These quarter finals have had everything. Plenty of goals, sending offs, penalty shoot outs and two of the favourites going home. With the possible exception of Uruguay, all three other semi-finalists play football the way football should be played. Unlike England they deserve it. England can say that they lost to potential winners but Fabio, Wazza, Lamps and Stevie G et al can't disguise their own inadequacies.
Holland were dark horses a few weeks ago, but few would have had them beating Brazil. The Samba Boys didn't really turn out and were frustrated that the Dutch marked them out of the game, and The Netherlands were allowed to play the more flowing game.
South American temprament also effected Argentina who couldn't get near the Germans, whose self- confidence rises with every game. Miroslav Klose who has been around for longer than most people realise only needs a couple of goals to better Ronaldo's (not the Portugese cheat) World Cup scoring record.
Ghana were unlucky but inexperience in major tournaments cost them. That last minute penalty should have been converted, but from the moment it hit the crossbar, it was inevitable that it wasn't going to be their day. Some people have called for a change in law meaning that it should be a goal, if an outfield player handballs on the line. It is cheating, but it was instinct over thought, and Ghana failed to take advantage of their "advantage". It's Ghana's fault for missing the penalty, the fact they missed two more in the shoot out seems to have been missed by most.
Spain also missed a penalty as did Paraguay, but the worst of all four games in the round of 4, was won by a single goal from one of the most reliable players ever to play for Spain. 2 days of rest now before the crunch "all or nothing" games start.
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