Never write of the Germans. Impressive quote from Mr. Kung. Indeed, yesterday's match was impressive, as the German soccer team showed how they mastered the basics - crossing in dead-ball situations, moving clear of markers, and fast and quick passing to draw off defenders. Masterful goals, really. Compare the effectiveness of the cross from a free-kick versus the speculative shots that Portugal, especially C.Ron, made. That mere difference in playing as a team is all that matters. Ballack scored, with his head, not with the foot that brought them into the quarters with that excellent free-kick. But the difference? Schweinstiger was around this game to make that difference as playmaker, as the center of the team.
Though if Portugal and Germany took all the chances that they each made, Portugal would have won. The issue of spurned chances will no doubt be an issue with other teams as well - kneeing the ball over the net is just no high five. Perhaps, this is just a reminder that Portugal isn't as good as we think they are - they lack a clinical frontman, and they put too much emphasis on players who are supposedly the best in the world. I figure that if you were the best in the world, the least you could do would be playing consistently with above average form, not just flashes of inspiration. All that hype about the world's best player always seems to be just hot air, doesn't it? So much for Ronaldinho, so much for the real Ronaldo. And so much for the Portuguese who can't make up his mind between England and Spain. The Portuguese were supposedly the 'Brazil' of Europe. Yes, they had some form of the Samba, they had good playmakers. But Brazil, unlike them, has a whole squad of talented players who are able to lift their team. At the same time, Brazil also plays a team game - they have unselfish players who would pass the ball - the same way Torres passed to Villa for the opening goal against Russia. On the other hand, the Portuguese team of yesterday was just slamming long shot after long shot - Nani, Ronaldo, Raul Meireles.