edge Kloser To Glory

Germany have comprehensively sealed their place in the semi final of the World Cup Following a truly breathtaking 4-0 victory over original favourites Argentina in Capetown this afternoon.

The game was a firey encounter right from the whistle. Only 2 minutes into the game and referee Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan had to give his first calming down orders after Miroslav Klose tried to go through Javier Mascherano for a short cut. You would mostly see that foul the other way around. It didn’t take long for the games first goal.

On 3 minutes  a tournament full of woeful goalkeeping  continued. Bastian Schweinsteiger curled over a wickedly inswinging free-kick from the left and after Thomas Mueller glanced it towards goal, Sergio Romero  seemed like he was in no-man’s land and the ball hit his right leg before going into the net. Fantastic start for the Germans.

From the goal Argentina seemed a little desperate to get a foothold on the game but instead Nicolas Otamendi fouled Arne Friedrich and he picked  up the game’s first yellow this did not seem like a confident Argentinian team and needed something to spark the game into life for them.

Argentina were starting to find space of their own mid way through  when they managed to get forward, but Angel di Maria’s cross from the left wasn’t close to being accurate enough and Germany cleared.  Mascherano then needlessly slides in recklessly on Bastian Schweinsteiger, but he escapes a booking he was very lucky.

It certainly wasn’t Argentina’s half and were un lucky when from  Lionel Messi’s  free kick hit the wall, but from the rebound Argentina got  the ball in the net – however, you could choose between any of four players who were caught offside it was the correct decision but a let off for the Germans.

Argentina seemed very frustrated and Germany were always going to go into the break with the lead. Diego Maradona looked very annoyed and he certainly wasn’t going to be giving his team a kiss and a hug during the 15 minute break. The man who could do great things with his feet (and hands) during his playing career, would have been trying to think of new uses for them.

Maradona’s troops came out more intent in the second half and went very close straight away. Germany gave the ball away and Angel di Maria hit a screamer with his left foot from about 25 yards that had Manuel Neuer scrambling along his line before it drifts a couple of yards wide of his right-hand post. That seemed to be it for good chances for Argentina.

Carlos Tevez hit one from 25 yards, but it was far too straight and a comfortable save for Manuel Neuer. Moments later Gonzalo Higuain shoot  from an angle on the left and despite some poor handling, Neuer gathered at the second attempt.

Germany pulled off a great finish moments later and had their place in the semi final written on stone. From his position on the floor just outside the area, Thomas Mueller somehow found a pass to Lukas Podolski on the left and his perfect pass along the six-yard box was nudged in by Klosehis 13th goal in World Cup finals. If that wasn’t enough to prove they were going through well maybe a third goal would have.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who ran the game from start until finish, jinked past a couple of half-hearted tackles down the Germany left and when he got to the byeline his finds the perfect pass for Arne Friedrich who scored his very first goal for his country to make it 3-0, a goal he will never forget.

This game wasn’t  just a beating, it was a destruction  and the destroyer-in-chief iwas Bastian Schweinsteiger. On this performance, you’d be hard pressed to find a more influential footballer in the world, he played  absolutely magnificent.

Argentina were doing some token attacking, but it was utterly futile. Lionel Messi shoot from 25 yards again, but again it flies into the arms of Manuel Neuer. He has added himself to names like Ronaldo and Rooney who have flopped in this competition.

The Germans have been known as a team who never let the foot off the pedal if they hold a comfortable lead and that continued with one minute to go. Germany broke with pace as Lukas Podolski sent Mesut Ozil away down the left and his floated cross landed perfectly for Miroslav Klose to volley into the corner past Sergio Romero. Klose now has 14 goals in World Cups, one behind the great Ronaldo. One.

That was one of the most stunningly one-sided World Cup quarter-finals you could ever imagine seeing. Diego Maradona trudges on to the pitch to shake hands and commiserate with his players.  Don’t cry for me, Argentina. Maxi Rodriguez and some of his team-mates were in tears.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.