A matchup of true heavyweights in this morning’s quarterfinal. There’s history between the sides—the 1986 final in Mexico where Maradona’s side put down the West Germans in a 3-2 display of beautiful attacking football comes immediately to mind. Never one to avoid the spotlight, the tournament’s most valuable quotable is stirring the pot before the match:
Maradona stared into a Fox Sports camera on Thursday and with a mock German accent asked, “What’s the matter Schweinsteiger? Are you nerrrvoushhh?”
This in reply to the Bayern Munich playmaker’s suggestion that the Argentine’s have been harassing officials.
We all know about Argentina’s attack, but what’s of question is their defense. That suggests the key matchup will be Demichelis versus Klose, the German finding his form again, and while neither one are speedsters, it’s Klose’s ability in the air that might see Demichelis holding his head in shame.
Open thread today only, after the bump!
72 comments
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:36 AM
i’m just so impressed at the german defense today … they’ve really frustrated messi and not given up any really good chances
Sean
July 3, 2010 at 11:37 AM
It’s sad to see a team just quit. This game was over after that second goal-that’s when Argentina stopped playing.
Sean
July 3, 2010 at 11:41 AM
Sad that Müeller won’t be in the next match from that cheap yellow
Larry
July 3, 2010 at 11:41 AM
the wife just asked, as maxi passed to messi instead of shooting, “are they under instructions to pass to Messi no matter how many guys are around him?”
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:42 AM
so how does this affect messi’s legacy? not good right
Larry
July 3, 2010 at 11:43 AM
no goals. bad for legacy.
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:45 AM
more importantly though .. no semi or final … that seems more damaging right? but yeah no goals no good
Larry
July 3, 2010 at 11:45 AM
but he’s only 23, so plenty of time to sort that out.
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:46 AM
holy shit this is ridiculous now ..
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:46 AM
god is he that young? you’re right
Ligocki
July 3, 2010 at 11:47 AM
Ryan – very true. German defense shut down most of the Argentina attacks. Wow – this has turned into an absolute thrashing!!
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:48 AM
how much consolation coke does maradona blow tonite?
Ligocki
July 3, 2010 at 11:49 AM
. . . that depends on when Maradona’s bookie decideds to have him “put down”
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:52 AM
wow klose second highest wc goal scorer ever
Ligocki
July 3, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Is Alexi Lalas REALLY the best we have?? . . .what a giant douche. . .
Simon
July 3, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Didn’t have Internet till now so couldn’t chime in. This was the sort of game where having Maradonna at the top would hurt theArgentines. How do you rally a team in the face a superior opponent both from a rah-rah sense bit also tactically.
Worse still I’ve been killing C. Ronaldo all tournament, now with Messi’s lack of production in a HUGE game all the portugese in the area are going to crush me
But ultimately Argentina wasn’t strong enough in terms of shape and system defensively and that in my opinion falls on the coaching staff and Diego Armando specifically
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:55 AM
ALL the american announcers blow .. harkes is a moron too…thank god abc/espn employed all the non-american commentators
Larry
July 3, 2010 at 11:55 AM
from paddypower.com:
If you enjoyed watching Portugal spend 90 minutes doing little other than try to stop Spain play, then you’re in for another treat in the quarter-finals. “You will see two types of football. One side trying to attack skillfully while we try to stop them,” promised Justo Villar ahead of the clash with Spain. So it’ll be the same again, minus the narcissistic pouting of a certain Real Madrid player.
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:56 AM
@simon .. couldn’t agree more .. maradona is a frontrunner plane and simple … i don’t see gene hackman like hoosier leadership here ….where’s the argentine norman dale?
Simon
July 3, 2010 at 11:56 AM
Oh and watching from the west coast, breakfast and soccer was nice. Plus I could get a full day os soccer in by noon and then still be a productive academic and write all afternoon
ryan
July 3, 2010 at 11:57 AM
@simon again … agreed… did the same thing … academia can be pretty cushy sometimes …
Suman
July 3, 2010 at 4:45 PM
@Simon @Reft: I’m fully immersed in the cushy academic lifestyle this weekend. As I said above, we’re staying with my Uruguayan friend Marcelo here in Ithaca..when I came to Cornell he was my lifeline–intramurals, Ithaca coed/men’s leagues. He comes back to Ithaca every summer to do his math (http://www.math.tamu.edu/~maguiar/) and play soccer..and this summer watch WC, w assorted ppl showing up for games, in the house he’s renting overlooking one of Ithaca’s gorges. Actually we’re going to go down for a dip now..
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