The 2006 World Cup in Germany
A booksmusicfilmstv.com surreal take on the footie fest in Germany
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Germany put in an awesome display to move into the World Cup quarter finals. Without an equally awesome performance by Swedish goalkeeper, Andreas Isaksson, Germany would have had, at a conservative estimate, 5 or 6 goals.

The hosts got off to a fantastic start, being 2-0 up after just 12 minutes, thanks to a brace from Lukas Podolski. A Miroslav Klose run was thwarted by Isaksson, but the ball fell to Podolski, who drove home, via a deflection off Swedish defender Teddy Lucic. Podolski's second came when he coolly finished off a good German move.

Shots rained in on the Swedish goal, particularly in the first half, and when the Swedes saw Lucic harshly sent off for a second bookable offence, it seemed a cricket score beckoned. Sweden, however, made more of a fist of it in the second half, and won a penalty when Christoph Metzelder barged into Henrik Larsson. But the former Celtic star blasted the spot kick over the bar.

Germany cruised through the game from then on, with the impressive Michael Ballack (looking the most complete midfield player in the tournament) seeing his long range shot helped onto a post by Isaksson. A Bernd Schneider shot was also deflected onto a post.

On this performance, Germany can now realistically hope to win the World Cup. Against a good side like Sweden, this was the most exhilarating German performance in years. Gone was the stodgy, dull, grinding out a result football. But one bad thing still remains. Podolski patting referee Carlos Simon on the back, after Lucic's dismissal, showed a dreadful lack of sportsmanship, and, after such a dominant performance, made Podolski look pathetic.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.