Teutonic efficiency sees Germany top Group A
Polish born strike force of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski both scored to help Germany to a 3-0 victory over Ecuador in Berlin which means that Germany is the winner of Group A and will now face the second place team (probably Sweden) on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals. Klose’s second double strike of the tournament means he is now the leading scorer on 4 goals.
Ecuador played like a team that was delighted just to qualify for the last 16 and did not really care who they will face next. Their team selection showed this, with Borja and Kaviedes coming in for first choice duo Tenorio and Delgado. A few tough tackles and a Mendez free kick apart, they showed very little. Klose’s first owed a lot to Schweinsteiger’s pull back and his second to Ballack’s neat pass and Mora’s poor anticipation. The third was scored as a result of a swift counter-attack following an Ecuador corner, Podolski converting Schneider’s cross.
After so many doubts about how they would perform and indeed whether they would even qualify from their group, given their form in the build-up, the hosts have made it. Their performance have exceeded expectations (well expectations were pretty low). Huge doubts remain about the ability of trio Metzelder, Mertesacker and Friedrich in defence as they have not yet faced top class opposition.
Also in Group A, Poland finished third by beating Costa Rica 2-1. For those who care, here are the goals: 0-1 , 1-1, 2-1.
