2:30 PM ET, July 7, 2010
Durban Stadium, Durban, South Africa
Players to watch:
Xavi, Spain
Highlighting just one of Spain's midfielders is like choosing the best diamond, but Xavi has shown his class once again. His clever touches, like his cheeky backheel that released Villa for the only goal against Portugal, reveal a player capable of the unexpected as well as crisp, safe passes that maintain possession.
David Villa, Spain
Spain has plenty of players to thank for its spot in the semifinals, but foremost among those is Villa. The pacy attacker leads the tournament's goal-scoring list, and those strikes have gotten Spain out of some dicey situations. Villa has lined up primarily on the left wing but has also been stationed inside when Fernando Torres hasn't been on the field. In either case, Villa's trickery on the ball as well as his uncanny positional sense has seen him pop up for five of Spain's six goals.
Fernando Torres, Spain
Torres has not looked himself since coming back from knee surgery in April, and that's been especially evident in his World Cup performances. His touch has been subpar and he's rarely looked dangerous. But lest anyone forget, it was Torres who scored the winner in the Euro 2008 final against Germany. While coach Vicente del Bosque may bench Torres, let's also not forget that if he converts on Wednesday, all of his previous struggles will be instantly forgotten.
Philipp Lahm, Germany
Lahm has faced plenty of talented players before, but Wednesday will provide the ultimate test, as he'll be tasked with stopping the prolific Villa. Lahm's quickness should make him well suited to that task, and the best defense could be an aggressive attack, as Lahm's runs forward could help negate Villa's impact.
Mesut Ozil, Germany
Ozil is just one of several young, dynamic players at Germany's disposal. The Werder Bremen attacker is often given a free role underneath striker Miroslav Klose, and has caused havoc throughout the tournament with his darting runs and ability to set up others. Given Mueller's suspension, Ozil will need to raise his game even further.
Sami Khedira, Germany
Spain is capable of mesmerizing opponents with its slick passing game, so it will be up to Khedira to disrupt the flow of La Furia Roja's attack with his tough tackling and mobility. While Bastian Schweinsteiger assumes most of the attacking duties out of the center of midfield, Khedira has been known to get forward as well, and he'll have to pick his spots effectively in order to keep Spain's midfield honest.
Who will win:
Germany has shown a greater tactical flexibility throughout the tournament, and given the team's higher level of form at the moment, I think they'll win 2-1.
Durban Stadium, Durban, South Africa
Players to watch:
Xavi, Spain
Highlighting just one of Spain's midfielders is like choosing the best diamond, but Xavi has shown his class once again. His clever touches, like his cheeky backheel that released Villa for the only goal against Portugal, reveal a player capable of the unexpected as well as crisp, safe passes that maintain possession.
David Villa, Spain
Spain has plenty of players to thank for its spot in the semifinals, but foremost among those is Villa. The pacy attacker leads the tournament's goal-scoring list, and those strikes have gotten Spain out of some dicey situations. Villa has lined up primarily on the left wing but has also been stationed inside when Fernando Torres hasn't been on the field. In either case, Villa's trickery on the ball as well as his uncanny positional sense has seen him pop up for five of Spain's six goals.
Fernando Torres, Spain
Torres has not looked himself since coming back from knee surgery in April, and that's been especially evident in his World Cup performances. His touch has been subpar and he's rarely looked dangerous. But lest anyone forget, it was Torres who scored the winner in the Euro 2008 final against Germany. While coach Vicente del Bosque may bench Torres, let's also not forget that if he converts on Wednesday, all of his previous struggles will be instantly forgotten.
Philipp Lahm, Germany
Lahm has faced plenty of talented players before, but Wednesday will provide the ultimate test, as he'll be tasked with stopping the prolific Villa. Lahm's quickness should make him well suited to that task, and the best defense could be an aggressive attack, as Lahm's runs forward could help negate Villa's impact.
Mesut Ozil, Germany
Ozil is just one of several young, dynamic players at Germany's disposal. The Werder Bremen attacker is often given a free role underneath striker Miroslav Klose, and has caused havoc throughout the tournament with his darting runs and ability to set up others. Given Mueller's suspension, Ozil will need to raise his game even further.
Sami Khedira, Germany
Spain is capable of mesmerizing opponents with its slick passing game, so it will be up to Khedira to disrupt the flow of La Furia Roja's attack with his tough tackling and mobility. While Bastian Schweinsteiger assumes most of the attacking duties out of the center of midfield, Khedira has been known to get forward as well, and he'll have to pick his spots effectively in order to keep Spain's midfield honest.
Who will win:
Germany has shown a greater tactical flexibility throughout the tournament, and given the team's higher level of form at the moment, I think they'll win 2-1.
