A dream quarter final By MSN’s Matt Ball
Last updated June 25 2006
After Saturday’s two last 16 matches, a great quarter final now looms as hosts Germany will take on Argentina in Berlin on June 30. The Germans will have the backing of great home support, the Argentines will seek to impose their flowing passing game. Don’t miss it.
Argentina 2-1 Mexico (AET)
That is the first time I have had to write the after extra time abbreviation at the end of a score line and I doubt it will be the last during this World Cup.
Mexico took the game to Argentina, something we had seen only from the Ivory Coast in Argentina’s group matches, and showed that this is the way to play against the team that have become tournament favourites. If you sit back and let them slow down the play they will score goals for fun – ask Serbia & Montenegro.
Mexican defender Marquez opened the scoring after five minutes, sliding in the steer the ball into the roof of the net after a free-kick had been flicked on.
The lead lasted only another five minutes when Jared Borgetti headed into his own net from a corner. Argentine striker Hernan Crespo was credited with the goal by nobody except German television but there would be a case for his foot being so close to Borgetti’s head that it could have been considered dangerous play.
Two controversial decisions affected the match. Near the end of the first half Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze miscontrolled a pass from his goalkeeper and brought down a Mexican attacker who would have had a clear goal scoring opportunity. Only a yellow card was awarded.
At the end of the second half substitutes Aimar and Messi combined to score a late winner for Argentina only to see Aimar had been incorrectly ruled offside.
Both teams had used all three substitutes and were beginning to tire in extra time. But up stepped Argentina’s Maxi Rodriguez on 98 minutes to chest a pass from Sorin and volley it beautifully into the far corner from outside the box. A wonder strike to settle a very good game; certainly not the walkover for Argentina many had predicted.
Germany 2-0 Sweden
German fans will take heart from Mexico’s performance. The German team has better strikers than Mexico so if they are able to disrupt Argentina’s slow passing style they are in with a good chance.
The hosts went through to the quarter finals at a canter. I was left wondering whether I was watching the same Swedish team that had caused England so many problems in the second half on June 20.
Two early goals from Lukas Podolski put Germany in control and once Swedish defender Teddy Lucic had been harshly sent off for two bookable offences the result never looked in doubt. Henrik Larsson blasted a penalty over the bar in the second half to compound Sweden’s misery. | 
