Argentina vs. Germany, Quarter-finals, June 30
By Signa Butler
What a way to begin the World Cup quarter-finals! Argentina against hosts Germany. It's a shame they have to meet in Friday's quarter-final round and not in the championship.
Argentina went undefeated (two wins and a draw) in the opening round to win the "Group of Death" over the Netherlands. In the round of 16, the South American powerhouse needed some late help from Maxi Rodriguez to edge Mexico 2-1.
The Germans won all three of their games in the first round and followed that up by dominating the Swedes in a 2-0 victory in the second round.
Two titans of soccer. One will be heading home prematurely.
GAME OVER
Everything seems to have settled. Germany moves on to play the winner of the Ukraine-Italy quarter-final game, which is coming up next (no blgo for that one - sorry folks).Be sure to check back here Tuesday afternoon for our next live game blog. We'll be following the first semifinal match from Dortmund, Germany. Coverage starts at 2:30 p.m. ET.
GAME OVER
Unbelievebale finish ... absolutely heartbreaking for Ayala, Cambiasso and Argentina ... whoa - what's going on here ... some of the players are arguing with each other and some officials. Not sure what this is about ...
PENALTIES
No! Lehmann reads Cambiasso's mind and makes a diving save to the right side. Germany wins 4-2 on penalties.PENALTIES
Borowski buries his - no chance for Franco - and it's up to Argentina's Cambiasso to keep the white and blue alive ... can he do it?PENALTIES
Podolski makes no mistake picking his corner. Rodriguez counters to make it 3-2.PENALTIES
To the shock of all, hobbling Ballack is up - hammers it down the middle. Ayala's sidefoot shot low right is STOPPED! How heartbreaking for Argentina and their star defender! Germany is up 2-1.PENALTIES
Neuville is up first and blasts his into the right corner. Cruz makes his for Argentina - Lehmann guesses right, but has no chance at it.PENALTIES
One can only imagine how Lehmann and Franco are feeling right now. I feel sick to my stomach watching.FULLTIME
PENALTIES! Such a tough way to decide a game. Let's hope Argentina and Germany make out better than Switzerland the other day against Ukraine. Sheesh ...29th minute (extra time 2)
Free kick for Argentina on the far right flank ... almost everyone is in the box. It's headed away by Ballack, who can hardly walk.27th minute (extra time 2)
Ballack is in terrible pain and has gone to the sidelines leaving Germany with 10 men. The Germans have every trainer in the stadium working on their star midfielder. "Magic spray" may not be enough though.24th minute (extra time 2)
Coloccini's shot from way out hit the top of the cross bar and bounced out ... Lehmann was right on top of it just in case.24th minute (extra time 2)
Friedrich just got a yellow card for hacking.22nd minute (extra time 2)
Odonkor just megged Sorin ... ring-a-ling-a-ling school bell ring (little phrase from an old coach).16th minute (extra time 2)
Tevez just laced a cracker at Lehmann from 40 yards out ... seeing if the German keeper is awake, are you? Lehmann handles it in his big mitts.15th minute (extra time 2)
The players had a few swigs of water and have switched sides. Will we see another goal or will this battle of the titans go to penalties?13th minute (extra time 1)
Time is running down in the first extra time ... Ballack is limping quite a bit. He's been playing through an ankle injury, which caused him to miss training a day ago.8th minute (extra time 1)
Ballack and Ayala are tango-ing in the box. It's no holds barred when battling for positioning on a free kick - holding, grabbing, stepping on cleats. Ballack fell to the turf after getting tangled with Ayala ... he's lucky he didn't get carded for simulation.5th minute (extra time 1)
Julio Cruz is booked for getting the elbow up on Paul Lahm during a challenge.3rd minute (extra time 1)
Tevez need a little attention after banging his nose on a German player's knee. Bit bloodied up, but he'll be back.FULLTIME
We're going into extra time folks. Two 15 minute halves (no golden goal) and should nothing be decided - penalties!92nd minute
Frings! Do you think he has a copyright on his name? I think it was Harvey's that had fries and onion rings together in one box and called it "frings." Pure greasy goodness ... oops, bit of a tangent ... just trying to break the tension.90th minute
Four minutes of injury time ...89th minute
Lehmann had to make a diving stop on an Argentina shot, but Tevez was offside by a generous 10 feet (actually, he was standing right on the goal-line). At least Lehmann is on his toes.87th minute
Simulation! Ha ha ha. Love that word. Rodriguez's embellishment inside the box earns him a yellow.86th minute
Klinsmann replaces Klose with Oliver Neuville ... Germany has used all of its subs as well.84th minute
Argentina has used all of its subs (teams only get three per game). Crespo was taken off just before the German goal, meaning Pekerman's crew will be without two of its offensive threats should this game go into extra time or penalties.80th minute
Klose makes amends for his horrendous marking on the Argentine goal and heads the tying goal into the bottom left corner of net. Ballack's cross was headed on by Podolski to Klose for the finish.80th minute
GOOOOOOOOAL Gemrany ties it up. Just when you thought they were out of it. 1-1.74th minute
Back-to-back dives. Bravo gentleman. I give you both 10s for execution. Rodriguez is grabbing his shin and rolling around in agony after a toe tap from a German defender. The trainers tried to come and the ref waved them off - hilarious. Hey Rodriguez, that's why you have shin guards on.Not to be outdone, substitute Odonkor pulled a little Cirque de Soliel action and contorted his body while diving through the air. The phantom tackle earned Germnay a free kick, however.
72nd minute
Riquelme is taken off and Esteban Cambiasso is into the game. Seconds later Maxi Rodriguez blasted a shot that hit side of the net. One side of the stadium thought it was in.71st minute
Haven't seen this happen before. Abbondanzieri has signaled his teammates and the ref. He can't continue. He had a collision with Klose a few minutes ago. Leonardo Franco is in. Sheesh ... nothing like being brought in cold.65th minute
Ballack didn't get a good foot on a volley attempt in the box, Ayala blocked the shot. Huge groans ring out through the stadium.62nd minute
Schneider is out and David Odonkor is in.60th minute
What an absolute waste of a free kick ... brutal. Go back to soccer camp. Podolski's attempt (cough, cough) to bend the ball went into the stands (well, out of bounds anyway). The only defence Podolski has is the dead ball was in an awkward position.59th minute
Schneider is taken down just outside the right side of the box and Mascherano is booked.54th minute
Huge break for Germany as a threatening Argentine attack (five-on-two) is broken up and cleared away.53rd minute
Germany has never trailed at the tournament so far. They'll need to get a goal soon if they want to stay in this match, or the World Cup for that matter.49th minute
GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL for Argentina! Fullback Roberto Ayala perfectly headed in a Riquelme corner kick. Miroslav Klose totally missed his marking assignment there ... German keeper Jens Lehmann is ticked off.46th minute
Oh oh. Sorin gets a yellow card for a tackle on Friedrich ... he will miss Argentina's next match should they advance (he picked up a yellow in the game against Mexico).HALFTIME
Argentina dominated the opening half with 65 per cent of the play, while Germany held 35 per cent of possession. It seems to be a much tighter game than that stat suggests. There's not much room in the middle third of the field ... no surprise given this match was expected to be decided in the midfield.45th minute (stoppage time)
Podolski earns a free kick to the right side of the box ... chance for Germany. Ball is cleared by Argentina and the whistle goes to end the half.40th minute
Now I know it's been mentioned before, but Argentina's hair stylist must get paid a bundle. The white and baby blue (who are strangely wearing navy today) have the most coiffed locks in the league! Fabricio Coloccini's shoulder length permed 'do that bounces in the breeze. Juan Pablo Sorin's flowing mane, which is kept out of his eyes by a shoelace-thin hair band.38th minute
Party in the German 18-yard box! Tevez has no where to go with six Germans marking him.31st minute
Germany's attack has kept the Argentine backline of Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Pablo Sorin and Fabricio Coloccini busy. At the other end, each time Argentina builds its attack(usually through Riquelme and Hernan Crespo), the fans collectively hold their breath.24th minute
This match pits two of the world's best midfielders against each other - Argentina's Juan Roman Riquelme and Germany's Michael Ballack. Both playmakers pull the creative strings for their respective teams …19th minute
Could anyone tell me what's up with all the whistling? I mean, I'm all for chanting and singing, but whistling? It's like having 74,000 refs in the stands. Okay, so maybe not that many, but still would you rather have the fan next to you chugging beer and belting out "Roll out the Barrell" or blowing a Fox 40?14th minute
Ballack almost got the game's first goal. Schneider sent a dangerous chip into the box and Ballack's header just went over the bar. Klinsmann was almost down on his knees in celebration. Hold your horses Jurgen.14th minute
Neither team has been able to gain the bulk of possession ... no signs of this game slwing down.7th minute
Podolski's free kick from 30 yards out is clumsily stopped by Boca Juniors keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri. He gobbles up the rebound before a German foot can get on it.4th minute
Mad action right now. Certainly they won't be able to keep up this pace for the entire game. Some rough tackles and challenges, a yellow card to Podolski, some finger wagging.2nd minute
Expect this match to be agressive off the top as the teams battle for positioning and perhaps, respect.GAME ON
Oh oh ... tackle right off the bat with Javier Mascherano is clutching his calf and rocking back and forth on the grass ... that's right folks, less than one minute into the game.5 minutes before kickoff
Match fit ... love that phrase. Anyway, Ballack just won the toss and he's taking ... that end.10 minutes before kickoff
Argentina coach Jose Pekerman and German manager Jurgen Klinsmann have announced their squads. For the Albicelestes (gotta love the nickname), Javier Saviola will be replaced by Carlos Tevez up front while Fabricio Coloccini comes in for Lionel Scaloni. Luis Gonzalez is back from a groin injury and will suit up ahead of youngster Lionel Messi.Klinsmann's lineup is unchanged, putting to rest any worries that captain Michael Ballack and striker Miroslav Klose weren't match fit.