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SHOWHAND

Maradona : We don't need another Hand of God, We have Messi

Quarter-final opponents back in 2006, Argentina and Germany are ready to cross swords again in Cape Town on Saturday. Up for grabs is a place in the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. With five world titles between them, La Albiceleste and Die Nationalmannschaft are two of the world’s most successful national outfits. Expectation is high ahead of their latest duel, especially with both sides in such vibrant form and memories of Germany's tense penalty shoot-out triumph four years ago still fresh.

Few people expected Diego Maradona's Argentina to cruise into the quarter-finals with such serenity, but a side that looked chaotic and clueless during qualification for the World Cup has found harmony in South Africa and appear to be improving with every game.

Last time Maradona met Germany was in Italy 1990 and they lost in the finals from Germany with Maradona sent out with a red card. I think he remembers that moment and now he has a chance for a sport revenge and if he succeeds to kickout Germany from the tournament he will then have only one step left to get into finals. I think he is too big to loose, personally I don’t like the way of life he was living and I don’t like when he calls his hand goal against England “The hand of God” because it is simply not the hand of God .... He cheated. Period.

Argentina have been in flawless form to date, winning all three of their group games before disposing of Mexico in the Round of 16. Much-questioned before the tournament, coach Diego Maradona seems to have identified his best line-up, one that naturally includes Lionel Messi, a mere bit-part player at Germany 2006. The Argentinians can also take heart from their 1-0 defeat of the Germans in a March friendly in Munich, the only goal of the game coming from Gonzalo Higuain, who has been in scintillating form in South Africa.

Argentina player to watch: Carlos Tevez

Overshadowed by the mesmerising skills of Messi and the goals of Higuain in the group games, Tevez decided to grab some of the spotlight against Mexico by firing in a straight-to-YouTube classic and fuelling the technology debate with an offside opener. His high work rate and endless harassment of defenders was enough to retain a place in the team ahead of Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero and now that he has added a goalscoring touch there is no stopping the Manchester City striker.

The Germans are in the World Cup quarter-finals for an amazing 15th time in a row, Germany won Group D despite a surprise reverse against Serbia. Impressive against both Australia and Ghana, Joachim Low’s side turned on the power against England in the last round, swamping them 4-1 in a superb display of attacking football. These two giants of the world game have met five times before in the competition’s history. The Germans hold sway with three victories to Argentina’s solitary win in the Mexico 1986 Final. The other game, a group match at England 1966, ended in a goalless draw.

Germany, what’s to talk about Germany? They are simply a machine that will run over you if you fall back. There is so much phrases for this team, like for example: “Football is a game in which Germany always win”, “Nothing works against Germany”, “Everybody play football for 90 minutes, Germany play for 120 minutes in each match” lol. They can come back from any situation so Argentina will have a lot of job to do perfectly if they want to proceed.

Germany player to watch: Mesut Ozil

The Werder Bremen player has brought a touch of finesse and improvisation to the German midfield and was a key part of their crushing 4-1 victory over England in the last round. The youngster was a constant thorn in the side of the English defence, with his off-the-ball movement pulling players out of position and his clever passing opening avenues for the other attacking players. Ozil assisted the fourth and final goal in the 4-1 win, and also created four other goalscoring chances for his team-mates. Well known coach Guus Hiddink also raised a scandalous issue against Mesut. The Dutchman claimed Mesut's passport and relevent documents were faked in order for him to play for Germany in South Africa. FIFA is said to have initiated an investigation into the matter.

TEAMATE vs TEAMATE

Martin Demichelis (ARG) v Miroslav Klose (GER)

Demichelis has had his ups and downs so far at South Africa 2010 but cannot afford to be on anything less than his best form against the relentless Klose. Team-mates at Bayern Munich, the duo know each other inside out and will be intent on capitalising on each other’s weak points in a head-to-head that could prove crucial to the outcome.

DEFENSE vs OFFENSE

Thomas Muller v Gabriel Heinze

Languishing in Bayern Munich's second team a year ago, Muller now leads Germany in both goals and assists at the World Cup. The 20-year-old scored his first international goal against Australia in the opening match and has grown in confidence since. The lanky player can stay out on the right flank or drift inside to make a useful target at the back post. Heinze will be the man charged with stopping Muller and will have to utilise all the dark arts in his repertoire to halt the German. Argentina have looked great going forwards but have been prone to lapses of concentration at the back.

Gonzalo Higuain jointly leads the tournament's goalscoring charts with four, Nicolas Otamendi put himself forward as the solution to La Albiceleste's problems at right back with accomplished performances against Greece and Mexico and Lionel Messi has tapped into previously elusive form with the national team and is yet to contribute goals. With a supporting cast that features both star talent and experience, Argentina make a formidable attacking outfit. However, their defence is yet to face a stern test and has already showed signs of fallibility. Martin Demichelis gifted a goal to South Korea in the group stage, and the defensive unit as whole has lacked concentration on various occasions. Any slip up against a German side that humiliated England 4-1 in their second-round match could prove costly.

Despite the tender age of some of Joachim Low's youthful German side they have shown no fear, beating Australia 4-0 and then recovering from a blip against Serbia, when they played with ten men for 54 minutes, to beat Ghana and then England. Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil, who were plucked from the youth ranks, the latter from the Germans' UEFA Under-21 Championship winning side, are vital cogs in the high-tempo, attacking German machine.

Throw in Sami Khedira, who has been so good that no one seems to notice the absence of Michael Ballack, talented Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, the attacking instincts of captain Philipp Lahm from full back and the experience of strike duo Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose and Germany have a team more than capable of testing Argentina's weak spot at the back.

Maradona has matured from a wily player to a foxy coach. He showed his cunning when he threw Martin Palermo, a 36 years old player past his prime into the deep end during the Greece game. "Go and kill the match off." Those, according to Diego Maradona, were his words to Martin Palermo when he sent the Boca Juniors veteran onto the pitch against Greece on Tuesday late in the game.

Martin scored in less than 5 minutes after coming on as a substitude. Argentina already led thanks to Martin Demichelis's goal, but it was Palermo, who to Argentine fans feels almost as ancient as the Parthenon, who was assigned the job of finishing the Greeks off. Oh! btw, it was also Palermo who scored the crucial goal against PARAGUAY during the qualifiers that booked Argentina's ticket to South Africa. Against all odds Maradona vindicated his selection of Martin Palermo over Cambiasso and Zanetta both Euro Cup winners with Inter Milan.

German youngsters will be surprised with the professional fouls dished out. Professional fouls? Nobody knows that better than Diego Maradona. He will outfox Germany tonight with or without another Show Hand Of God.

Prediction

Both teams have issues at the back so it is unlikely that the match will be a defensive affair. Argentina have more ammunition going forward and are likely to edge a high-scoring quarter-final

THE PICK