1/4 FINAL
06/30/06
So, the time has come for the World Championships of the quarter finals, idle conversations and discussions have been dropped, sentiments and manifestations of mutual respect have been forgotten, unfulfilled predictions and non-reported sensations have been rejected.
Joking aside, the time has come for battle not for life, but for death.
The fight is continued only by the most worthy, experienced and successful: all the former world champions (Uruguay does not count, since I did not reach Germany at all), who suffered from the beating of the Dutch and greatly thinned Portugal, as well as Ukraine, illuminated by the mocking smile of Fortune, for which, despite dimensionless luck, the moment of truth has also come.
GERMANY - ARGENTINA. 19.00 Moscow time
Berlin - Olympiastadion
Judge Luboš Michel (Slovakia)
After an easy victory over Sweden 2-0 the whole of Germany fell to the TV screens, hoping that in another match of the 1/8 finals, the Mexican team could save the tournament hosts from an impending clash with Argentina.
However, the South Americans had other plans and now we have to witness a fascinating fight, full of internal content and traditional rivalry.
The confrontation of these teams has deep historical roots.
In fact, in the past 20 years, these teams have played twice in the World Cup finals.
In 1986, at the World Cup in Mexico, the Argentines, led by Maradona, managed to win an honorary trophy, literally wresting a victory from those who managed to catch the Germans at the end of the match, 3: 2.
Already in 1990 in Italy, the Germans returned the favor, beating the Argentines at the Olympic Stadium in Rome 1-0 with a dubious penalty, realized by Andreas Breme a few minutes before the end of the match.
From that memorable finale, the teams played 4 matches among themselves, also met at last year's Confederations Cup (2: 2), held on the eve of the World Cup in Germany.
In the past 16 years, luck has been more common with Argentina: 2 wins and 2 draws.
However, not only on the basis of statistical data is the balance of power formed in matches of this level. In favor of Germany, the team clearly caught their game, easily defeating the Swedes 2-0 and without spending too much effort on the stubborn struggle that the Scandinavians are able to impose on any team.
Forwards Podolski and Klose showed beautiful football, constantly changing places in the central zone, confusing the enemy’s defense and freeing up the playing space to complete the attacks.
In the attack, Germany appeared absolutely ready to solve the most serious tournament goals. The Germans inflicted a huge number of shots on the opponent’s goal and the Swedes should no doubt thank the football god for their defeat in 1 \ 8 World Cup did not become devastating. Only one Michael Ballack, could with minimal luck to score " tre krunur " several balls .
In total, at this tournament, both Germans and Argentines managed to hit the gates to rivals 10 times, having conceded in their own only two goals.
The local audience, too, naturally, on the side of the hosts of the tournament, in the stadium with a capacity of approximately 75,000 spectators, there will be an overwhelming majority of Germans.
Argentina, which had a great group tournament, and then having hardly defeated the Mexican team in extra time, also has its advantages.
This is, first of all, the high efficiency of team actions noted by experts. Having inflicted almost two times less blows on the opponents' goal than the Germans (41 versus 78), the South Americans managed to score the same number of goals as the hosts of the tournament.
Secondly, individually Argentines are stronger than Germans and their task will be, first of all, to impose their opponent on the game with a lot of small passes and long possession of the ball. Team actions of this kind at times succeed two-time world champions " cheers " and then, as it was in the match against Serbia, they become simply unstoppable.
Much of the outcome of the match will depend on the confrontation between the team leaders, Michael Ballack and Juan Roman Rekelme, who for objective reasons have not yet demonstrated their best game at this tournament.
Estimated compositions:
Germany: Lehmann - Friedrich, Lahm, Mertezaker, Metzelder, Schweinsteiger, Schneider, Frings, Ballack, Podolski, Klose
Argentina: Abbondansieri - Ayala, Sorin, Heinze, Burdisso, Cambiasso, Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez, Riquelme, Saviola, Crespo
The William Hill bookmaker offers the following quotes for this match: 2.7 - 2.8 - 2.5
ITALY - UKRAINE. 23.00 Moscow time
Hamburg - Stadionamburg
Judge Frank De Blacker (Belgium)
Estimated compositions:
Italy: Buffon - Grosso, Bartsagli, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Perrotta, Pirlo, Totti, Gilardino, Toni
Ukraine: Shovkovsky - Nesmachny, Vashchuk, Gusin, Tymoshchuk, Shelaev, Gusev, Sparrow, Milevsky, Kalinichenko, Shevchenko
The William Hill bookmaker offers the following quotes for this match: 1.61 - 3.1 - 5.5
07/01/06
ENGLAND - PORTUGAL. 19.00 Moscow time
Gelsenkirchen - Aufschalke Arena
Judge Horacio Elisondo (Argentina)
The William Hill sportsbook offers the following quotes for this match: 2.1 - 2.87 - 3.3
BRAZIL - FRANCE. 23.00 Moscow time
Frankfurt - Waldstadion
Judge Medina Cantalejo (Spain)
Bookmaker William Hill offers the following quotes for this match: 1.8 - 2.9 - 4.5
Vadim Sedov
1/8 FINAL MATCHES
27th of June
June 26th
June 25
June 24