Hosts and favourites set for Quarter-Final showdown
Early Podolski double shatters Swedes
Rodriguez wonder strike wins thriller
—– Amid a new-found wave of national fervour, host Germany’s confidence continues to grow as they reach the World Cup quarter finals with an impressive display against Sweden in Munich.
The game is effectively over in the opening 12 minutes as striker Lukas Podolski scores twice.
Sweden’s problems increase when Teddy Lucic is sent-off after 35 minutes, and any hope of an unlikely revival fade when Henrik Larsson wildly misses a 53rd minute penalty.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann reflected the increasing optimism: “In a footballing nation like Germany and with the World Cup held here, it just cannot stop now.
“It is just so much fun watching the team play. I have never seen Germany play like we played in the first 30 minutes.”
Their victory sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final with Argentina.
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—— Favourites Argentina reach the last eight but only after being given a thorough test by unlucky Mexico.
It takes a World Cup Wonder Goal from Maxi Rodriguez in extra-time to win a wonderful game in Leipzig.
The Atletico Madrid midfielder controls a cross-field pass on his chest before despatching a vicious left-foot volley into the top corner.
Argentina recover from the shock of an early opener by Mexico captain Rafael Marquez to be level on ten minutes. FIFA credit Hernan Crespo with the goal although it appeared that Jared Borgetti headed Juan Roman Riquelme’s corner into his own net.
Understandably, Mexico’s Argentina-born coach Ricardo La Volpe had mixed views: “It was an even game, just as I expected it to be, and it was a magnificent individual goal that decided it.
“Having said that, Mexico gave an excellent account of themselves. Once again, though, we didn’t achieve what we came to do, which was to reach the quarter-finals at least.”
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