I didn’t see it (/snore) but part of me wonders if Maradona’s mind games finally backfired, if the players started believing the hype and that it would be easy to progress past Germany.

This game is simple to analyze. The Germans had less possession, fewer shots, and fewer shots on target. The most overused, cliched word applied to German football explains it all: efficiency. They capitalized on their key breaks early, and Argentina didn’t. According to ESPN, Argentina had the most shots in World Cup history without a goal. Says it all.

Unlike my lucky Netherlands call, I *am* proud of calling this German win even before the round of 16. I could feel that Argentina had never been tested and suspected they’d lose their composure if Germany found an early lead. That’s exactly what happened, and Argentina wasted chances as they got frustrated and pressed. The Germans, meanwhile, had suffered a great deal in the Serbia game. The red card they got was unjust, and even though they failed to score and lost, they created a lot of chances even down a man. I saw resiliency and focus in the face of adversity, even if the result didn’t come together.

The German squad is the modern blueprint for a national side: a few veterans, a lot of youth, a counter-attacking style that’s so explosive they don’t even feel like a counter-attacking side. I think these days it’s better to have more good, young players who’ve never experienced the pain of a World Cup exit than more good, veteran players who have baggage from 4 (or 8) years ago. I’m not saying have *no* vets, just make sure the key ones you do select are surrounded by the foolish optimism of youth. With all of the pressure and attention, it really seems to help in modern soccer.

Marc, I was having almost the exact conversation about stacking a side with youth and keeping some key linchpin vets to give seasoning just yesterday.

As for this game, a few of my friends were saying that the thing with Maradona’s “I am the lightning rod” approach to the press and the spotlight it was very hard to tell how much was bluster, and how much was strategy. We all agreed that the real question mark was whether he could adjust if his main game plan didn’t work. i.e. - Did he have a Plan B if he got knocked off Plan A. We were about split on the issue. I will confess to thinking he did, I was wrong.

How far were they knocked off? 

While I definitely thought Germany was getting the better chances, had any one of Argentina’s shots managed to find the back of the net in the first 68 minutes, we’re looking at a very different match.  As noted, Argentina did have the majority of possession, and majority of shots.

Germany definitely deserved the win.  I don’t think a Plan B, C, or D for Argentina would have made a difference.

According to ESPN, Argentina had the most shots in World Cup history without a goal.

I thought England had that record well and truly sewn up in a certain match in 1950…  I wasn’t counting, though.  Then again, ESPN could be wrong.

I just want Klose to score at least two more goals in this tournament. So this was a good game for me.

Argentina looked hot in the first few games but they were always going to come unstuck against the first good, well-organised team they came across and looking at the likely permutations of the draw, I’d been predicting a German win since the group stages. Having said that, the result took me as much by surprise as it did everyone else.

As for the German team as a whole, I do feel everyone is leaping to conclusions about them prematurely. Let’s wait to see if they win the whole thing before we start extolling them as the ultimate modern squad. Unlike England and Argentina, Spain don’t have an especially weak defence and their holding midfielders are world class - it’s unlikely they’ll go behind early, leading to them chasing the game and playing into the Germans’ hands. They also have the creative midfield to get behind the German defence.

In a wider sense, the fact that Germany have a) a collection of strong young players coming through coupled with b) a lack of decent older players to keep them out of the squad doesn’t mean the same circumstances apply to other countries. Until they’re tested, say by going a goal down early, it’s far too early to dismiss experience as a huge factor at international level. Personally, I picked the winner of Brazil v Holland to lift the trophy and to me, the Dutch still look strongest. Nine wins on the trot speak for themselves.

One of the most interesting parallels between soccer and basketball is the concept of passing.

In essence, as a coach of mine was fond of pointing out, a shot is basically a pass toward goal.  The question, as with any pass, is what percentage chance that pass has of being completed.  The more a shot can be like a normal pass, the greater chance that a side, through sheer force of numbers, will win by several goals. 

What makes a shot like a pass?  Its fundamentals.  How much distance must the pass cover?  Must it be lofted over an obstruction?  Is it being struck by a player who is in position to make a calm, orderly play on the ball, or must it be struck in haste?

Is the pass you make toward goal the sort of pass you would strike to a teammate?  If so, you will win, even on an off day, unless your opponent makes so many improbable plays as to make the match a classic.

The Germans dared Argentina to be great.  Argentina decided it was easier to go home.

At least no one man was responsible.  The choke of the tournament finished without a goat.  Sorry Felipe Melo.  You’re still on the hook.