Two Werner Goals Help Germany Reach a Second Semi Final (GFWC Quarter Final Match 60)

The following articles highlight the process of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and their demise from the governance of international football and the rise of Global Futbol.

July 7th, 2018 (GFWC Quarter Final Match 60)

Two Werner Goals Help Germany Reach a Second Semi Final

Spain 1-2 Germany

 

Germany has reached their second Global Futbol World Cup Semi Final after two goals from Werner saw off the might of Spain.

 

Both teams entered the game unchanged and with the intent of attacking hard. Spain had the early chances, with the Iberian Peninsula side winning a free kick, only for Busquets to easily shoot the ball to ter Stegen. Jordi Alba had a half-chance from a tight angle after a playful lead up, but hit the side netting.

 

In the 7^thminute, Germany scored their first goal. Özil passed to Werner, whose run outclassed Koke and the striker strode in for a goal with the outside of his left boot.

 

Stunned, the Spanish players searched for an equaliser. Iniesta’s shot was saved; Diego Costa then missed before two more saves for ter Stegen. 

 

From the resulting corner of Diego Costa’s second effort, Busquets found Diego Costa above Özil, who somehow found the gap between ter Stegen and the post.

 

Germany went on the counter and advanced down the field, just missing a solid chance. Playmaker Özil passed forward to Kroos, who seemed clear, but Jordi Alba closed him down before Kroos had time to shoot. However, Werner stepped back and caught the free ball with his right boot, only to miss to the left.

 

Germany kept pressuring for a second, and it came in the 38^thminute. Man of the Match Werner passed out to Özil to get away from Sergio Ramos’s tight marking. Özil received the ball with his back to goal, but manuoevred around Iniesta and Jordi Alba. He dabbled the ball back to Werner, who shot first time again through Pique’s legs and into the goal.

 

The two teams received one more chance before the break, where Iniesta caught hold of a David Silva cross, only for ter Stegen to save the shot. Kroos also had a chance, but again, the opposing goalkeeper reigned supreme.

 

The second half started slowly as Germany kept possession of the ball for long periods, passing around the back, trying to find a weakness in Spain’s structure whilst running down the clock. Germany had two attacking probes during this period, one where Werner broke down the left wing, only to be caught offside. Then, Hector tried down the same wing, but Carvajal blocked his cross and out for a corner.  

 

At this point, Spain were run off their feet, especially Diego Costa, who needed to be substituted, plus David Silva needed time in defence to recover, and Busquets tried valiantly with 19 dribbling advances.

 

Iniesta had the best chance to equalise with seven minutes left. He received the ball from Isco, who could find no avenue to goal thanks to German defensive covering. Iniesta turned and shot, but missed to the left. The Spanish supporters held their faces in their hands, as they knew a goal had been squandered. 

 

Again, Spain attacked, only to be caught offside. Germany then counterattacked, with fresh substitutes Goretzka and Khedira combining. As the clock ticked into injury time, Goretzka broke down right midfield before running straight for goal. De Gea managed to save his left-footer, only for it to rebound to Brandt on the side of the box. He passed it to Khedira at the top of the 18-yard box, who dribbled around one and shot, only to miss. The whistle sounded soon after and Germany celebrated their second time to make the Semi Finals.

 

Germany now take on Colombia, who saw off Macedonia in the other Quarter Final. If Germany wins, they then have a chance to go one better than the runners-up tag they collected four years ago. The Germans know they have the attacking prowess to bypass the defence of Colombia, but the trick is to limit the striking power of Falcao and Rodriguez.

 

Spain will rue the defensive style they took in the second half of this game. Their restructuring, while trying to consolidate tired players, limited the likes of Iniesta and others having a true impact on the game. They will also look at tightening their shooting; they missed some quality chances to score. Spain’s Invitational Cup Stage 2 starts against Togo, before facing neighbours Portugal and England in the first European Nations League competition. These matches are likely to be without Iniesta, who is likely to retire. The question is who else of the older cohort will join Iniesta in tying no more the shoelaces for their national side.

 

 

 

 

 

Spain	1-2		Germany
9 5 44 20 0 2 55 83	Shots Shots on Target Possession % Tackles Fouls Corners Shot Accuracy % Pass Accuracy %		6 5 56 17 1 1 83 85
25’ #19 Diego Costa (#5 Busquets assist)    72’ #8 Koke off, #14 Alcãntara on      75’ #19 Diego Costa off, #9 Lucas Vásquez on  83’ #10 Isco off, #22 Rodrigo on		7’ #10 Werner (#8 Özil assist)    38’ #10 Werner (#8 Özil assist)    72’ #23 Gomez off, #7 Goretzka on  72’ #9 Reus off, #11 Brandt on      87’ #14 Draxler off, #6 Khedira on