AS Germany began to turn the screw in the final quarter of their win over a well-drilled and committed Algeria, I said to the TV: "Get Sammi Khaderi on". Sure enough, big Sammi was despatched, suddenly big Bastian Schweinstigger (whose would be the first name on the team sheet if I ever had to pick a team to go to Beechwood Park, Auchinleck and win) started to influence matters.
OK, they had to go to extra time to win, but, from ten minutes into the second-half of normal time, I couldn't see anything other than a German win. As WGS noted, the Germans had 30 shots on target; on another day, against a goalkeeper who wasn't having a blinder, it would have been 5-0 or 6-0 by 90 minutes - more probably too, had Miroslav Klose been deployed.
Germany has the top goal-scorer in World Cup history, they didn't put him on the park, and still won. This is a team which can go all the way.
That said, if France are at their best in the quarter-final, they will push their oldest rivals to the limit - this one is a must see.
France beating Nigeria was another cracking game. The standard of the knock-out phase games has already been so-high, I worry about poor wee Scotland. The stumblebums in their blazers who have held us back for years; their appointees, as managers and coaches, who tolerate players who cannot trap a bag of cement, or pass accurately to a man in the same colour shirt, have left us a long way behind nations such as Nigeria, Algeria and Chile, countries we would have expected to beat easily less than a lifetime ago, but who have done what we never have and reached the knock-out phase of a World Cup.
We've got Germany next-up. Let's hope they have made it to the final and are, therefore, still knackered. Or, WGS could seek FIFA approval for a chance in the Scottish formation, so we can deploy both Allan McGregor and David Marshall against the Germans!!
MEANWHILE, back here on Planet Unreal, the Rangers Tribute Act is about to set-off on its pre-season tour, prior to competing at the most-competitive level in Scottisdh football (probably) next season.
I know it's a tribute act, but, will all those ex-pat Huns acrss the pond really be impressed by Ally McCoist's new-look squad? OK, Lee McCulloch, Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd they will know; but, I hope they are not too-disappointed by what they see - this is a long way from being a real Rangers squad.
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