Whatever happens during Saturday's much-anticipated clash between Germany and Argentina, there surely won't be any love lost between the two soccer-crazed nations.
Both sides have traded verbal blows leading up to their World Cup quarterfinal in Cape Town, site of the latest high-stakes meeting between the international powers.
Germany and Argentina also met in the 2006 quarterfinals, and the physical confrontation that followed the host Germans' penalty-kicks victory remains fresh in both teams' minds.
"We have to concentrate on our own game. They are temperamental, we'll see how they deal with defeat on Saturday," Germany captain Philipp Lahm said of Argentina. "They are impulsive, temperamental and they don't know how to lose."
Lahm wasn't the only German to lob insults this week. Team manager Oliver Bierhoff called the Argentines "aggressive and provocative," while midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger accused them of having "no respect" as they "try to influence the referees."
Albiceleste striker Carlos Tevez, meanwhile, told Argentine newspaper Clarin that he was "more afraid of Mexico than Germany" following Argentina's 3-1 win over the Mexicans in the round of 16 Sunday.
"The important thing is that we answer on the field," Argentine defender Martin Demichelis said. "The best answer is during the game."
Argentina has left its opponents without a response for its potent offense, scoring 10 goals in four victories.
Gonzalo Higuain has four goals and Tevez two for the Albiceleste, who are still waiting for the first goal from superstar Lionel Messi, regarded by many as the best player in the world.
"I'm not concerned about it," said Messi, who skipped practice Thursday because of a mild cold. "What concerns me more is that Argentina keeps going like this."
Argentina is going for its third World Cup, which would equal Germany's total. Colorful coach Diego Maradona captained the Albiceleste as the nations met for the championship in 1986 and 1990, with Argentina winning the first before the Germans exacted revenge four years later.
They also squared off in a friendly in Munich on March 3, but Schweinsteiger dismissed Argentina's 1-0 win as insignificant.
"One, it was a friendly. Two, they did not create many chances," he said.
"We'll find the right game plan to hurt Argentina, although we know how strong Argentina is," Schweinsteiger added. "At this level, you can't make mistakes."
Germany's confidence comes from a 4-1 win over England on Sunday in the round of 16. Die Mannschaft benefited when referees missed a goal by England's Frank Lampard, then put the Three Lions away with two second-half strikes from Thomas Mueller.
Maradona refused to share the podium with Mueller at the postmatch news conference following the March friendly, saying he didn't know who the player was, but the 20-year-old Mueller has made a name for himself with three goals at the World Cup.
Younger players like 21-year-old Mesut Ozil and 25-year-old Lukas Podolski have also scored for the Germans, who've played in South Africa without injured captain Michael Ballack.
