By Eike Zwicker,
German national coach Joachim Löw changed just one position in the line-up in connection with their last game against Ghana. Striker Miroslav Klose replaced Cacau, who missed the game with a pulled muscle. Schweinsteiger and Boateng were punctual ready for use for the important match against England. Coach Fabio Capello trusted exactly in the same line-up as against Slovenia.
Right after the kick-off it was noticeable that both teams had the aim to avoid mistakes. But the young German team appeared to be a little bit more active and with more ball contacts. As a result of that, Mesut Özil was the first player with a chance to score in the game, but goalkeeper David James saved the shot from a short distance (4th). On the other hand the attacks of Capello’s team were most of the time unimaginative and through the middle of the pitch. The first goal of the game was created due to a goal kick of Manuel Neuer, the ball flew over the entire pitch including the defenders Upson and Terry to Klose, who outsmarted the surprised David James (20th). Afterwards the selection of England intensified the attacks, with the outcome that “the white eagles” had more room for their counterattacks. But Klose failed to score from a promising position (31th), just seconds later Podolski scored the second goal for the German squad (32th). The game seemed to be over, but the England squad could reduce the result still in the first half, after a header of the defender Upson (37). A minute later Frank Lampard tied the score with a shot from 17 metres, the ball rebounded from the crossbar behind the goal line (38th). Everybody in the stadium saw the goal apart from the referee team. Neither the referee nor the referee assistant saw that the ball has crossed the line. Even Fabio Capello cheered the tie on the bench of England. However, the half time result was 2:1 for Germany, the lead was well deserved, because of a lot of created chances by the German team, but on the other hand the referee stole a goal of the three lions.
Both teams walked without any changes on the pitch after the half-time break. Immediately the team of Capello took over the initiative and the German squad was only concentrated to defend the goal of Manuel Neuer. Once again Frank Lampard shot a heavy free kick from 35 meters against the cross bar (52th). Bad luck for the three lions! After that, the team of Joachim Löw improved their defending skills and finished a marvelous counterattack with a goal of Thomas Müller (67th). Three minutes later again Thomas Müller, again a counterattack let to the result of 4:1 for “the white eagles”. Definitely the preliminary decision! This was nearly the last action of the game, even so Gerrard had the final chance to reduce the result with a shot from 14 metres, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved the shot brilliantly.
Coming Saturday is the quarter-final between Germany and Argentina, who defeated Mexico 3:1.
Line-up:
Neuer – Lahm – Mertesacker – Friedrich – Boateng – Khedira – Schweinsteiger – Müller – Podolski – Özil – Klose
Substitutes:
72th Gomez for Klose
72th Trochowski for Müller
83th Kießling for Özil
Bench:
Butt, Wiese, Aogo, Tasci, Badstuber, Jansen, Kroos and Marin
