FIFA Weltmeisterschaft 2006 : Dont Cry for me Argentina

And so it is. Germany will face Italy in the semi final on 4th July at Dortmund. The 2 quarter finals were a stark contrast in themselves. While the Azzuris had no trouble keeping Shevchenko and his side at bay and score some brilliant goals, the Germans and the Argentinians had a tough fight - a battle so intensely fought that it had to end on penalty deciders. At the end Lehmann held his post and the trust Klinsmann had put in him. Almost the whole of 72,000 supporters in the Olympiastadion at Berlin were backing Deutschland and chanting "Deutschland, Deutschland", after the match the phrase of "Dont Cry for me Argentina" was seen all over the press and match reports. Without doubt Argentina were one of the best teams in this tournament so far, its a pity that they had to bow out at this stage. Now only Brazil remains the sole representative of South America or else its an all European affair from here on.

Italy meet the host nation Germany in the semifinals, a tie which is quite ambivious for me to take sides. Both the nations have been my favourites. Having stayed in Germany for over 3 years and see them revive under Klinsmann after that disasterous Euro-2004, my heart surely backs Ballack und gruppe. But the Azzuris and their charismatic play so far overcoming the ghosts of match scandals of Italia Serie dont let you remain apethetic to the pulse of the nation you are living in at the moment. Either way its a win-win for me. The evening on the 4th July holds the answer to it.