Germany 4, Argentina 0. The Germans scored as a result of poor defending on a set piece at 3'. Wunderkind Muller scored the header. The game was tight for about an hour, with the Argentines playing at a slow tempo and attempting futilely to unlock the German midfield/defense. Then the Germans scored the second and the match dissolved into a rout.

Never in the tournament had the Argentine defense (the backline plus Masch) really smoothly linked up with the Argentine offense (everybody else). But the individual Argentine talent up front was so good, it didn't really matter. Here, the Germans, via both tactical positioning and individual skill, were able to smother the Argentine offense before it could pick up any steam (and also, obviously, score themselves against the mediocre Argentine defense). Khedira and Schweinsteiger did very well controlling the central midfield, and the entire German team made it difficult for the Argentines to get the ball to Messi and Tevez. When either man dropped back deep, the Germans controlled them effectively, particularly Messi, who was rendered impotent by a swarm of Germans every time he touched the ball. It's no exaggeration to say that when he got near the ball in the German half, at least three Germans would close on him.

Germany looks very, very good -- tactically, individually, mentally.

FF