After stilted second semi-final, hope is Messi and Germany can produce magic

'We hope Argentina and the Netherlands was an anomaly', writes Gary Meenaghan fron Sao Paulo, where Wednesday's semi-final proved subdued. Hopefully, he writes, 'the beautiful game will be present' in the World Cup final.

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his penalty shot in Argentina's 2014 World Cup semi-final victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday. Pedro Ugarte / AFP / July 9, 2014

SAO PAULO // We hope Argentina and the Netherlands was an anomaly and not the new norm. We pray the magic of what has been a thrilling World Cup did not depart with its hosts, Brazil. We cross our fingers that Sunday’s final will find the middle ground, the in-between of this week’s two semi final matches, which could hardly have been more contrasting.

On Tuesday, as the football world watched in shock and awe, a stylish and merciless Germany side slaughtered naïve, overemotional Brazil by a scoreline of 7-1. It was the worst defeat in the South American side’s illustrious 100-year history and the highest scoring semi-final in the tournament’s 84 years.

On Wednesday, perhaps with the memory of Brazil’s players crying as they walked off the pitch still fresh in their minds, Argentina and the Netherlands played tactical chess for 120 minutes. There was little action of note at either goal-mouth, the match culminating in a stalemate and a penalty shootout eventually ensuring Argentina progressed. It was a dull and dire semi-final, which is often the case when the risk-reward equation at work is so extreme.

In much the same way that Brazil were overcome by the occasion, it appeared at times that the Dutch and Argentine players were too. Daley Blind, under no pressure at all, skewed a cross-field pass clean out of touch. Dirk Kuyt, employed as a full-back, overhit cross after cross after cross. Lionel Messi ordered his teammates to flood the Dutch penalty area only to then strike a free-kick over the heads of them all and out for a goal-kick.

In fact, the only similarities Tuesday’s semi-final had with Wednesday’s semi-final was that both at times were painful to watch and both could have been cut short at half-time without making much difference to the final result. For all Germany and Brazil was unbalanced, Argentina and Netherlands cancelled each other out.

Ron Vlaar, at the heart of a five-man defence, showed focus and composure to nullify the Argentine frontline, while further ahead an orange jersey accompanied Messi always, ensuring he would not have the kind of special moment that he enjoyed against Iran and Nigeria and Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, like dynamite in the tournament’s early stages, were quieted by a resolute Argentine rearguard, led by the defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano.

For all Brazil had shown how not to defend, Argentina and the Dutch showed the way it should be done. In doing so though, they played their part in producing a turgid, forgettable affair. For the final, we must wish for more. The ingredients are there.

Brazil failed to hold up their part of the deal, but Argentina and Messi at the Maracana is what the world wanted. With Germany filling the hosts’ vacancy, the beautiful game will be present. Fingers are crossed it is able to be exhibited.

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