Vorsprung durch technik for Germany, but no Spanish fiesta yet

I thought that it was one of the laws of the universe that the German National Team huffed and puffed through games, wore down their opponents and nicked one goal wins.

I thought it was another law of the universe that the current Spanish team played glorious one touch football, scoring loads of goals and winning games with more style than Clint Eastwood in a Western movie.

Turns out it's the other way round. Blimey.

So how often in the past have you watched a Germany side and gone PHWOOOAAAARRRR!!! loudly? (except when the camera points at the inevitable gorgeous blonde German women in the crowd - how come these beautiful nubile young ladies never come to Caley games?) Thought not.

It will be interesting to see how Germany react if they fall behind in their semi and they have to chase the game. But if they go in front, well, they have shown that they can demolish quality sides on the break - and yes, Argentina and England are quality sides. Really. The big question is how much Thomas Muller's absence will affect things - he has been absolutely awesome, up with teammate Ozil and David Villa (more about him later) for player of the tournasment so far, and I'm not convinced anyone on their bench will manage to take his place.

But there has been a quality and adventure about Germany, helped by a tactical genius in Joachim Low. How galling must it have been for Fabio Capello to have to listen to Low's press conference explaining the masterplan that blew England apart? It was more simple against Argentina, as Maradona was always going to run into trouble by playing only one central midfielder in Mascherano; Bastian Schweinsteiger waltzed about like he owned the place. Mesut Ozil had a quieter game than last week, but still set up the fourth goal, whilst Miroslav Klose is like James McFadden playing for a decent country - a mediocre club player who seems to become superhuman in his national team's shirt.

In contrast, Spain have really struggled during these championships; they don't quite seem to have recovered from the trauma of defeat to Switzerland in their opening game - it has been a long and bitter therapy so far, with no end in sight. David Villa is carrying them, frankly. It's difficult to know if Fernando Torres is unfit or just disinterested, but he has been a passenger. Meanwhile, tiki-taka is what Spain are good at, but Vicente Del Bosque seems to have decided to have as many ballplayers as possible - Xavi and Iniesta obviously, but Xabi Alonso as well, with Busquets as a holding man? Talk about too many cooks. There's almost no width at all - Villa has to drift left, while Sergio Ramos is required to rampage up the wing...which looks great until he tries to produce a final ball. Why Del Bosque doesn't just go for the Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets Barcelona midfield, and play a front three with Villa coming from the left, and A.N. Other on the right? It would seem sensible, would it not?

Anyway, Spain v Germany in midweek will be very interesting indeed - either Spain will finally find their mojo, or Germany will avenge their Euro 2008 defeat and put themselves on the brink of being one of the most fondly remembered World Cup winners. Either or, miss it at your peril.

L.