Germany completes hat-trick over Argentina

CAPE TOWN - In 1986, Argentina beat Germany in the final of the World Cup football in Mexico 3-2 to win their second title after 1978.

Since then, the two countries have met three times at the World Cup and each time Germany has triumphed, with their latest victory Saturday being a convincing 4-0 hammering.

In Cape Town, the three-time world champions got off to an ideal start when newcomer Thomas Mueller opened the scoring with a glancing header in the third minute.

Miroslav Klose added a second in the 68th minute before defender Arne Friedrich got his name on the score chart with a goal in the 74th.

A minute from time Klose scored his second to take his overall World Cup total to 14, equalling the German record of Gerd Mueller and just one goal behind Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who holds the all-time record.

The defeat was Argentina’s second in a row against Germany in a quarter-final.

In 2006, when Germany hosted the World Cup, Germany won 4-2 on penalties after the match had ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time.

The sides were involved in a punch-up at the end of the penalty shoot-out, which led to Germany midfielder Torsten Frings missing the semi-final after being slapped with a one-goal ban by football’s controlling body, FIFA.

In 1990 in Rome, it was Andreas Brehme’s penalty goal five minutes from time that gave the German their third World Cup title against a nine-man Argentina side.

With Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Argentina, Germany has completed a hat-trick of World Cup victories and finally laid to rest the ghost of the 1986 World Cup final defeat.