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Played
August 15, 2012 7:45 PM BST
Commerzbank-Arena — Frankfurt am Main
Referee:‬ J. Eriksson‎
Attendance:‬ 48808‎
 
Sami Khedira 45+1′ (OG)
 
Lionel Messi 52′
 
   
 
 

Player Ratings: Germany 1-3 Argentina

Goal.com salutes the best talent on show as the South Americans ran out convincing winners against Joachim Low's men, with Lionel Messi finding the target

  • Ron-Robert Zieler
    24
    66
    1.00

    Ron-Robert Zieler Flop of the Match

    A missed opportunity for the Hannover goalkeeper. He had little to do until he charged out of his goal and received a red card for a professional foul on Jose Sosa.

  • Holger Badstuber
    19
    31
    2.50

    Holger Badstuber

    A decent performance from the Bayern centre-back. Made one vital intervention when he did enough to put off Higuain, but was nearly punished for his carelessness in possession.

  • Jerome Boateng
    10
    35
    2.00

    Jerome Boateng

    Another awkward right-back performance for the national team. The left-hand side of midfield proved to be fruitful for the Argentines, who routinely found space. Was handed the armband late on when Khedira was taken off.

  • Mats Hummels
    18
    29
    2.00

    Mats Hummels

    Had his progress in this match hampered by a nasty clash of heads with Higuain and was eventually forced off in favour of Howedes. However, he did make one excellent interception to stop Lionel Messi from tapping home.

  • Marcel Schmelzer
    14
    24
    2.00

    Marcel Schmelzer

    An improved performance from his poor showing against Switzerland in May, but still was not impressive. Got forward well, but his final delivery was often lacking.

  • Lars  Bender
    30
    22
    2.00

    Lars Bender

    Another solid showing from the 23-year-old, who continues to show that he is capable of competing at international level. Broke up play nicely in midfield and was always willing to get forward and aid his attacking colleagues. Withdrawn late on.

  • Mesut Özil
    52
    37
    2.00

    Mesut Özil

    A mixed bag from the Real Madrid man. Started well but was shifted out to the right-wing after Zieler received his marching orders and was less effective from thereafter.

  • Sami Khedira
    39
    39
    2.50

    Sami Khedira

    Not the former Stuttgart man's best performance in a Germany shirt. Gave the visitors the lead with an ill-judged swing at the ball just before half-time and although he got forward well, he was often wasteful.

  • Miroslav Klose
    36
    23
    2.50

    Miroslav Klose

    Started brightly, but struggled to make a significant impact. In the opening half an hour, however, he set up Ozil for a sitter and was inches away from giving Die Mannschaft the lead.

  • Marco Reus
    55
    16
    3.00

    Marco Reus

    Began the match well with a neat range of passes, but as the match wore on he was shifted into an unfamiliar striking role and struggled to impose himself.

  • Thomas Müller
    24
    30
    2.00

    Thomas Müller

    Began the game looking hungry, but was sacrificed after the Zieler red card before he could make an impact.

Substitutions

  • Marc-Andre ter Stegen
    55
    10
    2.50

    Marc-Andre ter Stegen

    Became an instant hero by saving a Lionel Messi penalty and thwarted the 25-year-old once more late on and could do little about any of the goals.

  • Benedikt Höwedes
    36
    14
    2.50

    Benedikt Höwedes

    Everything about the Schalke skipper indicates that he is ready to make the step up at international level. Was excellent when he came on and contributed a goal to his nation's cause. Should feature more.

  • Andre Schürrle
    57
    11
    3.00

    Andre Schürrle

    Should have done enough to stake his claim as a starter by now. Was always willing to pick the perfect pass, get into shooting positions and deserves better than a place on the bench.

  • Ilkay Gündogan
    20
    12
    2.50

    Ilkay Gündogan

    Another player who came on when Germany were lagging and struggled to make any sort of impact.

  • Toni Kroos
    21
    22
    2.00

    Toni Kroos

    Introduced with just over 15 minutes to go and showcased some imaginative play. Set up Howedes' strike excellently.

  • Mario Götze
    41
    20
    2.50

    Mario Götze

    Came on with 20 minutes to play, but by this point there was little he could do to save his team.

  • Sergio Romero
    43
    10
    3.00

    Sergio Romero

    Had very little to do. Made an excellent point blank save to deny Ozil early on, but cruised through the rest of the match.

  • Ezequiel Garay
    31
    15
    2.00

    Ezequiel Garay

    Like Fernandez, was picked apart a couple of times early on, but had little to do once Germany were down to 10 men.

  • Federico Fernández
    23
    19
    2.50

    Federico Fernández

    As with Garay, struggled to deal with Klose and Reus' incisive running, but his evening was made all the easier by Zieler's dismissal.

  • M. Rojo
    30
    13
    2.50

    M. Rojo

    Made an excellent tackle on the marauding Howedes and was always willing to get forward and help his team-mates. A decent performance from the Sporting left-back.

  • Pablo Zabaleta
    24
    23
    2.00

    Pablo Zabaleta

    Not the best night for the Manchester City full-back, who picked up a yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Khedira and almost let Germany back into the contest with an own-goal.

  • Ángel Di María
    163
    20
    3.50

    Ángel Di María Top of the Match

    Scored a spectacular goal with a fantastic, scorching effort from distance. A persistent threat for the Germany defence.

  • Fernando  Gago
    56
    12
    2.50

    Fernando Gago

    A neat and tidy performance in the centre of the park from the new Valencia signing. Had little to do against a limp German performance, though.

  • Javier Mascherano
    66
    16
    3.00

    Javier Mascherano

    A fantastic night for Mascherano, whose most notable contribution was a goal-saving tackle on Khedira. Shielded his defence well, and was tidy in possession too.

  • José Sosa
    40
    14
    3.00

    José Sosa

    One of his side's more decisive performers in the first half, the Metalist man did well to set up Higuain for an eventually missed tap in.

  • Gonzalo Higuaín
    139
    72
    3.00

    Gonzalo Higuaín

    Linked well with Messi in the final third and although wasn't as lethal as his counterpart, put in an impressive display.

  • Lionel Messi
    273
    77
    2.50

    Lionel Messi

    May have missed the penalty after Zieler's red card, but more than atoned for it with a crisp finish in the second-half. Could have added to his tally were it not for some brave goalkeeping from Ter Stegen.

Substitutions

  • Hugo Armando Campagnaro
    18
    4
    2.00

    Hugo Armando Campagnaro

    Was given 25 minutes or so at right-back, but by this point the German challenge had long fizzled out.

  • Pablo Guiñazú
    11
    12
    2.00

    Pablo Guiñazú

    Was introduced with 15 minutes remaining, but the game had long ceased to be a contest.

  • Rodrigo Braña
    11
    6
    2.00

    Rodrigo Braña

    Had just 10 minutes to impress, and was hardly involved.

  • Sergio Agüero
    59
    15
    2.00

    Sergio Agüero

    Was introduced for the second-half, but failed to impose himself on the game as his colleagues stole the limelight.

Results
 
Player Ratings
Tournament
Position
Ranking
Rank/Player Position Team Rating
1. FredStrikerBrazil3.33
2. OscarMidfielderBrazil3.17
3. Julio CésarGoalkeeperBrazil3.00
4. NeymarStrikerBrazil2.67
5. David LuizDefenderBrazil2.50
6. Daniel AlvesDefenderBrazil2.50
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra
Midfielder
Al Faisaly Amman
4 1
Andreas Cornelius Andreas Cornelius
Striker
Copenhagen
4 1
Mikael Forssell Mikael Forssell
Striker
HJK Helsinki
3 1
Fred Fred
Striker
Fluminense
3 0
Felipe Caicedo Felipe Caicedo
Striker
Lokomotiv
3 0