The winners of the match arguably touted to be deservingly called the finals before the finals!
A match that was boring to start off, it ended up with enough euphoria and adrenaline to befit the deserving tag of a final!
It saw stark contrasts and a sort of role reversal, Argentina playing 'Italian style' possession football. Germany, on the other hand, tried an approach with more flair and panache. However, the statistics told a whole different story. Argentina had the shots on target, the possession and a better hold over the match.
The first half of the match was a drab affair with both goalies barely having a say in the bearing of a match that saw the Olympiastadion stadium in Berlin packed like a tin of 70,000 sardines. The only affair worth commenting was the regular shrill of the referee's whistle that seemed to punctuate the proceedings at just about the right moment.
The two teams headed to the lemon break without tickling the scorers. Worse still, the scorers would have had gone off to sleep, had it not been a FIFA quarter final!
The second half saw the Germans coming out with a sense of belief and meaning. Must have been something that Jurgen Klinsmann must have said i guess. Whatever, it was that was said, the game seemed to be a different one from the first half.
However, it was The Albiceleste who drew first blood after barely four minutes into the resumption of play. A Riquelme corner saw Ayala guiding it past the outstretched hand of Lehmann into the netting as Lahm could only stare in despair.
This seemed to bring a sudden sense of urgency into the Deutsche as they seemed to be a team possessed. A set of 11 men fighting for their honour and that of their countrymen. They kept pressing, but were unable to pierce the Argentine wall.
As time passed by, the Germans got increasingly restless and fidgety. It didn't help that the South Americans were frustratingly content on keeping possession and wasting priceless time.
But, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Miroslav Klose acting as the torch bearer in the Nationalmannschaft’s progression towards an equaliser! In a fine display of team-work, Klose was ably aided by Captain Michel Ballack and Borowski. In the process, Klose headed his fifth for the tournament.
The Olympiastadion erupted in a frenzy as their favorite son (atleast at that moment) had ensured that they had lived to fight another day! The goal left Jose Pekerman's team in a disarray. They were playing for the final whistle and this meant a complete U-turn in their approach. They tried to twist the German arm, but the Germans wriggled out of the situation. They had their own chances, but it seemed that the match was destined to go beyond the regular stipulated time.
The 30 minutes of extra time excited only to disappoint with no change to the original score line. This meant that the match was headed into the infamous and exhilarating Penalty Shootouts. I guess it was fair, considering that it was really difficult to differentiate the teams apart. My guess is that it was worthy of a match of such a stature should head into shootouts. It was rightly said that the best matches are played in the quarters and the semis.
The hosts had a cent percent success rate as they converted through Neuville, Ballack, Podolski and Borowski. Jens Lehmann was the hero for the Germans as his saves from Ayala and Cambiasso meant that the Albiceleste and their huge contingent of fans had to embark on a long quiet and disappointing journey home.
As sorry as I am that she has to go, it also means that the Germans or the Portuguese would be staking a claim for my money on the finals! Bundesrepublik Deutschland!!!
It's all in the mind! Listen to what is has to say... You'll be happy! Listen to your heart You'll have the peace... Listen to the both and you'll be the happiest... If you can manage to do this nothing can stop you in life!
