Thank you Benny!!



24 June 2006



GERMANY 2-0 SWEDEN

Podolski 4, 12



Germany were rewarded for an aggressive start with two early goals from 'Das

Wunderkid' Lukas Podolski. Klose headed down a longball out of defence to

Podolski and he laid it back to Ballack, Ballack hit a first time pass to Klose

who brushed aside two Swedish defenders with ridiculous ease but as he

was about

to pull the trigger Isaksson dived at his feet to block, the ball broke to

Podolski and he fired at an empty net, via Lucic's hilarious spectacular diving

header. The defending on Germany's second goal was even worse. Three players

tracked Klose as he edged towards the right hand side of the box, Podolski ran

into the space, Klose gave him the ball via a slight deflection and he fired

past Isaksson. The ref blew for a foul against Lucic following a tussle with

Klose, they were both pulling each others shirts. Two German players

(Frings and

?) then talked the ref into giving Lucic a second yellow, and Podolski patted

the ref on the back after Lucic walked. An absolute disgrace.



Larsson went down theatrically in the box under minimal contact from

Mertesacker

but the ref pointed to the spot. 10 years ago it would be unthinkable to

award a

penalty against Germany, how times have changed. Sweden's coach, Lars

Lagerback,

then made one the dumbest decisions of all time. With Larsson ready to take the

penalty he decided this would be a good time to make a substitution.

Needless to

say after Wilhelmsson came on for Jonson Larsson blazed the penalty into orbit.

Obviously there's not guarantee Larsson would have scored even if the

substitution hadn't been made but we've seen in the past how easily some

players

can lose their concentration in the built-up to a spot kick. Isaksson tipped a

stinging drive from Ballack onto a post and there was a major lull in the play

until late chances for Ballack and Schneider.



Attendance : 66,000



Red Card : Lucic 35 (Sweden)

Assists : n/a, n/a





ARGENTINA 2-1 MEXICO

Borgetti 10 (og) Marquez 6

Rodriguez 98



Mendez flicked on Pardo's free kick and Marquez slid in at the back post

to slam

a volley into the room of the net. Borgetti, under pressure from Crespo, headed

Riquelme's corner against Crespo's high boot, the ball rebounded off his head

and into the net. Crespo should have given Argentina the lead following

a lovely

flowing move but having ran onto Cambiasso's pass he lifted the ball over the

advancing Sanchez and wide of a post. Heinze escaped with a yellow card for a

lunging last man foul on Fonseca, having lost possession with a terrible first

touch on a pass from his goalkeeper.



The Argentineans continued to ride their luck, Morales found Borgetti with a

fantastic pass, he controlled the ball on his chest just as he was about to

shoot Sorin leapt in the air and kicked him in the face, catching the ball a

split second before catching Borgetti, clear as day penalty and dangerous play,

nothing given. Argentina immediately broke and Saviola was denied by an

excellent save from Sanchez. Fonseca missed an easy header with a weak leap and

Messi had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside minutes before full time.



Sorin hit a deep crossfield pass over to Maxi Rodriguez who was standing on the

right hand edge of the box, Rodriguez juggled the ball off his chest, took two

steps forward then hit a magnificent left foot volley, the ball flew

through the

air before dropping into the left corner of the net. As good as Cole's goal

against Sweden and a goal worthy of winning any match.



I think the refereeing has been of a decent standard in this tournament but

Massimo Busacca and his linesman were terrible. Argentina's quality was the

difference overall but they did get the breaks from the officials, they won't

against Germany.



Attendance : 43,000

Assists : Mendez, n/a, Sorin





http://soccer-europe.com

Chat room : http://www.lhcw.net/WorldCup

Rss feed : http://soccer-europe.com/RSS/News.xml



I was at the Edmonton Strachcona Elephat and And Castle with Soccer Steve and the Mexicans weree out in force.



In the end, QF1 : Germany takes on Argentina