JOHANNESBURG – Even the proud German media could barely bring itself to get excited about its national team before this World Cup. Famed for its boastful headlines and patriotic predictions, Germany had uncharacteristically low expectations for its squad heading into South Africa.
The unusual pessimism was thanks in part to the absence of injured captain Michael Ballack and in part to the fact that, according to most experts, this team just wasn’t very good.
Well, five matches in and with two straight four-goal displays under its belt, this German team is finally getting the credit it deserves. After a 4-0 destruction of Argentina in Saturday’s quarterfinal in Cape Town, Germany is no longer a team to look out for – it is the outright favorite to win the World Cup.
There are no big superstars in the German lineup, but Joachim Loew’s side is one which understands its strengths and weaknesses perfectly and adapts accordingly.
Those who witnessed the way Loew’s men tore apart Argentina will find it no shock that they leap to the top of our latest World Cup rankings and will fear no one from this point on.
Yahoo! Sports’ World Cup rankings
1. Germany (last ranking: 4)
Germany’s four goals against Australia in its opening game could be put down to the weakness of the opposition and Tim Cahill’s harsh red card. The four the Germans managed to score in the round of 16 could be attributed to England being caught out as it threw men forward in desperation of goals.
But the four Loew’s men hammered home against Argentina cannot be marked down to anything other than sheer brilliance and clinical efficiency. The accuracy of the team’s passing and the collective determination to track back in numbers makes this not only the hardest-working team at the World Cup but also the most dangerous.
2. Netherlands (5)
When the Dutch went a goal down against Brazil in its quarterfinal Friday, many expected the game to become one-way traffic. It did, for the Netherlands. With a comeback of stunning resolve and magnificent execution, the team derided as the most disjointed in the tournament beat the odds and claimed a spot in the last four.
The Dutch’s overall level of talent has never been questioned, but their ability to cope under pressure has. Uruguay will come to fight on Tuesday and Bert van Marwijk’s side will need to show the stomach for a scrap.
3. Spain (2)
Saturday night could have turned very ugly, very quickly for Spain. Against a Paraguay team determined to impose itself physically, the European champions looked far from their awesome best and lacked their typically dynamic style.
What they did have though, was confidence, tenacity and a refusal to buckle. Even after the game turned wild with two missed penalties in the second half, Spain kept its head and had David Villa’s fifth goal of the tournament to thank for keeping its title hopes alive.
4. Uruguay (6)
Hands up if you expected Uruguay to be in the semifinals? OK, you can tell the truth now. As South America’s fifth-best team coming into the tournament, Uruguay was seen as a team capable of making a run – just not this deep.
However, Diego Forlan’s golden run of form combined with fierce, committed defending – and a huge slice of luck in the quarterfinal against Ghana – has put this underdog team just two victories away from winning the World Cup.
