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Hot Germany wary of talented Spain
By Karolos Grohmann
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 07 - 2010

Germany's World Cup semifinal opponent Spain is far more dangerous than Argentina, with its game based on the world's best teamwork and not just individual qualities, said coach Joachim Loew.
Germany crushed the Argentines 4-0 in the last eight after stifling their playmaker Lionel Messi but Loew said European champion Spain was a completely different proposition.
“They are the country with the greatest consistency for the past two to three years,” the 50-year-old told reporters ahead of Wednesday's showdown in Durban.
“Spain do not have one Messi. They have more than one Messi. Especially in attack there are many players who can decide a game. Spain are not like England and Argentina, teams that make mistakes,” added Loew.
“They make very few mistakes in offense or defense so we have to force them to make those mistakes.”
Loew, who will need to replace suspended striker Thomas Mueller, singled out Spain midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta as the engine that needs to be switched off.
“Spain's midfield has a well-oiled axis with Iniesta and Xavi. But (Germany's) Sami Khedira and (Bastian) Schweinsteiger are good as well so there will be a key situation there to carve out advantages.”
Khedira, nursing a thigh muscle injury picked up in the quarterfinal, should be fit for the match, said Loew.
The coach's only injury real concern is striker Cacau, a possible replacement for Mueller. Loew said he could also opt to play Toni Kroos or even Piotr Trochowski in his place.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque and his players have expressed their admiration for Germany, praising Loew's success in building a side out of exciting new talent mixed with experienced campaigners.
Del Bosque has indicated the European champion, which beat Germany in the Euro 2008 final, will stick with a fast-flowing, attacking style and, with the Germans employing similar tactics in South Africa, it should be an open, fluid match.
The form of Fernando Torres is a concern for Del Bosque, though he is likely to keep faith with the misfiring striker in a twin-pronged attack with World Cup top scorer David Villa.
Midfielder Cesc Fabregas is a doubt for start after injuring his right leg in training, the team spokeswoman said Tuesday.
She said in a short statement that an X-ray had shown no bone damage and “his participation had not been ruled out”.
Fabregas picked up the injury in Monday's training at the Spanish base in Potchefstroom.
The midfielder has yet to start in the tournament so far but came on as a second-half substitute for Fernando Torres in Spain's 1-0 quarterfinal win over Paraguay Saturday. The Spanish have only once before been this close to World Cup glory. In 1950, in Brazil, where only 13 countries took part, they made it to the final group stage, where a draw with the eventual champion Uruguay and defeats by Brazil and Sweden resulted in them finishing fourth.


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