Preview
Germany v ArgentinaGermany coach Juergen Klinsmann is unlikely to put a man on Juan Ramon Riquelme but knows that he needs to neutralize the Argentina midfielder for his side to advance at the World Cup.
Klinsmann rejects the idea that Riquelme and Ballack face a key duel in midfield in today's quarter-final clash in Berlin.
Argentina, insists the coach, are strong overall as a team unit and have a number of individual players who can decide a game.
But as Klinsmann stepped up the training in Berlin on Wednesday -- all of his players now fully fit -- the Riquelme question remained. The Argentina number 10 is a playmaker of the old school, a strategist who inspires and brings others into the game.
Stopping Riquelme and his ability to feed passes through the defense will be a key to whether Germany can advance to the semi-finals. The solution will be in captain Ballack -- the nearest Germany themselves have to a playmaker -- and the skipper's adjutant in midfield, Torsten Frings, working hard in tandem.
"Keeping him out of the game will be difficult because he is perfect in receiving and keeping the ball," Ballack said of his Argentinian midfield opponent in the weekly Sports Bild.
"He can be played the ball even when is marked. There is no point putting a man on him because he has team-mates who are just as outstanding," he added.
Instead Germany will be looking to put constant pressure on Argentina and to close down their opponents all over the pitch.
The two German central midfielders, helped by Bernd Schneider and Bastian Schweinsteiger on the right and left, will have the job of preventing passes being fed to the likes of strikers Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola, assistant coach Joachim Loew said on Wednesday.
Defensive role
Frings, in defensive midfield, and Ballack, who has also adopted a slightly more defensive role, will be closest to Riquelme and have the main task in midfield of preventing him unfolding his talents.
Ballack and Frings have realized that their defensive duties are bringing results.
"We have an almost perfect understanding on the pitch," said Frings, who at 29 has developed into one of the leaders of the team during its impressive tournament run.
Riquelme, says the Werder Bremen player, is a key figure for Argentina but it would be a mistake to focus only on him.
"I don't know what the tactics will be but I can't imagine I will be running after him for 90 minutes," he said.
Both Ballack and Frings are confident Germany have the strength to beat Argentina and end an almost six-year winless series against major football nations.
"Every one of us will have to perform to their best on Friday," Ballack said. "Argentina may have greater individual qualities but what is working well with us is our passing and zonal play. We are looking for the ball and are trying to play football from the back and not play too many long balls. Everything is working well at the moment."
Improved considerably
Frings agrees Germany have improved considerably since the sides drew 2-2 twice last year. Frings played in both games, but players like Ballack or striker Miroslav Klose were absent then.
Loew said: "We were close to winning both those games without Ballack or Klose. With these two we are stronger. Our game has also developed since then and confidence has grown."
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