by Tom Allen
A fantastic semi-final in prospect on Wednesday as Germany and Spain meet for
the right to take on Holland in the showpiece and it's hard to imagine this not
living up to expectations.
Whichever side wins this clash between the two European heavyweights will
surely start slight favourites for the final against the Dutch and the
bookmakers are finding it virtually impossible to split the pair.
It is interesting that Germany are nearly half a point longer in the Match
Odds market, although a very similar price to their opponents in the outright,
but I just get the feeling that Spain's recent big game experience will prove
the deciding factor and the absence of Thomas Muller for Joachim Low's side
should also not be underestimated.
Muller, will four goals already to his name in South Africa, misses out
through suspension and it has been his play alongside Mesut Ozil and Lukas
Podolski that has made Germany everybody the team is talking about at these
finals.
Piotr Trochowski is expected to deputise for Muller but he doesn't possess
quite the creative thrust of the man he is likely to replace and Carlos Puyol
and Gerard Pique, Spain's central defensive duo, will certainly be grateful for
the enforced change.
In smashing four goals past Australia, England and, most memorably, Argentina
en route to the last four, Germany have been transformed from lively
pre-tournament outsiders to suddenly the side that everybody has to beat but
World Cups are not won in the first fortnight and now we will see what they are
really made of.
Germany face a Spain team that has failed to reach the heights of their
fantastic displays when romping to Euro 2008 glory, they beat Germany in the
final we mustn't forget, but, much like Holland, they know how to win even when
not at their best and an opening defeat to Switzerland wasn't enough to put them
off their stride.
It could have been all so very different for Spain had Oscar Cardozo
converted a second half penalty for Paraguay on Saturday evening in their last
eight clash but they survived that scare, before David Villa once again proved
the difference with a late winner, and they are packed full with a team so used
to picking up trophies.
The one concern for manager Vicente Del Bosque ahead of Wednesday's showdown
will be the form, and presumably fitness, of Fernando Torres but it would be a
brave man to drop a striker of the Liverpool man's class and this could just be
the time when he rises to the occasion.
Torres, so deadly on his day, has played second fiddle to strike partner
Villa throughout World Cup 2010 but a goal would make the world of difference
and Arne Friedrich and Per Mertesacker will certainly have their work cut out.
While there is clearly no indication that Germany are about to run out of
steam, Spain keep the ball so tremendously that Low's men will be under pressure
to make their possession count and they certainly wont be gifted the goal
scoring opportunities that Argentina and, in particular, England gave them.
This looks extremely tough to call but with recent silverware in the cabinet,
and on a run of just two defeats in over 50 matches, the vote goes to the
Spanish and the 13/8 with either
Blue
Square or
888sport on them qualifying will do for me.
1pt Back Spain To Qualify (vs. Germany) @ 13/8 (Blue
Square,
888sport)
