The quarterfinal between Argentina and Germany isn’t the most anticipated match of this 2010 World Cup because it features the tournament favorites, or because of any geographic rivalry.
Saturday’s quarterfinal in Cape Town is the most anticipated match of this World Cup because the two sides have played the most exciting soccer of the tournament.
Led by mercurial playmakers Lionel Messi and Mesut Oezil, Argentina and Germany have torn defenses apart with mobility, creativity and relentlessness on the counterattack. There is little reason to believe either side will drop their attack-oriented approaches, thus making this match-up a much more intriguing, and potentially much more entertaining quarterfinal than the one they played in 2006 (which Germany won on penalty kicks).
The key for Argentina will be dealing with Germany’s versatile and dangerous midfield. Argentina isn’t built for dealing with so many threats out of the midfield, with Javier Mascherano as the only truly defensive-minded midfielder in the lineup. Maradona could choose to partner Mascherano with Juan Sebastian Veron or Mario Bolatti, to help deal with the German trio of Oezil, Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller.
One of the better battles to watch will be between a pair of seasoned veterans in Miroslav Klose and Walter Samuel. Injured in the team’s win against South Korea, Samuel is expected to return and he will be key to trying to contain Klose, who has been in good form this tournament.
While Argentina’s defense tries to contain Germany’s attack, Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez will test Germany’s defense in a way the Europeans have yet to be tested this tournament. The closest Germany came to facing a dangerous attack was England in the Round of 16, but the English offense was hardly firing on all cylinders in this World Cup — certainly not in the way Argentina’s offense is rolling.
Messi will be the key as always. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira have worked well in deep-lying midfield roles, but they haven’t faced a player as dynamic as Messi in this tournament. He hasn’t scored a goal yet in South Africa, but Messi has been Argentina’s creative force and his ability to find weaknesses in every defense should force Germany to commit extra resources to trying to stop him.
Another match-up to keep an eye on will be Tevez against German right back Philipp Lahm. Tevez has been deployed on the left quite a bit this tournament, but he’ll find Lahm there and Lahm has arguably been the best full back in the World Cup. If Tevez can keep pressure on Lahm, and therefore keep the marauding fullback from joining the German attack — while also creating chances for himself — Argentina can gain an edge in this tight matchup.
As much as this game will be determined by the offensive stars on both sides, the outcome could come down to the tactical battle between the well-respected and cerebral Joachim Loew and the enigmatic and unpredictable Diego Maradona. Loew figures to have the edge in the tactics department, but Maradona has done well with his lineup selections and has fielded a disciplined team this World Cup.
Which defense is better equipped to stop a dangerous attacking force? Which team will have the defensive discipline not to get burned on the counterattack? Which playmaker will be able to impose his will more successfully?
These are all questions that will be answered on Saturday, and finding those answers should make Saturday’s match one of the most exciting and entertaining of the tournament. With Brazil eliminated from the World Cup, Argentina and Germany both know that a win on Saturday could mean a major step toward winning a World Cup with a young team.
Ives Galarcep is a senior writer for FoxSoccer.com.
