Yes, it's been a rough weekend for Mick Jagger, Bill Clinton, and the Special Relationship. Ghana now remains the only primarily English-speaking nation in this 2010 World Cup.
The tabloids, the Guardian, and the rest of the English football nation will surely regard this 4-1 German steamrolling as an abject humiliation. Lots of talk already on ESPN about the game being England's worst World Cup loss in history. But really, there's no reason to be so dire.
For one, the score was well and truly Germany Four, England Two: the referee/linesman decision on the Lampard non-goal is surely the blown call of the tournament. Even the USA's disallowed goal happened with bodies flying around the box, and a blown whistle before the ball was struck; Lampard's ball crossed the line with oceans of space, in open play, without being credited. And the second two German goals were both scored on breakaways, as England was forced to press forward in search of a second equalizer. So, the match ends 4-1, but I do think that's a bit rough on the Three Lions. This was, in some ways, their liveliest offensive performance of the tournament, and against the best opposition yet. Rooney hardly imposed his will, but at least he made a few nice passes in the area; Lampard could well have had another goal or two on various long distance strikes.
All that said, however, Germany were richly deserving victors. They're simply the better team, and 4-2 is a fitting representation of the quality of the two sides. Between Ozil, Schweinstager, Mueller and the rest, Germany has won back its claim to be the most offensively nimble European side around; frankly, they're playing more like Holland than Holland itself. A Deutschland-Argentina quarterfinal promises to be far tastier than the tense 1-1 match Germany won on penalties back in '06.
As for Argentina-Mexico, there's no time for a full preview (sadly, I might not be able to watch much of the match). As much as I've backed the Mexicans all tournament long, though, I do hope the Argentines can pull it out. It's just too early for this tournament to say goodbye to Maradona, Messi, and the rest.
The tabloids, the Guardian, and the rest of the English football nation will surely regard this 4-1 German steamrolling as an abject humiliation. Lots of talk already on ESPN about the game being England's worst World Cup loss in history. But really, there's no reason to be so dire.
For one, the score was well and truly Germany Four, England Two: the referee/linesman decision on the Lampard non-goal is surely the blown call of the tournament. Even the USA's disallowed goal happened with bodies flying around the box, and a blown whistle before the ball was struck; Lampard's ball crossed the line with oceans of space, in open play, without being credited. And the second two German goals were both scored on breakaways, as England was forced to press forward in search of a second equalizer. So, the match ends 4-1, but I do think that's a bit rough on the Three Lions. This was, in some ways, their liveliest offensive performance of the tournament, and against the best opposition yet. Rooney hardly imposed his will, but at least he made a few nice passes in the area; Lampard could well have had another goal or two on various long distance strikes.
All that said, however, Germany were richly deserving victors. They're simply the better team, and 4-2 is a fitting representation of the quality of the two sides. Between Ozil, Schweinstager, Mueller and the rest, Germany has won back its claim to be the most offensively nimble European side around; frankly, they're playing more like Holland than Holland itself. A Deutschland-Argentina quarterfinal promises to be far tastier than the tense 1-1 match Germany won on penalties back in '06.
As for Argentina-Mexico, there's no time for a full preview (sadly, I might not be able to watch much of the match). As much as I've backed the Mexicans all tournament long, though, I do hope the Argentines can pull it out. It's just too early for this tournament to say goodbye to Maradona, Messi, and the rest.