Germany wins on PKs

6/30/2006: Germany 1 – Argentina 1 (Germany 4-2 on PKs)

I hate it when World Cup games go into penalties. It is cruel and unusual punishment for fans and players alike. While it certainly takes a certain kind of skill to vanquish the immense pressure required to shoot them, I believe it is more luck than anything and any team basically can win.

Argentina was leading this game 1-0 until late in the game, when the German’s perseverance paid with the German's best three players involved in the same play (Ballack cross to Podolski whoc flicked it to Klose who finished it with a header). A marvelously executed goal in which the reserve goalkeeper, in for the injured Abbondansieri, could do nothing. Late in the game, I thought Maxi Rodriguez, he of the goal of the Cup, was going to be Argentina’s hero again. While dribbling into the German’s penalty box, he was brought down in such an obvious manner as to warrant a penalty kick. How the referee, in his infinite wisdom, decided to award Maxi a yellow for his effort, is totally beyond me.

But so be it. This game was destined for extra time after Lehman’s great diving save of a Tevez header. In the extra time, it sincerely looked as if both teams tried hard to get the equalizer, but sometime in the last 15 minutes, the game reverted to its early tense form as both coaches decided to subject their players to the PK extravaganza. Why Pekerman decided to put in Cambiasso for Riqueleme or Julio Cruz in for Crespo was puzzling. Why didn’t Leonel Messi, Argentina’s young magician and Maradona heir apparent, figure into the coach’s plan was even more befuddling.

If history was Pekerman’s guide, it may have been a double edged sword. On two previous occasions, Argentina had won penalty kick shootouts on June 30 (in 1998, they ousted England and in 1990 they beat Yugoslavia). But hey, streaks are made to be broken, and this was the day that Argentina’s good fortune with penalty kicks would end. When Cambiasso’s penalty was stopped by Lehmann, the German’s had their victory. But that’s just when the extracurricular activity would start. The end was not taken gracefully by the Argentinians as a melee ensued, with players hurling insults and punches alike in an ugly ugly finish.