On Saturday, 3 July 2010, Germany will once again face off with Argentina in the quarter-finals of a World Cup - just like in 2006. Four years ago, Germany won thanks to strong performances...
On Saturday, 3 July 2010, Germany will once again face off with Argentina in the quarter-finals of a World Cup - just like in 2006. Four years ago, Germany won thanks to strong performances...
On Saturday, 3 July 2010, Germany will once again face off with Argentina in the quarter-finals of a World Cup - just like in 2006. Four years ago, Germany won thanks to strong performances by former Werder German internationals.
"I was relieved that I didn't have to take my shot," joked Torsten Frings after the 2006 victory, which was decided in penalties. Tim Borowski converted the fourth and final spot kick for a 5-3 victory, meaning Frings did not have to take his penalty. "But I am certain that I would have converted my penalty," said the current Werder captain back then. Frings, who had converted four penalties during the World Cup season, was set up to take the fifth spot kick.
But Frings wasn't the only Werder player who played a big role in sending Germany into the semi-finals. Former Werder striker Miroslav Klose scored the equaliser in the 79th minute with the assist coming from Bremen team-mate Tim Borowski. The then-26-year-old midfielder Borowski had been subbed in five minutes earlier and had a strong showing with his assist and converted penalty. But there was also a strong force in the defence who is also a leading pillar of the German backline in 2010: Per Mertesacker, then in the services of Hannover.
The defender was one of the youngest players on the German side in 2006. And just four years later he is a member of the team council and one of the more experienced supports in a young team which includes Werder team-mates Marko Marin and Mesut Özil. And hopefully that support leads to a victory over Argentina.
