Trash talking. Mind games. Maybe even a little outright deception.
Germany and Argentina have the Oscar for best World Cup drama locked up - and they're just getting started. Imagine what's in store when they're actually on the field for Saturday's quarterfinal, a grudge match four years in the making.
``We have no lack of respect for Argentina,'' Germany coach Joachim Loew insisted Friday after days of back-and-forthing.
Don't like 'em much either, though.
The Germans and Argentines may not exude nastiness in the same way as, say, the Raiders and the Chiefs. But their relationship has been testy since they traded World Cup titles in back-to-back finals 20 years ago, and it's been downright ugly lately. After Germany eliminated Argentina on penalty kicks four years ago, also in the quarterfinals, the two teams traded punches and kicks in a scuffle. It was so chippy, even some of the team officials got involved.
No one's decked anyone in South Africa - yet - but mild-mannered German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger ratcheted up the buzz on what's already one of the best matchups at the World Cup by accusing the Argentines of not showing respect for opponents and referees.
It goes beyond the 2006 fight, Schweinsteiger said, pointing out that Argentina - coach Diego Maradona included - mixed it up with Mexico as the teams headed to the tunnel at halftime of their second-round game.
``You could see their behavior at halftime of the game against Mexico,'' Schweinsteiger said Wednesday. ``When you look at their body language and gesticulations, they way they try to influence the referees, they have no respect. It's their mentality and character and we'll have to adjust.''
Captain Philipp Lahm chimed in a day later, essentially calling the Argentines hotheads.
``They are temperamental, we'll see how they deal with defeat on Saturday,'' Lahm said. ``They are impulsive, temperamental and they don't know how to lose.''
Not to be outdone, Maradona - hardly the model of restraint - mocked Schweinsteiger in an interview with Fox Sports Argentina, asking if the midfielder was ``nervous.''
And in Argentina's latest bit of intrigue, Lionel Messi has a ``mild cold'' - though one bad enough to make FIFA's reigning world player of the year skip a practice.
The Argentines skipped their workout at Green Point Stadium on Friday, instead holding a closed practice at their base in Pretoria. Messi had recovered enough to take part, and Argentine officials even put out a photo as proof.
``The important thing is that we answer on the field,'' Argentine defender Martin Demichelis said. ``The best answer is during the game.''
Yes, but this is so much more fun.
The teams played an exhibition in March without any fisticuffs. But there are no friendlies at the World Cup.
Even Loew is getting into the act. Not exactly the most colorful guy in the game with his piercing stare and low-key demeanor, Loew had the chance to smooth things over Friday and made, at best, a halfhearted attempt.
``They are physical to the limit of legality,'' he said. ``That's their mentality on the field. It has nothing to do with the real character of the people, who are friendly and warmhearted. But they're incredibly aggressive on the field.
``We have a high opinion of them as players,'' Loew added, ``and we know that we are going to run into the biggest possible resistance.''
Mind games are nothing new in big-time sports. The Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett is known as one of the biggest yappers around, trying to find something - anything - that will throw opponents off their games. No way Alex Rodriguez was just taking a shortcut when he cut across the pitcher's mound as he returned. But soccer seems like it should be above such pettiness. This is, after all, the same sport where players trade shirts after the final whistle.
Which is what makes Germany and Argentina's kerfuffle all the more entertaining.
The Germans are clearly trying to rattle Argentina, knowing Maradona has a temper. Get him riled up, the Germans are probably thinking, and Maradona might just melt down, destroying his own team in the process. If you think that's a stretch, note that even the slightest hint of controversy at this World Cup has sent players tripping over their own feet in their haste to apologize or explain themselves. (This means you, Deco and John Terry.)
Yet when asked about Schweinsteiger's comments, Loew shrugged them off.
``Bastian was expressing his opinion,'' Loew said. ``And we have freedom of speech.''
And Maradona is playing right along.
Players have to be missing a limb to miss practice at this stage of the game. Yet Argentina would have everyone believe a case of the sniffles had bested Messi. Two days before a quarterfinal match, no less.
Uh-huh.
``There is no need to talk about our opponents as they have done,'' Maradona said. ``We are exclusively focused on our side, on our team, and we're going to show this on the field tomorrow.''
In other words, stay tuned.
