Maradona closing in on greatness all over again.
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- Written by Darren Douglas
After the drama and excitement of yesterday's first two World Cup quarterfinals today sees the realisation of Germany versus Argentina for a place in the semi-final. This match has been talked up since the draw became clear following the second round matches last weekend. And rather like Gary Linekar said after England's elimination to Germany, it's probably best England didn't get through after all, because beating Argentina would have been far beyond them.
So England are out of the World Cup, this time a little earlier than usual and with more justification than in some past tournaments. The 4-1 second round defeat to Germany punctured a balloon of hope rather than of expectation, and most fans should have been forewarned by the far from convincing displays that had got them through group C. Still, one fairly decent performance against Slovenia in England's final group game had convinced the many perennial suckers for punishment amongst us that England would rise up and overcome the young German squad before them last Sunday.
After the calamity that was England's second World Cup match against Algeria, I thought it would be wise for me to fore go predicting an England win for Wednesday's crucial encounter with Slovenia. This illogical superstition was richly rewarded as England finally started living up to their somewhat bloated reputation.