Romero: Argentina is preparing for penalties
Argentina is studying Germany's penalty techniques ahead of their World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday, goalkeeper Sergio Romero said.
Diego Maradona's side is hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2006 quarterfinals, when Germany beat Argentina 4-2 in a shootout.
Jens Lehmann stopped spot kicks from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso that day after consulting a cheat sheet of the Argentine penalty takers and the direction they usually took their kicks.
Romero said Monday that was a ``smart move'' by the Germans, and said Argentina has copied that tactic by studying videos of how their opponents take penalties.
``This time we have to be well prepared for everything,'' Romero said. ``In that moment it was a very smart move on their part, saving a piece of paper to know who was going to take the kick.''
While Argentina have added Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain to its starting lineup, Germany's traditional strengths have been supplemented by an injection of young players since the meeting four years ago.
``Germany has tall and powerful players who go up for all the corners and free kicks,'' Romero said, adding that striker Lukas Podolski ``has a great shot'' while Mesut Oezil ``chases down every ball and never gives anything up''.
One of the holdovers from the 2006 Germany squad is striker Miroslav Klose. Klose scored the opening goal in Germany's 4-1 win in the second round against England to draw level with Pele on 12 World Cup goals in total.
``He's very dangerous and he can score a goal against you at any moment,'' Romero said of the Bayern Munich striker.
Argentina and Germany have faced each other in two World Cup finals. In 1986, the South American side won 3-2 with Maradona in full flow, while four years later the European side had its revenge with a 1-0 win to lift the trophy.