I'm really surprised what the coach has made within the time of six weeks with the German team. Some of them don't even play regularly in their clubs. The defense still looks quite vulnerable but the attacking part of the team is unusually good. With Klose the team has one more player of international class than I had thought.

Also, the style they play is somewhat new to me. Where is the old safety first, no risk no fun, boring play we were used to? This team may lose against Argentine and we'll still love them more than many of the old teams.

Argentine is a tough task, they have played well, so far. I would have preferred Mexico but the majority of the team say they prefer Argentine. Last time Germany has beaten Argentine was in 1990, so I don't know what makes them prefer Argentine.

Summary of the groups:
5 teams from Africa played, one reached the last sixteen (eliminated now)
4 teams from Asia played, none reached the next round
14 teams from Europe played, 10 made the next round (6 still in)
4 teams from South America played, all four came through (2 still in)
4 teams from North America played, 1 made the next round and was eliminated then.
Australia is the missing team, but I don't know where to put them.

Well, for a world cup it is always a good idea to have teams from many parts of the world, but quite a few European and South American teams who had to stay home would have been stronger than many of the other teams. I see no reason to give the other parts of the world more places as they sometimes demand.

Last time it looked as if the former "weak" teams had their breakthrough but this time the quarter finals look like we were used to see them: 6 from Europe, 2 from South America.
1998: 6 Europe, 2 (the same two of course) South America
1994: 7 Europe 1 South America
1990: 6 Europe, 1 South America, 1 Africa
1986: 5 Europe, 2 South America and the host (Mexico)
1982: no quarter finals, of the last 12 10 were from Europe and usual 2 from South America
1978: no quarter finals but of the last 8 5 were from Europe, 3 from South America
1974: no quarter finals, but of the last eight it was 6/2 once more
1970: 4 Europe, 3 South America and Mexico (host)
1966: I stopped there

It is know that there seems to be an advantage for the home team, but did you know that there is an even stronger advantage for the home continent?
The finals were 7 times in America. Each time an American team did win.
The finals were 9 times in Europe: 8 times a European team did win. Only once, in 1958, the Brazilean dream team with Didi, Vava, Pele, Garrincha could win in Europe.

Wolfgang