Hosts Germany once more made it through to the quarter finals with an impressive and comprehensive victory over Sweden in Munich.
Backed by their army of supporters the German’s were given the advantage by two well taken goals from young idol Lukas Podolski. The game was a nightmare for Sweden who missed a penalty but were also reduced to ten men when Teddy Lucic was sent off for two bookable offences.
Germany now go onto face the winners of the Mexico Argentina battle whilst Sweden contemplate the short flight home and what might have been had Larsson converted the spot kick just after half time.
Starting with the team which had played against Poland the German’s once more had Michael Ballack to thank for playing an instrumental role in their victory. The Chelsea man was excellent as the German’s brushed aside the Swedes who never really got going.
The game began with a bang as their first real chance of the game set up their first goal for Podolski. A good ball from Ballack helped Klose through into the box; after his effort was saved a charging Podolski was able to fire the ball past the sprawling defender on the line to give Germany a 1-0 lead after just five minutes.
Germany had been rewarded for their fast start and it was the perfect way for Jurgen Klinsmann’s team to lay down the gauntlet in the battle for the competition.
Sweden somewhat taken aback by the early goal were given no space to play by Germany and found it very difficult to get a foothold in the game. There was an even bigger blow to the side who fought back so well against England when Podolski made it 2-0 after 14 minutes. A great run from Klose again dragged men towards the ball before the Werder striker reversed a pass inside to Podolski who finished excellently with the inside of his foot.
The game was effectively over with the first quarter of the game as Sweden were now up against it with the crowd firmly on the hosts’ side.
The game suffered somewhat of a lull after its early action but for Sweden the game was racing away, goalkeeper Isaksson began to take matters into his own hands with a string of brilliant saves to keep his sides pride in tact.
The tall Rennes stopper first saved from Klose after an excellent run down the left from Lahm before just getting a hand to an excellent shot from Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Two minutes later the goalkeepers’ job became more difficult when his most experienced centre back Lucic was sent off for his second caution. After a dangerous foul to earn his first once the former Leeds player held back a German midfielder needlessly on the half way line before being given his marching orders by the referee.
Five minutes before half time Sweden finally came out of their shell and was able to begin to play some of the attacking football which we had seen in the group stages from them. A ball into Ibrahimovic caused danger was the ball front man swiveled before unleashing an excellent shot towards goal, the keeper, Lehman however was able to block his effort and swat the rebound away from danger.
Seven minutes after half time Sweden was given the chance to get back in the game when Mertesacker fouled Larsson inside the penalty area to give away a spot kick.
The former Celtic man was not able to find a way back into the game for his team as he blazed the ball over the bar from the penalty spot. With his effort went Sweden’s best chance of scoring and the game seemed to fizzle out somewhat following Larsson miss.
This did not mean however that Germany sat back for the 2-0 win, determined to get his first goal captain Michael Ballack forced a brilliant tip onto the post from the Swedish keeper after unleashing a shot from the edge of the area. The ball looked destined to hit the net and it undoubtedly would have were it not for the excellent intervention of the goalkeeper.
The game ended however with the German’s celebrating a deserved win as Klinsmann’s mission to help the hosts to a fourth World Cup continues.
Backed by their army of supporters the German’s were given the advantage by two well taken goals from young idol Lukas Podolski. The game was a nightmare for Sweden who missed a penalty but were also reduced to ten men when Teddy Lucic was sent off for two bookable offences.
Germany now go onto face the winners of the Mexico Argentina battle whilst Sweden contemplate the short flight home and what might have been had Larsson converted the spot kick just after half time.
Starting with the team which had played against Poland the German’s once more had Michael Ballack to thank for playing an instrumental role in their victory. The Chelsea man was excellent as the German’s brushed aside the Swedes who never really got going.
The game began with a bang as their first real chance of the game set up their first goal for Podolski. A good ball from Ballack helped Klose through into the box; after his effort was saved a charging Podolski was able to fire the ball past the sprawling defender on the line to give Germany a 1-0 lead after just five minutes.
Germany had been rewarded for their fast start and it was the perfect way for Jurgen Klinsmann’s team to lay down the gauntlet in the battle for the competition.
Sweden somewhat taken aback by the early goal were given no space to play by Germany and found it very difficult to get a foothold in the game. There was an even bigger blow to the side who fought back so well against England when Podolski made it 2-0 after 14 minutes. A great run from Klose again dragged men towards the ball before the Werder striker reversed a pass inside to Podolski who finished excellently with the inside of his foot.
The game was effectively over with the first quarter of the game as Sweden were now up against it with the crowd firmly on the hosts’ side.
The game suffered somewhat of a lull after its early action but for Sweden the game was racing away, goalkeeper Isaksson began to take matters into his own hands with a string of brilliant saves to keep his sides pride in tact.
The tall Rennes stopper first saved from Klose after an excellent run down the left from Lahm before just getting a hand to an excellent shot from Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Two minutes later the goalkeepers’ job became more difficult when his most experienced centre back Lucic was sent off for his second caution. After a dangerous foul to earn his first once the former Leeds player held back a German midfielder needlessly on the half way line before being given his marching orders by the referee.
Five minutes before half time Sweden finally came out of their shell and was able to begin to play some of the attacking football which we had seen in the group stages from them. A ball into Ibrahimovic caused danger was the ball front man swiveled before unleashing an excellent shot towards goal, the keeper, Lehman however was able to block his effort and swat the rebound away from danger.
Seven minutes after half time Sweden was given the chance to get back in the game when Mertesacker fouled Larsson inside the penalty area to give away a spot kick.
The former Celtic man was not able to find a way back into the game for his team as he blazed the ball over the bar from the penalty spot. With his effort went Sweden’s best chance of scoring and the game seemed to fizzle out somewhat following Larsson miss.
This did not mean however that Germany sat back for the 2-0 win, determined to get his first goal captain Michael Ballack forced a brilliant tip onto the post from the Swedish keeper after unleashing a shot from the edge of the area. The ball looked destined to hit the net and it undoubtedly would have were it not for the excellent intervention of the goalkeeper.
The game ended however with the German’s celebrating a deserved win as Klinsmann’s mission to help the hosts to a fourth World Cup continues.