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World Cup Morning Report – Germany face sternest test against Spain
One finalist has been decided. Now a re-run of the Euro 2008 final beckons to decide the other, and although it may promise to set the pulse racing and produce jaw-dropping moments of excellence such is the array of supremely talented players that will grace the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, it will not come as a surprise if the game is more reminiscent of chess than football.
Both teams realise it will be their most difficult match of the tournament so far, even if they have lost one each during the group stage. As a result of this realisation as well as out of the greatest respect for the opposition, it is likely to be an extremely cautious affair, especially in the first half. The Germans have blown away both England and Argentina in their previous knockout fixtures but are sure to understand the Spanish rearguard is far superior to that of their previous opponents. Spain defend superbly as a team, whereas the Three Lions and La Albiceleste displayed a significant incompetence when asked to do exactly that. However, having said that, the Spaniards have actually not had to do much defending throughout the competition thus far, as it is they who have had most of the ball. In their previous knockout matches with Portugal and Paraguay, they were certainly not taxed too much as these teams preferred to sit back and, rather negatively, let Spain have the ball due to their fear of getting stung ferociously by a swarming Spanish counter-attack. A negative approach that naturally yielded zilch.
The European Championship final ended 1-0 to Spain of course, and it would not be a shock if the result of tonight’s game was the same. Spain have won their last two matches by that scoreline and have conceded just two goals so far. Germany have also conceded a miserly two goals in five games, but in contrast to Spain have banged in 13 goals. Despite their scintillating, often counter-attacking football having produced this flurry of goals, when they came up against Ghana in the group stage, the team most likely to have replicated the way Spain play, the Germans had a single Mesut Özil strike to thank for their victory. All these reasons point to a 1-0 success either way, but in football, as we seem to experience endlessly, nothing is certain.
One rather ironic fact that enhances this uncertainty is the role-reversal of our perceptions of the way Germany and Spain play their football. Few pundits would have tipped Spain to be securing single-goal victories whilst Germany were comprehensively hammering almost everybody that has the nerve to try and play against them. Before the tournament began we would not have had a problem banking on Germany progressing this far, but perhaps endorsing their usual efficient, pragmatic and utilitarian approach. The fact Spain seem to have adopted the German psyche and the Germans the Spanish ideals makes this tie even more intriguing. Will it be Joachim Löw’s young charges who continue to take the football world by storm, or will this distinguished collection of Spanish superstars manage to propel their nation to a first World Cup final?
See the full list of OLBG's free Football Tips here.
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