SPAIN LOOKS TO DERAIL GERMAN YOUTH

Prior to the World Cup, few gave Joachim Löw a chance of pulling his injury-ravaged side together for a serious run at the top stop. While the youthful talent came into the tournament unproven, as Die Nationalmannschaft go up against mighty Spain in the Durban for the right to meet the Netherlands in the final, they have become the poster-boy for national development programs.


Twenty years in the making, Germany put the plan in the place that is now coming to volition. Their youthful side, led by the heir apparent Thomas Müller, have shown passion and guile, mixed tactically to perfection. While the billing suggests a rematch of the Euro 2008 that saw La Furia Roja triumphant, Germany is riding a wave of bold, brash youthful optimism

Historically the media has pinned sterile phrases on German sides, portraying a steely-eyed vision that seems stuck in history books and far from the present day. The present day German machine is built of the sleekest style’s but with hearty dashes of cunning play making and a young striker chiselling his name into the game in a hurry. Watching Germany dispatch Argentina, the question was not whether they would but by how much.

Gushing with pride, legend Franz Beckenbauer noted, “Germany have never played like this before,” as the flourishing side has shown a new found attacking panache born from a generation of developmental work. Though Mr. Löw misses Thomas Müller to injury he is stacked with talent including Hamburg’s Piotr Trochowski, Toni Kroos of Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart sniper Cacau. Beyond the one forced chance, Germany is unlikely to adjust their line-up with Miroslav Klose revitalized in a scoring spree and Lukas Podolski once again proving how he rises to the challenges of international competition.

For Spain, it has been a perplexing tournament that despite being in the semi-finals they have rarely looking in top form. While few doubt their ability, good fortune saw them advance out of the group stage after falling to Switzerland to the opening match and if had not been for the Nati’s undoing with a question call, they might have suffered the same fate and France and Italy.

Against Portugal and Paraguay the elegant passing game of Vicente del Bosque’s side has been snuffed out by disciplined defending with only the foot of David Villa able to finish. Spain was sputtering against Paraguay until the Spaniard tactician pulled misfiring Fernando Torres but will need the Liverpool striker to find his finishing touch if they are to carve a victory. Spain’s only absence is likely Cesc Fàbregas who is doubtful after suffering an injury in training.

With both sides having a near full cupboard, this will prove to be superb tactical battle as both sides know the other well in a match of flourishing ability of today and Germany’s highly promising future.


Prepared by John Davies

NETHERLANDS PREPARED FOR URUGUAY

Forty years in the making, the Netherlands are within two victories of eliminating the anguish of never capturing the World Cup.


Though the great Clockwork Orange sides of the 1970's, led by the legendary Johan Cruyff, shook the foundations of the sport with "Totaalvoetbal", they succumbed in the finals of the 1974 and 1978 World Cup. Going through a dark period in the 1980's, the following decade under Guus Hiddink the Netherlands came within a penalty shoot-out loss to Brazil in the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup. As Bert van Marwijk's side face Uruguay on Tuesday evening in Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium in the World Cup semi finals, they have a chance to avenge the demons of the past and forever put their footprint on the great history of Dutch football.

The 2010 version of the Oranje is packed with talent including, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt and playmaker extraordinaire Arjen Robben, with the veteran leadership of Feyenoord’s Giovanni van Bronckhorst. While they advanced almost sheepishly in the group stages, their victory over Brazil in the quarterfinals established a professional aplomb that has been rarely been seen this World Cup. Bayern München’s Arjen Robben is playing with cunning vision and confidence, rewarding Bert van Marwijk for his selection despite coming into the competition with a tenuous injury situation. The Dutch tactician will however be challenged without the services of Nigel de Jong and Gregory van der Wiel, who are suspended, with Demy de Zeeuw and Khalid Boulahrouz to likely step into the respective spots.

Uruguay, which tasted the pinnacle of the World Cup sixty years ago with a victory over Brazil have been inspiring but are far from fully stocked cupboard. Óscar Tabárez’s has been a miracle worker with La Celeste but he comes into the contest without Luis Suárez and Jorge Fucile, due to suspension and defender Diego Lugano is looking very unlikely, while Nicolás Lodeiro’s appearance in South Africa is over with a broken foot. Should Diego Lugano be unavailable, Colo-Colo veteran Andrés Scotti will likely be the first choice. Despite these absences and the many mentions of the Netherlands satisfying regrets of the past, Sniper Diego Forlán has been spellbinding and interestingly enough as his own connection to the Clockwork Orange as his father Pablo faced them as a part of Uruguay’s 1974 World Cup side that succumbed to the Dutch 2-0.

Contrary to the pre-match posturing and other nonsense in the media by Argentina’s Diego Maradona before Germany crushed them, both managers are wisely complimentary of their opposition. While Bert van Marwijk has lauded Uruguay for their inspired play noting, "if you see their passion it could serve as an example for us", Óscar Tabárez has not been shy of accolades. Citing the difference to the 2010 Netherlands line-up, the veteran leader underlined their balanced play, technical proficiency with high work rate. Ultimately, with passion and suspense running high on both sides of the pitch, this will prove to be fight to the end.

Prepared by John Davies

POGREBNYAK: I DIDN’T EXPECT THAT GERMANY IS SO STRONG

Stuttgart striker Pavel Pogrebnyak shares his impressions on the World Cup in South Africa.

"Frankly speaking I didn’t expect that Germany would smash Argentina", Pogrebnyak said to sport press. "I knew that Bundesteam is strong, but I didn’t imagine that they are so powerful".

"Their mindset is perfect and all players are perfectly prepared physically. Moreover they always fight until the very end in every episode. It’s also important that all players perform in Bundesleague, that means their football style is familiar to each of them. By the way German championship’s club coefficient was the highest one in Europe last season".

"It’s hard to say who will celebrate victory in Germany vs. Spain head-to-head battle. In general before the tournament I expected Spain to win the gold, but now I don’t know, because Germans are so strong. It will be breath-taking game, and maybe it will end in a draw and winner will be determined in a penalty shootout".

"I liked how Bastian Schweinsteiger played in South Africa, as he leads the whole team. This player and David Villa are the best at the tournament".

"Naturally I recall Russia’s qualifying match against Germany. It’s a pity that we failed to win a spot in World Cup in South Africa".

"I understand that we were beaten by very strong team, and I think Germany is even stronger now. Maybe we were beaten by the future world champions, and at the same time we showed good football against them".

KLOSE: SPAIN IS STRONG BUT NOT INVINCIBLE

Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose believes that Spain is stronger team than England and Argentina.


The match against Diego Maradona’s team became the 100th game for Klose, and by grabbing a double he joined his compatriot Gerd Muller in the list of top-scorers in history of the World Championships. Now Klose requires only one goal to draw level with Ronaldo as World Cup best-ever goalscorer.

"I talked to Ronaldo after the World Cup 2002 final, but I couldn’t even dream of being in list of top scorers with this great player or even leaving him behind", Klose said at press-conference.

"I plan to score five goals in South Africa and if I manage to score six, I will be very happy".

"The German striker scored five goals at each of two previous World championships, while this time he has already scored four goals in matches against Australia, England and Argentina".

"Atmosphere in the team doesn’t differ from atmosphere after our victory over England, Klose added. It’s important that we fulfilled our plan for the game and proved that our previous wins were not accidental. We are happy, however there is no euphoria in the team".

"Germany suffered a loss to Spain at Euro-2008 final, but I think we shouldn’t compare the past times with our current situation. Teams’ squads change and they can be in different form at the competitions".

"While Spain is still the same than two years ago, German team has many new players in the roster. I hope that new generation will help take revenge upon Spain for our loss in 2008".

"No doubts Spain is stronger than England and Argentina. I watched replay of Spain vs. Paraguay match where our next rivals showed fantastic football. Paraguay looked well too, that means that Spain is not invincible".

"Nobody could predict that Brazil and Argentina would be defeated and Uruguay would be among the best four teams. Though all our thoughts are connected with our own team. We want to advance to the final game and I think we deserve it".

KURANYI: I FEEL I AM A PART OF THE TEAM

German man Kevin Kuranyi assesses his teammates’ chances in World Cup quarterfinal match against Argentina.


"Of course I watched Germany’s match against England", Kuranyi told sport press. "Germans deserved this victory and I am happy with their success".

"I feel that I am still a part of the team, because I played with many players from the current squad and they are my friends. I hope that I will perform for Bundesteam again".

"Germany and Argentina stand equal chances to celebrate victory in quarterfinal. Argentineans showed high-class football, while Germans keep their high level too. You know which team I will support on Saturday".

SCHWEINSTEIGER: FAIR PLAY – NOT ABOUT ARGENTINA

Leader of the German national team recollects only negative impressions on their World Cup-2006 quarterfinal match against Argentina, even despite his team won the game in penalty shootout series.


"The first thing which I recall is not the penalty series, but constant provocations from the side of Argentinean players", Schweinsteiger said. "They had been challenging us all the time during the game and asked yellow cards for us every time when they fell down. So I should say that fair play rules are not for Argentina".

"Maybe this situation will repeat on Friday, and the main thing for us is to be able to rests them. Torsten Frings didn’t keep his emotions four years ago and was sent off the pitch. It’s hard to make yourself not to respond to provocations, but there is no other way out".

"If we focus our attention only on Lionel Messi, we will lose at once. It’s necessary to play against the whole team, but not against one player".

"This match will be a fight of tactics, and if our tactics is right, Argentina will be defeated. Messi hasn’t scored any goals at this competition and we will try to leave his statistics the same".

"Number of star players in the national team doesn’t make it winner of the World Cup, because only the team, which is better prepared at crucial moment. Our team is ready for success and the only thing which we lack is experience".

ZAKHAROV: NOTHING STRANGE IN REFEREES’ MISTAKES

Former outstanding referee Igor Zakharov shares his attitude to problems of refereeing at World Cup in South Africa.

"There is nothing surprising that referees make so many mistakes", Russia’s best rereferee-2008 according to sport press voting said. "Teams began playing more aggressively, level of football has grown too and referees’ work becomes more difficult. They make wrong decisions under pressure".

"When Villa netted a goal in the match against Portugal, this moment was difficult and everything depended on position of linesman, maybe he couldn’t see the episode very well. In general I liked how referees worked at this game".

"To my mind we shouldn’t introduce system of video replay to football, because the game will lose its dynamics, and it can also provoke negative behaviour. Moreover referees’ mistakes are part of football, some kind of entertaining, as fans get an opportunity to argue about their decisions".

SLUTSKY: CHANGES ARE INEVITABLE

CSKA head coach Leonid Slutsky talks about ongoing World Cup in South Africa and about his club’s preparations in Austria.


"To my mind the time has come for FIFA to change something, because the World Cup is not so entertaining and favourites don’t impress very much because they look tired", Slutsky said to sport press. "Changes are necessary to make the World Cup not worse than the Champions League for instance".

"Players get exhausted in their clubs and as the result they are tired at the World Championship. FIFA obliged everyone to finish the season one month before the tournament, but it’s not enough. In this case players have only one week of vacations and they have to resume hard work again".

"I have no ready solution, but they can change system of the Champions League when the World Cup is held. In any case decision is to be made by FIFA, and they definitely should do something".

"I watch World Cup matches attentively, and I support teams and players emotionally more than analyze their games, especially when CSKA players are on the pitch".

"Doumbia appeared in the field only for twelve minutes on the day when CSKA played trial match against Metallurg Donetsk. I read that he scored a goal from off-side position".

"I saw Tosic playing and he produced very good impression on me, but again he had little playing practice. Odia looked not well in the first match, and he improved his play after that".

"I am not surprised that people are impressed by Honda’s display. The only thing which worries me is that position of a striker is not the best one for him. I think that he would play much better if he plays closer to midfield line".

"CSKA is in very difficult situation now, since we lack four key players and we cannot introduce our two newcomers Doumbia and Tosic to our playing scheme".

"I understand that we will play the first match after summer break with those players, who train with us now. IF Gonzalez and Honda don’t advance to the World Cup final match, they will return to us, but they will need to get rest from this tough competition. Moreover Guilherme is injures and it will keep him sidelined from action too".

"On 3 July we will play one more trial match in Moscow against team from Naro-Fominsk. And after that we will begin one-week preparations for Premier League match against Saturn".

ARSHAVIN: NOBODY EXPECTED THIS RESULT

Captain of the Russian national team and Arsenal striker Andrey Arshavin commented on England’s match against Germany at World Cup first knockout round.


"I began watching this match when Germany netter the second goal", Arshavin said to sport press.

"I am sure that everything could have happen in different way if the referee registered Lampard’s 100% goal. I said long time ago that it’s necessary to establish system of video replay in order to prevent these situations".

"There is no man who had expected this result. Germany team surprisingly won this clash rather easily. If Lampard’s goal had been registered by the referee, England could have won the game".

"Germans outplayed their opponents first of all thanks to their speed and quick attacks. Moreover English team was weakened by selection problems, as they had nobody to replace Rio Ferdinand".

"We talked a lot about weakness of their goalkeepers line ahead of our matches in 2007, and since then nothing has changed".

"Players looked tired, maybe because of difficult season in English Premier League where clubs play more games than in other championships".

"Leader of the team Wayne Rooney didn’t manage to return to his peak form after suffering an injury. No doubts he was Premier League best player before he got injured, but now he is not team’s leader anymore".

"In any case only Fabio Capello and players know real reasons of their defeat".

"In Moscow Germany played defensive football, and their play became quite different at World Cup. We can say that Germans know which style can lead them to victory and they can change their tactics very quickly".

"Unfortunately I watched not many games of the World Cup, but my main impression is low speed. Chile, Slovakia, Ghana look fresher than others. By that way I liked Chilean team and I won’t be surprised if they produce a sensation in the match with Brazil".