Again, two games today, and we got a bit of a belter to start with. Germany, Group D winners, against England, Group C runners-up. It was always going to be a good game, but I didn't expect the first half to be as good as it was. Now, as I'm English, I shall be referring to them as 'we', so apologies Germans... Germany did, however, start as the much brighter team, and exposed John Terry and Matthew Upson as two of the number of weak links in the team today. They began to run rings round them, and eventually, Miroslav Klose managed to squeeze the ball into the net after 20 minutes. It was the beginning of the end, because England were now deflated, and the ball just stayed at German feet, and the English really couldn't be bothered to go and get the ball. They expected it to come to them. And it was almost karma that Germany stuck another one in, with Lukas Podolski finding the net after just half an hour. It was a sucker punch, but Capello got the team back up on its feet, and Matthew Upson scored from a corner, and things looked a little brighter. It only took a minute for us to score again, with Frank Lampard putting the ball well over the line, but alas, karma struck back, and the Uruguayan linesman didn't spot a thing. A good two foot over the line, and didn't see it. Idiot. But that was that for England, and they near enough shut up shop before half time. The second half was a lot of possession play, and Germany always looked the more likely to score, and after 67 minutes, Thomas Muller did exactly that. And again, in the 70th minute. Steven Gerrard proved how poor a captain and a team player he is by taking a shot every time he received the ball, so as he could write the headlines and become the hero. Nob. They are a top team, and I really do hope that the quarter lives up to all expectations. To watch the match highlights, click here.
The next game of the day was between Group B winners, Argentina, and Group A runners up, Mexico. The South American derby had a lot to go to to beat the other game, but it sure as hell was going to try. Mexico did in fact start the brighter team, but it took 25 minutes for the Argentinians to break them down, with a highly controversial goal from Carlos Tevez. Having been nearly 3 yards offside, the assistant referee allowed for the goal to stand, before all the Mexican players saw a replay on the big screen. The ref then looked to have cancelled out the goal, but then allowed for the goal to stand! Very, very bizarre. It only took 8 minute for Gonzalo Higuain to score a perfectly legitimate goal, but the game was dead thanks to that stupid decision. After the restart, Tevez scored an absolute stunner, and then Javier Hernandez pulled a goal back with 20 minutes to go, but it certainly was too little, too late, and Argentina progress to play Germany thanks to the 3-1 victory. To watch the highlights of the game, click here. I have to say, after today, I have become a big advocate of goal-line technology. I always thought it should be in the game - it works for other sports - but Sepp Blatter is far too ignorant and too absorbed in his own ego to allow for it to happen. Today just proves it certainly should be involved in football, before the Beautiful Game dies a horrible death.
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