Fabio Capello’s reign may come to an abrupt end after England was crushed by arch-nemesis Germany in a match that will be remembered for a critically controversial moment and for an English team’s persistent ineptitude. Despite fielding a roster of big names and personalities, with the exception of a twenty minute stretch England was run off the pitch by a young German team’s sharp passing game and lightning fast counters that ended with clinical finishes.
England's "four lions" accountable for the team's performance
Amidst the usual chorus of calls for the manager’s head, an even louder message now recognizes that England is simply not as good as its people, media and football officials believe. Gerrard, Terry, Rooney, Barry, Ashley Cole and even Lampard displayed only glimpses of their “super-star??? reputations over England’s four tournament matches. David James, while not committing any further calamities, did nothing to elevate his team’s chances. Today, perhaps on either the second or the third goal, he might have done better. England rarely played with fighting spirit throughout the tournament and always seemed confused in the construction phase, while its defensive weaknesses were amply exposed today. And Rooney? A super talented player in great form just a couple of months ago, a goal scoring machine on an almost unstoppable tear, was barely visible for long stretches of England’s campaign.
In all fairness, Lampard’s goal would have changed the psychology of the match completely. It would have up-ended Germany’s seemingly tremendous advantage emphatically, leaving Germany rambling and under fierce pressure as England at last roared. Instead, England was unable to even the score by halftime and playing from behind proved to be taxing. Two blitzing counters finished by Thomas Muller devastated the English hopes. The rest of the way England looked defeated, though one sensational save by the German keeper was needed to keep the score-line intact. It was a German triumph of epic proportion, one that avenged the historic 5-1 thrashing inflicted by the Brits in Berlin a few years ago, but not one that came up to the magnitude of 1966. While Germany celebrates before focusing on the next step, England should take time and take an honest assessment of its talent pool before making future plans with or without Capello.
Germans celebrate the most savored of all victories.
Germany will take on Diego Maradona’s Argentina next, after the South Americans got past a tough opponent without ever playing under pressure. Messi and Tevez provided all of the offense necessary to overpower a Mexican side that fell behind unfortunately and was unable to fully recover. An off-side Carlos Tevez goal and a monumental give-away error by Mexican defender Osorio put Argentina in command, albeit not in the prettiest of ways. Mexico struggled to put much together until the second half, when Pablo Barrero’s introduction provided the needed spark. Yet just when Mexico seemed closer to reducing a two goal deficit, Carlos Tevez put the game out of reach with a stupendous, sensational strike seen around the world, surely one of the goals of the tournament.
Man-of-the-Match: Maradona favorite Carlitos Tevez.
Mexico did score through a great individual effort from “Chicharito??? Hernandez, but Argentina held on comfortably for a win marred by another critical refereeing controversy. The referee and the linesman conferred after Tevez’s first goal, scored from an off-side position, yet without the benefit of instant replay they decided to let the goal stand. Argentina might have prevailed anyway, though Argentine players will not mind a win tainted by favorable controversy. Next up for the pibes is a test of maximum intensity, a match worthy of a World Cup final. Argentina and Germany met at the same exact stage four years ago when the host nation narrowly eliminated the South Americans. Will that moment be avenged or will Germany, yet again, somehow reach the final phase of the tournament without being favored to win it all? A classic encounter not to be missed.