- 7 months ago
Germany won their opening group game while Spain conceded two late goals to South Korea to draw.
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00:00Confirmation of the teams. Germany, as you've heard, make one change from their opening game.
00:05Their out-of-form striker Karl-Heinz Riedler is left out, and that means positional changes,
00:10with Andy Muller joining Jürgen Klinsmann in attack, and Thomas Strunz coming into the side on the right of defence.
00:17It's a beautiful day here, 90 degrees, and Bertie Vokes, the man with the most unenviable job in world football, I think.
00:24Every one of his predecessors has won the World Cup, the European Championship, or both.
00:30Imagine having to follow that kind of an act.
00:33Germany, of course, the holders and the favourites, but Spain will be difficult opponents for them today.
00:38They're forced into that one change by the suspension of their sweeper and captain Nadal.
00:43Hierro moving back from midfield to fill his role.
00:46Guardiola gets the midfield vacancy, and that means there are no fewer than six Barcelona players in this side.
00:53Spain appearing in their fifth World Cup finals in succession, but they've never gone further than the quarterfinals,
01:00the stage they reached in Mexico in 1986.
01:03The Germans, well, only Brazil have a better record than them in the entire history of the competition.
01:09They've been in the last three finals and four of the last five.
01:13I think Clemente's picked a side, floods the midfield, but I think he'll be looking for a lot from his number seven, Goico, Goico Chia.
01:20I think he'll want him to run at Bremer. I think Bremer has a weakness when people run at him.
01:24And I could see Clemente wanting, indeed, Spanish right winger to make a lot of progress down this side of the field.
01:29So the game finally underway with Germany in their white shirts and black shorts attacking from right to left.
01:36Andy Bremer, one of so many experienced players in this German side.
01:40In their squad of 22, there's no fewer than nine who figured in the World Cup final in Italy four years ago.
01:45A long ball played forward to Klinsmann.
01:51He'll certainly be heavily marked, and that underlines it, that first tackle by Abelardo today.
01:56Obviously, the Spanish recognise his qualities, and they'll give him a rough time, as Abelardo did then.
02:03Yeah, all the usual theatrical from Klinsmann, but it was a very, very foolish challenge early in the game from Abelardo,
02:09particularly bearing the climate with the referees.
02:11Effenberg just playing it back to Kola, who was cautioned for Germany.
02:18He's one of two Germans cautioned. Spain also had two cautioned in their opening match.
02:23This is Berthold, another of those players with 50 caps and more in a German side that really has seen everything, done everything, been everywhere.
02:33Useful ball for Effenberg. He just lifts it on towards the figure of Klinsmann.
02:38Alcorta got there first. Julio Salinas having some trouble getting the ball under control, though.
02:44And now Luis Enrique gets his first touch, and a good tackle by Strunz, who missed Germany's opening match against Bolivia with a thigh injury.
02:52The whistle's gone for a free kick to Germany. The referee might well have let them have the advantage, the referee.
02:58This has certainly got away to a good start, Alan.
02:59Good high tempo, you know, there's been nothing negative about it.
03:03There hasn't been waiting for the game to happen. Both sides are trying to make it happen.
03:06Guardiola finds Luis Enrique, Sergi on the overlap, down the left flank, and he plays a lovely ball inside the full-back.
03:14Sergi going strong here. It's a great run. Oh, tremendous save.
03:19What a moment that could have been for young Sergi, who hadn't even played for Barcelona's first team earlier this season,
03:26has been promoted to the dizzy heights of the World Cup, and almost gave Spain the lead against the world champions.
03:32Well, that's blinding football, isn't it? Great run off the back of the defence.
03:37A lovely threaded through ball by Luis Enrique.
03:40Cuts right across the face. Might have left it to Caminero, but a good strong save there from Ilkner.
03:46So, Ilkner, with a really superb piece of goalkeeping, has denied Spain an early lead here.
03:54And the corner comes to nothing as Effenberg flicks it away, but Luis Enrique in possession again.
04:00Good challenge by Effenberg.
04:02And Luis Enrique battles to win it back and earns the free kick.
04:05And Spain have gone about their job in impressive fashion in the first ten minutes here.
04:12No question that that was a foul.
04:17Guardiola of Barcelona will take the kick.
04:23Hierro has come forward.
04:24Julio Salinas near the penalties bar.
04:26Hierro came in as the last man.
04:29And, once again, Germany looked a little bit unsettled.
04:35Alcorto was up there as well.
04:36I mean, he likes marking people, there's big Jurgen Kola.
04:39And behind him will be, of course, Matthias picking all the little bits of him.
04:46Guardiola, he's got away from his marker well.
04:49He'll hit this.
04:50It's a good effort.
04:51Well, he doesn't score many goals, Guardiola.
04:55But he brought a fine save again from Bodo Ilpno then.
05:00For the tournament, I couldn't for the life of him understand why Clemente had left him out of his opening game, you know.
05:05All of a sudden, he's in there.
05:06He brings something to the Spanish side.
05:09He's got great vision.
05:11As you say, he doesn't score a lot of goals.
05:12But an excellent passer of the ball.
05:14Go in Cuccia's corner.
05:15It's a better one this time.
05:19And the shot comes in.
05:20This time, straight into Ilpno's midriff from the same player.
05:27Guardiola, who links up so brilliantly in that position in the middle of midfield.
05:30Lovely distributor of the ball as he proved to get there.
05:33Ferrer.
05:35Caminero forward with Julio Salinas.
05:37Go in Cuccia providing the whip on the right.
05:40And it goes towards Julio Salinas.
05:42Unbelievable goal from Go in Cuccia.
05:46Whether he meant it, doesn't matter.
05:48Spain are in front.
05:5014 minutes gone.
05:52Up until a few days ago, he had never scored for his country.
06:02Now, it's two goals in two World Cup matches for Go in Cuccia.
06:07And that's one of the most remarkable of the competition so far.
06:13All inspired by Guardiola in the centre of the field kept the ball playing.
06:19The ball spun out here to Go in Cuccia, setting up to Havagot, the defender, spins it in.
06:25I suppose in the dressing room he'll say he nominated that.
06:28All you'd have to say is, it is a good curling ball into the box that invited people, somebody to go and attack it, but it wasn't necessary.
06:36Well, I can tell you there's not a breath of wind here in the Soldier Field Stadium today, so the conditions had nothing to do with that goal.
06:44And I'm sure Go in Cuccia was looking just to lift it forwards towards the general area of the far post.
06:51Either that, or it was a brilliantly inspired goal.
06:54But they all count, and that one really counts as one of the most important Spain have scored for a while.
07:01It's given them the lead against the world champions, Germany.
07:09Muller's hit!
07:10He could have had Germany level within seconds.
07:14Suddenly Spain were caught sleeping in defence.
07:17And Andy Muller with the header over, I'm not quite sure why the American director is showing us Julio Salinas here.
07:23Muller with that header over, could have brought Germany level on.
07:27Well, that's a lovely curling ball, he hits the space, runs into the space, should have stayed through it, should have scored.
07:35Effenberg for Germany.
07:37And a lot of space opening up on Germany's right.
07:40And it's a fine run into the box, the referees had a look at it, and given nothing.
07:46Well, suddenly, everyone stopped.
07:49And I thought the referee had indicated the foul had taken place on Struz outside the box.
07:54Struz was in slow motion.
07:58So theatrical again, you know.
08:00I mean, I thought they were supposed to be booking guys for that.
08:03Yeah, absolutely, yeah.
08:04So he went down as though the sniper in row, he had caught him there.
08:08It was a foul, I think, but nothing quite as dramatic as that.
08:10That's where the free kick then.
08:15And it looks good.
08:17Well, I'm not sure who made the final contact then.
08:19It could have been Effenberg, as they have three players climbing strongly and higher than any of the Spanish defenders.
08:25But off target, go kick.
08:33Just having arrived at the end of this free kick, he probably should have scored.
08:36He's right above, well, he's coming out of the clouds there.
08:39Giving him the benefit of the doubt, unlock it.
08:42Yeah, he's got the beating of stronts, Luis Enrique.
08:46When it's 1v1.
08:48Incidentally, Germany are temporarily down to 10 men.
08:50And Roncola, who got injured in that previous corner, still off being treated as the referee blows the halftime whistle.
08:58And a very satisfactory first half it was for Spain, who took the lead with a rather bizarre goal from Goikachea,
09:05but played exceptionally well and withheld a lot of German pressure to go in at halftime,
09:10leading the world champions by one goal to nil.
09:13Welcome back to Chicago.
09:15A draw in many ways would suit both teams because of the remaining matches in the group.
09:19Bolivia play Spain in Chicago, Germany play Korea in Dallas,
09:23and both would be, Germany and Spain that is, would be expected to take something from those games.
09:28So, if they draw today, it might be enough for both their purposes.
09:31But I'm quite certain that Spain in particular can't afford to run that risk, really,
09:36because they just don't know what's going to happen as they found to their own costs with the South Koreans,
09:41scoring two goals in the last five minutes against them.
09:44South Korea beat Bolivia, then who knows how this group could turn out.
09:47So, certainly from Germany's point of view, they would play one of the third-place teams if they win this group,
09:52and they would stay here in Chicago.
09:55So, there's a big incentive for them.
09:58Mateus with the first clearance.
09:59No changes, incidentally, by either side during the halftime interval.
10:03Luis Enrique winning one back for Spain.
10:08And an injury there straight away to Hester, who stayed on the ground.
10:11And the ball knocked out of play deliberately by Bremer, so he can get treatment.
10:18Went down under that challenge from Luis Enrique, who was quite justifiably playing the ball.
10:24He's back on.
10:25That's a good rule, you know, because I'll tell you what, it'll stop that business of the players having to have treatment.
10:30But it'll certainly stop people's time-wasting in that respect.
10:35Now, that was a dangerous challenge indeed, in view of the possibility of yellow and red cards.
10:42Hierro getting across and quite clearly bringing down Zama in the final third of the field.
10:48He was a bit lucky to escape there, Hierro.
10:50Hester, Subis and Hester thought about going to that, didn't, and it's gone in!
10:58Klinsman will play it, it might have been over the line anyway, but what is certain is that Germany are level.
11:05Only two minutes into the second half.
11:13That's them all over again, that epitomises Germany.
11:17And, to be fair to Jürgen Klinsman, nobody's done it more often than him.
11:20Lovely curling ball in from a needless free kick, if you like.
11:24Goalkeeper didn't know where to stick or bust.
11:26A little bit of reaction.
11:28They'll have a shout for Effenberg being offside there and feel sure.
11:37I thought that had crossed the line before Klinsman got to it, but like all goalscorers,
11:42he immediately stood up and claimed it.
11:43But you're right about the possibility of an offside, Ron.
11:46We might have a closer look at that later, but certainly Spain have made the worst possible start here to the second half.
11:53They're straight on to the counterattack with Luis Enrique finding Caminero, Ferrer on the overlap on the right for them.
12:00And in it goes rather sloppily towards Julio Salinas.
12:04It's come all the way out to Sergi, who in fact is offside.
12:08So, Spain get nothing out of that.
12:09And suddenly the scoreline changes to 1-1.
12:17Well, Ray Wilkins watching in the studio.
12:19This country a corner here, and another problem perhaps for Zuby Zaretta.
12:251-1 Germany against Spain.
12:28Group C in the opening stages of the 94 World Cup Finals.
12:32And the pedal was a brilliant effort from Klinsman.
12:39He reacted quicker than anyone, went almost onto his knees,
12:42and somehow twisted in midair to get the head of goal wins.
12:47Oh yeah, this is Zouma.
12:48That's bravery as well, you know, of the highest order.
12:50Couldn't quite get enough purchase on the ball.
12:52Chasing and harrying would have taken a lot out of them.
12:54And in this sunshine and heat, that's the last thing they need.
13:03Guardiola's free kick.
13:05Looking for Julio Salinas.
13:06Far post and the market is terrible.
13:08And that could easily have seen Spain go back in front again.
13:12As Jairo came in totally unmarked on the far post.
13:15And Germany's defence was all over the place for once.
13:19But like you say, he's poor watch.
13:20He's let Jairo get in the back.
13:22Not Maguilna.
13:23And how that stayed out, heaven only knows.
13:27Problems for Spain now.
13:31Hessler, who took the free kick that led to the equalising goal,
13:34will take this corner.
13:37Bertholdt getting up high, knocking it down to Kohler.
13:39It comes back to Bremer.
13:42And they've got so many men in the middle here.
13:44One of them is Rudy Bonner.
13:45Almost got his first touch.
13:46Jairo just beat him two of his time.
13:48And it comes back to him and he finds Glendron.
13:50And straight away, the old partnership almost paid dividends.
13:57What about that for awareness in the box from the old Foxtor baller?
14:01Tight penalty box.
14:03Crowd scene.
14:04No space at all.
14:05Balls just fall out.
14:06Just a little nudge off knowing Klinsman was just to his side.
14:09Klinsman couldn't stay over it.
14:12Just couldn't get enough.
14:14Just couldn't get over it enough.
14:16Definitely going through.
14:17He just looked to be gliding through.
14:18Whereas the first half, they were sprinting through.
14:20Like Luis Henrique particularly.
14:22And Sergi first half were really flying through.
14:26Now, of course, you've got the tiredness factor, of course.
14:28You know, they've had two hard games in a short period of time.
14:31Jairo's free kick.
14:32It's an excellent one.
14:33And Huyten had to get that quickly to his left to keep it out.
14:38Jairo and Guardiola dominating over the ball.
14:41And the shot that came in really tested the German goalkeeper to the full.
14:44Here's Jairo again.
14:47Incidentally, there was a booking for Eferberg here.
14:49And the incident that led to that free kick.
14:52And Caminero has broke clear.
14:53And finds Julio Salinas and Caminero.
14:55And still Caminero.
14:58Oh, he just ran out of the legs.
15:00He just didn't have the strength to force the ball into a threatening position, Ron.
15:06Yeah, I mean, I feel a bit sorry for him today, Caminero.
15:09Because I've seen him play some excellent games.
15:11Great skill level, high technical.
15:19Caminero loses possession there to Eferberg.
15:22Still a chance for Germany to get the winner here.
15:24Slimsman might do just that.
15:27You would have banked a lot of money on that finding the net.
15:35I mean, Eferberg's done brilliant here.
15:37Slides a slide with a pass.
15:39There he is, living on the shoulder.
15:40He was fighting the ball a little bit.
15:43His first touch took him a shade away from goal.
15:45He's just trying to lift it over to the goalkeeper.
15:47Julio Salinas, meanwhile, tries to get Spain.
15:52But I still believe that both these teams will make it to the second round.
15:56And I hope so, too.
16:02Yes, it's the sort of tournament, isn't it, where you won all the major sides in the gathering, so to speak.
16:07That's it.
16:08The final whistle from the Uruguayan referee.
16:11We've seen an excellent football match here in front of a 60,000 crowd in the Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago,
16:19which has ended with the scoreline that many people, I think, predicted.
16:23Germany won.
16:24Spain won.
16:25Spain taking the lead with something of a fluke goal, it has to be said, by Goikachea,
16:30with Germany pulling level early on in the second half, thanks to Jürgen Klinsmann,
16:34who might well have gone on and won the match for Germany late on.
16:38We'll be back right after the break with some news and views on this and the rest of the World Cup.
16:44Stay right with us.
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