International friendly, Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf: Germany 2 (Schuerrle 52, Fernandez og 78’) Argentina 4 (Aguero 21’, Lamela 40’, Fernandez 47, Di Maria 50)
Germany were stunned as Argentina managed to exact some modicum of revenge for their World Cup final defeat with a resounding victory in Dusseldorf.
In the absence of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria was the pivot on which the Argentina team turned. The Manchester United acquisition set up Sergio Aguero for the first goal, playing him in from the right for a relatively simple tap-in; and then set up Erik Lamela for the second, with a beautiful ball to his unmarked team-mate in the box, allowing the Tottenham star to direct a tremendous volley into the back of the net.
As soon as the second half began, he took charge once more, feeding the head of Fedo Fernandez from a free-kick for the third, and scoring the fourth himself chipping substitute goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller after a neat one-two with Pablo Zabaleta down the right.
Germany were not without their chances, with some exceptional opportunities falling to Mario Gomez at close range, but he struggled throughout and failed to regain any composure. Andre Schuerrle finally managed to drag one back, tapping past Sergio Romero after his initial shot from a corner was smothered.
Mario Goetze would be fortunate if he were eventually to be credited with Germany’s second, which he tried to claim but which took a massive deflection off Fernandez and past the goalkeeper.
-- Eurosport
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