JEDDAH, 30 June 2006 — With the numbers whittled down to just eight, the World Cup in Germany has not sprung many surprises with the fancied teams from Europe and South America still left standing. But today it could all change.
For the first quarterfinals today could break many hearts, not only in Germany or in Argentina, but here in Saudi Arabia. For these two teams have been the plums for Saudis after their national team in this World Cup.
Ask any Saudi or an expatriate here on who will be the next champ, only three teams get picked – Germany, Brazil or Argentina. And with two of them meeting well early in the event, some of those rooting for either teams will be left disappointed today.
Some call it a real challenge for Argentina this time round against Germany in the quarterfinal, others say it’s an early final for both teams. Both, however, have shown the champions pedigree in their run-up to this clash. Both raced through their group encounters with panache, and then in the round of 16, Argentina defeated Mexico in a stunning match that ended 2-0, while Germany too rode roughshod on Sweden in their 2-0 victory.
Apart from their checkered past, both have shown a flair in this tournament that has won them many followers. Throughout the tournament, Germany has shown a unique attacking style. German Coach Juergen Klinsmann has won widespread praise for creating an attack-minded team that has scored 10 goals in reaching the last eight.
Former Ittihad captain Abdulmajeed Bakur, told Arab News, “I think Germany will win the match because they are playing in their homeland, which give them a boost and desire to win,” adding, “The attacking style which Germany have adopted makes the team so distinguished from others in the World Cup. I also think they can win the entire tournament not only this match.”
It is surely hard for any connoisseur to predict who will win, but both teams have shown promise and whoever wins will be a worthy winner today.
Arab News interviewed several soccer fans, and their preferences were equally distributed. But all were of the view that today’s match is the final that came early, and whoever wins today has a big shot at winning the World Cup.
Ahmed Gazaz told Arab News: “Argentina will win, even though the match is in Germany. They are faster and have more control over the ball.”
But Klinsmann is out to prove most of the Argentinian fans wrong. He insists that he would not be more cautious in Berlin’s Olympiastadion today. “I have great respect for Argentine coach Jose Pekerman and his school of football. They’ve played together many years and have honed their style,” he said.
“But we won’t alter our plan to counter Argentina’s style of play. It must be the other way round.”
Italy’s match against Ukraine, the second quarterfinals today, is expected to be defense-oriented.
Bakur said that all indications are that Italy will have control of today’s match. “Italy has more World Cup experience and they will not let the opportunity slip again like they did in the last World Cup when they lost to South Korea 2-1 in the quarterfinal in Korea. Ahmed Badegaish, another fan told Arab News, “Most people think it’s enough for Ukraine to have gotten this far in the tournament. But if they pull off another rabbit from the hat then they would have done themselves proud.”
