Time to pension off half of the German Mannschaft.
Germany looked rusty by what has always done them good; the machine. A
working machine needs oiling and parts changed; and where were Germany's spare parts. Are
there seriously no exciting young players in the Bundesliga, or is Berti Vogts too
conservative?
Commentators said that Blanco couldn't do his South Korean hop-over
against quality opposition. Well, he tried it again in the opening minutes against
Germany, in almost the same situation, and was shut out. Commentators get it right, Blanco
doesn't.
There was no urgency in the Mexican counter and they seemed prepared
to let Germany come at them in the first half.
Is there some masochistic streak in this Mexican side that they need
to be two goals down before they come into the game?
The first half was a no-goal affair. The Mexicans had given the
Germans enough time to get the two goals and then changed the game plan.
On the edge of the German area, Blanco threaded the ball through to
Hernandez who slammed it home; with defenders either side of him.
I guess German machines don't need servicing so much as Klinsmann was
there to tap in a mistake from German Villa in the 75th minute and Bierhoff headed in the
winner; four minutes from the end of normal time.
World Cups are getting too predictable: Italy, Brazil, Germany, and
the hosts.
Davids killed this game in the last minute. Actually, it seemed dead
for most of the ninety minutes.
A slow, boring game as the fans in the stadium seemed to have gone to
sleep too.
Bergkamp gets lucky in the 38th minute. A long ball from Frank de Boer
arrives in the Yugoslav area, Bergkamp is being tugged on the shirt by Mirkovic and slips
the ball under the keeper.
At the start of the second half a Yugoslav free-kick arrives at the
far post for Komljenovic to equalise.
Mijatovic missed a penalty, by slamming the ball on the underside of
the bar.
No point boring anyone with the minor details, except that Bergkampf
should have taken a shower in the 52nd minute; for a Zidane style stamp.
