World Cup Quarter Finals - Hosts Thru on Penalties (AET Germany 1 - Argentina 1) *Germany Wins 4-2 on Penalties

Lost a bundle here, due to heavy bets on Argentina to win the World Cup. In the end Argentina just weren't good enough.

They were let down by poor tactics and an injury to first choice goalkeeper, Roberto Abbondanzieri. For the entire game, Germany never really got their machine going and never looked like threatening the Argentine goal.

Argentina controlled the game the first half and were deservedly in front early in the second half when Ayala shook free from Klose to head home a corner. Midway thru the half, Abbondanzieri was taken off because of an injury and was replaced by substiture keeper, Leo Franco. Then Pekerman decided to change tactics by playing defensive to hold on to the one goal lead. He took off Crespo and Riquelme.

It gave Germany the impetus to charge forward looking for the equaliser. Eventually, Klose scored from a header in the 80th minute to send both teams into extra time. Neither team could conjure a winner in the 30 minutes played.

Germany went on to win the penalties 4-2 and Argentina paid the penalty of poor tactics. Perhaps this is just as well. A team that can't hold a one goal advantage in the last 10 minutes deserves to be knocked out anyway. Klinnsman has really surprised me by the way the Germans have played. While Argentina was probably the better team, Germany showed enough character for me to root for them.

This World Cup looks set for a Germany - Brazil finale, a repeat of the last World Cup. This is of course barring something dramatic happening to either teams.

Well, you win some and you lose some. I'm really dreading watching the next game between Italy and Ukraine. All the statistics point to an ultra boring game. Hopefully sleep will get to me before the game starts.