Old Germany spirit sees it through
Source: Agencies |
June 25, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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PRAGMATIC Germany had to revert to old-school tactics to see off an outstanding Ghana team 1-0 on Wednesday and reach the second round of the World Cup.
Fighting for its future in the tournament after a tame defeat against Serbia, Germany was dumbfounded in the first half against Ghana, as the Africans matched them all over the field.
With Michael Ballack, the team's inspiration on so many occasions, missing from this tournament through injury and striker Miroslav Klose suspended, it fell to the youngster Mesut Ozil to earn the win with a moment of pure brilliance, as he lashed a shot into the top corner from outside the box.
The 21-year-old Ozil took the Man of the Match award but it needed a display of pure sacrifice from every player on the German team to eke out the win that took it through as Group D winner and set up a second round match against England.
The result, coupled with Australia's surprise 2-1 win over Serbia, sent Ghana through along with Germany and on this evidence both sides will have options to make further progress.
Germany will have reminded a lot of people of its traditional virtues as the three-time world champion soaked up intense pressure in the second half.
The daredevil style that marked its 4-0 win over Australia was absent apart from a couple of early breaks down the right, though it did get Ozil clean through once more in the half.
Ghana, fired by the dangerous Kevin-Prince Boateng and Kwadwo Asamoah, caused so many problems that Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira spent most of their time fighting fires inside their own half.
It says much for Ghana's skill, spirit and workrate that even after Ozil's superb goal it continued to rattle Germany and it needed a captain's display from right-back Philipp Lahm to keep the defence in any sort of shape.
On and on the Ghana forwards attacked, probing Germany full-back Jerome Boateng - brother and opponent of Kevin-Prince - and keeping goalkeeper Manuel Neuer busy throughout.
That it could not find a goal may suggest Ghana will find themselves short of a great finisher when it faces the United States in its last 16 game.
Joachim Loew's side would doubtless prefer to see it playing with the quick passing and adventure that marked the Australia game but every great team needs a back-up option and Germany can feel pretty good about having road-tested its own.
Fighting for its future in the tournament after a tame defeat against Serbia, Germany was dumbfounded in the first half against Ghana, as the Africans matched them all over the field.
With Michael Ballack, the team's inspiration on so many occasions, missing from this tournament through injury and striker Miroslav Klose suspended, it fell to the youngster Mesut Ozil to earn the win with a moment of pure brilliance, as he lashed a shot into the top corner from outside the box.
The 21-year-old Ozil took the Man of the Match award but it needed a display of pure sacrifice from every player on the German team to eke out the win that took it through as Group D winner and set up a second round match against England.
The result, coupled with Australia's surprise 2-1 win over Serbia, sent Ghana through along with Germany and on this evidence both sides will have options to make further progress.
Germany will have reminded a lot of people of its traditional virtues as the three-time world champion soaked up intense pressure in the second half.
The daredevil style that marked its 4-0 win over Australia was absent apart from a couple of early breaks down the right, though it did get Ozil clean through once more in the half.
Ghana, fired by the dangerous Kevin-Prince Boateng and Kwadwo Asamoah, caused so many problems that Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira spent most of their time fighting fires inside their own half.
It says much for Ghana's skill, spirit and workrate that even after Ozil's superb goal it continued to rattle Germany and it needed a captain's display from right-back Philipp Lahm to keep the defence in any sort of shape.
On and on the Ghana forwards attacked, probing Germany full-back Jerome Boateng - brother and opponent of Kevin-Prince - and keeping goalkeeper Manuel Neuer busy throughout.
That it could not find a goal may suggest Ghana will find themselves short of a great finisher when it faces the United States in its last 16 game.
Joachim Loew's side would doubtless prefer to see it playing with the quick passing and adventure that marked the Australia game but every great team needs a back-up option and Germany can feel pretty good about having road-tested its own.
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