World Cup Day 17

Germany 4-1 England

England were outclassed and embarrassed by a skillful and organised German team. Having gone two down after some horrendous defending they did show some resurgence but it was bitty, scrambled play but a goal back before half-time from a corner gave them some hope (although the second wrongly disallowed goal would have helped).

The second half saw a masterful counter-attack game from the young Germans as England naively threw men forward only to be caught by two swift breaks. Three down with 30mins to go the English were demoralised and hopeless as the Germans ran out comfortable victors.

The English choice to field 4-4-2 against a mobile and energetic 4-2-3-1 was questionable, the choice to field Defoe - a goal poacher with little else to his game who was never going to track back and help out his out-manned midfield - was disastrous. It would have required a supreme effort and work-rate to make up for this shortfall in the middle of the park which was never going to come form the lethargic Gerrard and Lampard and the sluggish Barry.



Argentina 3-1 Mexico

Argentina had the game won in the first half thanks to two gifts: one from the linesman (who failed to spot a blatantly offside Tevez) and the other from Mexican defender Osorio (who passed straight to Higuain on the edge of the box).

Mexico put their grievances into their play and looked as good as they have all tournament but only threatened on occasion. Argentina's third, in the second half, was a rocket from all of 30 yards by Tevez but really it was against the run of play.

The Mexicans did get a consolation against their dug-in opponents with Hernandez showing the type of clinical finishing missing from his compatriots.