Preview: Germany Ready for Shoot-Out
June 18, 2005
Tunisia - Germany
After fighting gamely against Argentina in the first match, Tunisia succumbed to some iffy penalty calls on behalf of Referee Roberto Rosetti and the clear superiority of the South Americans. Coach Roger Lemerre's team might have an easier time against Germany's porous defense than against an Argentine back four that included Gabriel Heinze and Fabricio Coloccini. Forwards Jaziri and Brazilian-born Santos, who should start the match, will be given the task of breaking down the Germans' lumbering defense. "Our next game will be totally different from the first one," said Lemerre. "The Germans have got their big, physical 'hulks', but I've got my mosquitoes. And Jaziri and Santos are ready to bite." But will they draw any blood?
German papers have spent the two days following the team's 4-3 opening match victory against Australia's "Socceroos" savaging the team's defense. True, the boys -- all around the age of 22 -- made goalie Oliver Kahn look bad more often than not, but Coach Jürgen Klinsmann said Friday he saw no reason to panic ahead of his team's game in Cologne. In fact, the coach said his midfield should be quicker in closing holes so that the opposing team doesn't have the possibility of getting to his shaky defenders.
One of the bright notes of the first match was Germany's offensive explosion. And the way creative midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger sees it, Germany's best defense might be a good offense. "If we give up seven goals, and shoot eight, then it doesn't really matter to me," he said. If Schweinsteiger has his way, most of the goals will be scored by him and his team buddy and local goal-scoring hero, Lukas "Prince" Podolski, who will be eager to impress his hometown fans.
Possible lineups:
Tunisia - Fadhel - Trabelsi, Jaidi, Abdi, Clayton - Ghodhbane, Nafti, Ben Saada, Mnari - Santos, Jaziri
Germany - Lehmann - Huth, A. Friedrich, Mertesacker, Hitzlsperger - Frings - B. Schneider, Schweinsteiger - Ballack - Kuranyi, Podolski
Australia - Argentina
The prospect of facing Argentina again must be leaving Frank Farina (photo) burning with thoughts of revenge. The Australian coach's last match as a player was a World Cup qualifying playoff against the South Americans in 1993. After playing to a tie in Australia, the Socceroos lost the return leg on an own goal, ending their World Cup dreams. Now, as coach, he leads a competent and -- as the first match showed -- offensive-minded team with a good shot at giving the Argentines some trouble. Farina will once again have goal-scoring threat Mark Viduka at his disposal after the striker missed the first game with an injury. He does lose defender Tony Popovic, taken down hard by Schweinsteiger, robbing him of a defensive rock against the nimble and speedy Argentine attack.
Argentina will be looking for more of the same in their second Confederations Cup match. Their opening 2-1 win over Tunisia was marred by a few strange calls, but the Gauchos showed enough superiority to leave no doubt that they were serious about going after the trophy. Both coaches and players are cautioning against underestimating the Socceroos, and the back four led by Heinze will have their hands full with John Aloisi, who notched two goals against Germany.
Still, the calm wizardry of playmaker Jose Riquelme and the quickness of striker Jose Saviola in the first match-up, should guarantee another Argentina victory.
Possible lineups:
Australia - Schwarzer - Neill, McKain, Moore, Muscat - Milicevic - Chipperfield, Skoko, Emerton - Cahill - Viduka
Argentina - Leo Franco - Coloccini, Milito, Heinze - J. Zanetti, Cambiasso, Bernardi, Sorin - Riquelme - Tevez, Saviola