KIDWCKED
07-06-2010, 10:19 PM
c/p from tsn by the a/p
DURBAN, South Africa -- The reigning European champion vs. the runner-up. One of the top scorers at this World Cup vs. No. 2 on the all-time list. The most dynamic team at this tournament vs. a squad that's yet to show its full brilliance. A three-time champion vs. a team craving its first title.
Sounds like a great World Cup final.
Too bad it'll be the semifinals when Germany and Spain face off Wednesday at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with many expecting the winner to go on and be crowned world champion four days later. The Spain-Germany winner will play the Netherlands in the final.
"This would have been a great final, actually," Germany's Lukas Podolski said Tuesday. "We want revenge for 2008. When you are in a final you want to win. We still think about that defeat, and it still hurts. We want to reach the final and we'll do all we can to achieve that."
There's a game in every World Cup that comes a round or two too soon, and Germany-Spain definitely qualifies.
Spain has lost all of two games since November 2006, and it ended a 44-year major title drought when it beat Germany to win the European Championship in 2008. David Villa shares the scoring lead at this World Cup with Wesley Sneijder (five goals), and the Spanish defence hasn't allowed a goal in the knockout stage.
Germany, meanwhile, made old rivals England and Argentina look downright silly in their knockout round games, routing them by a combined score of 8-1 to reach a third straight World Cup semifinal. Miroslav Klose has regained his old form and, with two goals against Argentina, moved into a tie with Gerd Mueller for second place on the all-time scoring list.
But it's not just the stats that make this such a tantalizing matchup.
Few teams can keep up when Germany and Spain are at their best, but each is the other's equal.
DURBAN, South Africa -- The reigning European champion vs. the runner-up. One of the top scorers at this World Cup vs. No. 2 on the all-time list. The most dynamic team at this tournament vs. a squad that's yet to show its full brilliance. A three-time champion vs. a team craving its first title.
Sounds like a great World Cup final.
Too bad it'll be the semifinals when Germany and Spain face off Wednesday at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with many expecting the winner to go on and be crowned world champion four days later. The Spain-Germany winner will play the Netherlands in the final.
"This would have been a great final, actually," Germany's Lukas Podolski said Tuesday. "We want revenge for 2008. When you are in a final you want to win. We still think about that defeat, and it still hurts. We want to reach the final and we'll do all we can to achieve that."
There's a game in every World Cup that comes a round or two too soon, and Germany-Spain definitely qualifies.
Spain has lost all of two games since November 2006, and it ended a 44-year major title drought when it beat Germany to win the European Championship in 2008. David Villa shares the scoring lead at this World Cup with Wesley Sneijder (five goals), and the Spanish defence hasn't allowed a goal in the knockout stage.
Germany, meanwhile, made old rivals England and Argentina look downright silly in their knockout round games, routing them by a combined score of 8-1 to reach a third straight World Cup semifinal. Miroslav Klose has regained his old form and, with two goals against Argentina, moved into a tie with Gerd Mueller for second place on the all-time scoring list.
But it's not just the stats that make this such a tantalizing matchup.
Few teams can keep up when Germany and Spain are at their best, but each is the other's equal.