World Cupdate

And the second Semifinal game got underway this evening as Germany took on Spain to see who would play Holland in the Finals.  Both teams went with 4-2-3-1 lineups, Zee Germans featuring Miroslav Klose (but missing Thomas Muller) and La Furia Roja with David Villa on point and Torres on the bench in favor of Pedro.  Both teams opened up very cautiously, not wanting to be on the downside of an early goal.  Spanish pride and German precision simply wouldn't allow it, but the Germans had to be thinking of Spain's 1-0 victory over this squad in the Euro 2008 finals where the Germans were unable to find any mistakes in the Spanish passing game and simply ran out the clock on themselves.  Germany were not a team that responded well to being down early, and the Reds were able to play their game in the opening stanza.  Zee Germans had to be even more worried about the fact that Paul the Psychic German World Cup Octopus picked La Furia Roja to win the match as well.  Spain continued to dominate possession in the first half but the German panzer pouncing on each Spanish less-than-perfect pass began to result in more German opportunities.  If anything, Spain seemed to be too frightened of a massive German counter-attack to really commit to anything less than the perfect goal.  In the second half it was more of the same.  Germany gambled on making some substitutions to finally adjust to Spain's passing game.  Both sides got some of their best chances yet to score as defenses begin to weaken in the late game, but it was Carlos Puyol with the running header dash at 72' to put Spain up 0-1.  Germany then completely panicked and Spain almost made it 0-2 in as many minutes.  Germany completely gave up the midfield in order to try to go on a full break stampede and crush the ball in, but the clock was their enemy and the Spaniards finally broke Zee Germans with it...and an octopus named Paul.

Your World Cup Finals will be Holland and Spain, the Eighty Years' War may have ended in 1648 but it begins again in 2010...