Demichelis: German digs a mark of respect
Reuters - Friday 02 July 2010, 09:53
CAPE TOWN - Germany are showing respect
for their World Cup quarter-final rivals Argentina when they
accuse them of gamesmanship and being poor losers, Argentine
defender Martin Demichelis said.
"It's an act of nervousness or respect, but I think it's
respect," Demichelis said.
"For having beaten them in the friendly they respect us
more, for our history," he added, recalling Argentina's 1-0 win
in Munich in March and meeting in successive World finals in
1986 and 1990 with one victory apiece.
German players have accused the Argentines of trying to
influence referees in the build-up to the match at Green Point
stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
They also said Argentina were poor losers when the sides met
in the Berlin World Cup quarter-final four years ago which hosts
Germany won on penalties. After the shootout, fighting broke out
among players and team officials from both sides.
"Many people devalue our victory and our performance,"
Demichelis told a news conference on Thursday about the March
warm-up match in the city where he plays his club soccer for
Bayern Munich.
"But this Germany side is the same despite three changes and
these same (Argentine) players are those who beat Germany," he
said.
"I hope we repeat what we did in that match because Germany
did not trouble us. We'll try to keep the ball from them and
control it with the good players we have."
Demichelis, a club mate of four likely starters in the
German team, said they had some outstanding, physically strong
players.
"Their team has improved a lot since the World Cup began. I
know them all, from the goalkeeper (Manuel Neuer) who can throw
the ball to the halfway line to (striker Miroslav) Klose."
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