Club vs. country makes a huge difference for Klose and Messi

Klose and Messi: contrasting fortunes

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — One player celebrated the Germany-Argentina World Cup quarterfinal with a somersault of joy. Another cried his eyes out.

Few could have predicted which would be which before the tournament.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi went into the World Cup as FIFA’s world player of the year, an odds-on choice to be the star of South Africa 2010. Germany’s Miroslav Klose seemed all washed up, a veteran striker ready for retirement who had lost his touch for good.

But Klose’s simple shots did more for Germany than Messi’s darting runs and intricate passing did for Argentina. Just look at the scoreboard: Germany 4, Argentina 0.

Or Klose 2, Messi 0.

Klose celebrated his 14th World Cup goal with a flip, while Messi stared at the grass, his left hand on his hip, totally defeated. Then he departed in tears.

The 32-year-old Klose is now second on the World Cup career scoring list, just one behind Brazil’s Ronaldo.

“It’s a huge compliment, and thanks to the team I’ve had a lot of goal opportunities,” Klose said. “I’d be happier to be a world champion than to pass one person or another.”

Still, few thought Klose could match Germany great Gerd Mueller, who also scored 14 World Cup goals — and won the championship in 1974.

Mueller racked up his total over two tournaments instead of Klose’s three. Klose has two more games remaining in South Africa to pass his countryman and tie or surpass Ronaldo: Wednesday’s semifinal against Spain and either the final or third-place playoff.

“Hopefully we reach the final. I’ll get some opportunities, and we’ll see what happens,” Klose said.

The return of his trademark somersault highlighted a great turnaround for Klose, who had been miserable all season mostly warming the bench at Bayern Munich — even though Bayern went to the Champions League final, losing to Inter Milan.

His call-up by coach Joachim Loew for the World Cup was a surprise to many.

After scoring in the opening 4-0 win over Australia, the goal that gave Klose the biggest thrill was the first in a 4-1 second-round victory over England. He used his body and balance to hold off defender Stuart Upson, caught up to a long goal kick and shot the ball into the net with his first touch.

Not only was it a memorable goal, but it further strengthened Loew’s conviction that the striker who scored only three goals this season for Bayern would be a factor in the World Cup.

“He has excellent qualities. I never had any doubts in him,” Loew said. “He is always up to the task. There are not many players with such a ratio of goals and games, one or two, and that’s historic.”

Compare that to Messi, who did not score this time around and has one goal in nine World Cup games.

Messi has led Barcelona to several championships. But despite his love for the Argentina jersey, he has never enjoyed much success wearing it.

If his status as one of Barcelona’s greatest players is beyond doubt, Messi said he needed a World Cup victory to truly highlight his career. Together with England’s Wayne Rooney and Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo, he was predicted to become the star of South Africa 2010.

Together with them, he instead departed before the semifinals.

While he was largely a substitute four years ago, the 23-year old Messi was the focal point of this year’s team — in the image of coach and former star player Diego Maradona.

And even though Messi inspired the team early on, the goals never came. And against Germany, he faced a whole team intent on stopping him.

“Messi never got into the game. It was perfect teamwork,” Loew said.

Maradona stuck by him until the end.

“He played a great World Cup,” Maradona said. “And I tell you, to see Messi cry in the dressing room, whoever says that he doesn’t feel pride for his shirt is stupid.”