Argentina were the better side. "How can you say that", I hear you cry... They behaved like sides who know how good they are often do. They dominate, score a goal, then sit back and wait for the final whistle. Mistake #1. Then the coach takes off his best player and makes some dodgy substitutions. Mistake #2. The coach has already quit, by the way, before the tsunami of Argentine anger hits him...
The goalkeeper having to be taken off must have upset their balance a lot too. I used to play in goal, and it is extremely difficult to come on in the middle of a game and find the rhythm of your team and connect with your defenders, all of whom are worried that you're nervous. Germany will also have been encouraged by it. And then to face a penalty shoot-out - well, the guy was under major pressure. On top of that, they faced the best penalty shoot-out specialists in the game. Germany are just near-impossible to beat at penalties, they just seem to have iron nerves.
Argentina threw it away, and even though Germany were often dominated, they never gave up. They have a great chance to win the Cup - they'll meet Italy (who are currently blowing Ukraine away) in the semis. I'm just disappointed because all the sides I like to watch are now out
