Former Rapids defender Marcelo Balboa, a three-time World Cup veteran with 128 appearances for the U.S. National Team, is reporting from the World Cup in collaboration with Denver Post soccer reporter John Meyer. Balboa also is doing radio work for Futbol de Primera and video for .
JOHANNESBURG — The World Cup is no longer about big stars. The guys who were supposed to be the big stars this World Cup — Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Renaldo of Portugal, Wayne Rooney of England — didn’t do their jobs and went home early.
This World Cup is about modern soccer — 11 players attacking, 11 defending. That’s what Germany does, and that’s why Germany is playing the best right now.
Look at the Germany-Argentina game Saturday. Every time Messi got the ball, there were two or three German defenders around him. Look how tight Germany’s lines were, look how Germany’s forwards dropped back to help defend.
The first game Germany played, they beat Australia 4-0 and we said, “Hey, look at the competition.” Then they lose to Serbia, but they were playing with 10 men and they still controlled the game. They beat England 4-1, but we all knew England was struggling.
Germany’s coming-out party was against Argentina. People looked at that 4-0 victory and said, “Oh my God, where did this team come from?” I don’t think I’ve seen a team play a better 90 minutes of soccer in the World Cup so far.
If Germany plays like that in Wednesday’s semifinal, they’re going to give Spain a lot of problems.
Spain is a formidable opponent. Look at the players they have: Fernando Torres isn’t 100 percent, but you’ve got David Villa, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique. You’ve got a very shaky goalkeeper in Iker Casillas who came up huge in the quarterfinal against Paraguay, saving a penalty kick. But I just think Germany is playing a little better. I think it will be a hard-fought match but the Germans will come out on top.
In the other semifinal Tuesday, you have a very strong Netherlands team that I think can open up the Uruguayan defense. I think Uruguay will play like Paraguay played against Spain — put a little pressure on Holland and see how they react. But I think Holland is going to be a little better on set pieces, a little bigger, a little stronger, and I think they should reach the final.
