Powerhouses ready to face off

Argentina's coach Diego Maradona controls the ball near midfielder Juan Veron in a training session in Pretoria on Thursday. Photo: THE last time Argentina and Germany met in a match that meant anything - a World Cup quarter-final four years ago - it all ended in tears, with players fighting after the final whistle and officials waving red cards after Germany eliminated the South Americans on penalties. And with the way the two camps have been beating up the rivalry between them all week - a bit like two boxers slagging each other off - plenty more fireworks can be expected at midnight tonight when the two soccer powerhouses take each other on in the quarter-finals of this World Cup at Cape Town's Greenpoint Stadium. And why wouldn't there be. Germany and Argentina have been two of the most attractive teams at this tournament, are the two highest goalscorers and both would legitimately see themselves as potential champions. They have plenty of history, having met each other twice in World Cup finals. Advertisement: Story continues below In the first, in 1986, a Diego Maradona-inspired Albicelestes raced to a 2-0 lead before the then West Germany got the game back to 2-2, only for Argentina to get a third through Jorge Burruchaga to win the coveted trophy for the second (and so far, final) time. Four years later the same two teams clashed in the final again in Rome, when a by now united Germany won an ill-tempered game 1-0 through Andreas Brehme's penalty five minutes from time. Argentinian Pedro Monzon became the first man sent off in a World Cup final. Germany's star man Bastian Schweinsteiger has stoked the flames of enmity between the nations already this week, accusing the Argentine players and their combustible coach, Maradona, of disrespect for both opponents Rosetta Stone outlet and referees. Schweinsteiger cited the game in Berlin in that last World Cup clash four years ago, when the Germans won a penalty shootout to send the highly fancied South Americans home, and the ill-tempered denouement with punches thrown and plenty of push and shove after the final whistle. Schweinsteiger also pointed to the unseemly episode at half-time in Argentina's 3-1 victory over Mexico in the round-of-16 game earlier this week when players from both sides clashed as the Mexicans protested against Carlos Tevez's clearly offside opening goal. ''You could see their behaviour at half-time of the game against Mexico. When you look at the body language and gesticulation, the way they try to influence the referees, they have no respect. It's their mentality and character, and we'll have to adjust,'' Schweinsteiger said this week as he poured oil on troubled waters. Germany captain Phillip Lahm added to the mix: ''We know the South Americans are very impulsive and temperamental and don't really know how to lose.'' Maradona, the larger than life character who has overshadowed all the players at this World Cup, responded in his own inimitable fashion, suggesting, in a German accent, that Schweinsteiger's comments mean the Germans were running scared. Still, the South Americans only have to look back at that game to seek motivation to win this one. Argentina was left to rue its overconfidence, as then coach Jose Pekerman had withdrawn stars Hernan Crespo and Juan Riquelme before the end when it was leading 1-0, only to see Germany equalise late in the game and take the match through extra-time. Then German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had done his homework on the Argentinian penalty takers - he was handed a piece of paper by goalkeeping coach Andreas Kopke to alert him to which way the Argentine kickers were likely to place their efforts - and that was enough to allow him to make the crucial saves that got Germany through.

Posted in: Rosetta Stone,Rosetta Stone Outlet,rosetta stone software,Rosetta Stone V3