That was great effort by Germany! I wasn’t rooting for them (though my heart kept telling me they’d be too clever for the Argentineans) but what a fantastic performance, and if you’re a real football fan, you give this young German side every chance to win the 2010 World Cup.

After taking England to a football school in the round of 16, few would anticipate the Germans to repeat the same against Argentina, little did we know what was to happen to Maradona’s side that had, until Saturday’s quarter-finals game, had not tasted defeat in the tournament and were among the favorites for the title.

The semi-finals line-up in South Africa shows that the 2010 tournament hasn’t been a place for the genius. Kaka, Ronaldo and now Messi (to a certain extent) have all left the tournament without seeming ever to have been there in the first place.

Messi is the current World Player of the Year, and the other two held that prize before him, but none has lived up their high standards at the World Cup. Kaka, Messi left South Africa without scoring while Ronaldo managed just a solitary goal against North Korea.

It says a great deal for Germany, who scored four goals against two of the biggest teams in world football. After what we’ve seen from Joachim Loew’s side, nobody can feel the tournament has been weakened by the elimination of the stars.

The German team has been a joy to watch. It is a team with considerable talent, it works together and execute a game plan to perfection.

Having said that, I have to feel bad for Messi. In my opinion, unlike Rooney or Ronaldo, he actually tried his hardest and came away short on goals and the ultimate prize, a World Cup.

Ends