Resilient Germans prevail

Controversial goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was the hero for Germany after his two saves helped the hosts win a penalty shootout 4-2 against the unfortunate Argentines.

The intensely competitive match had finish 1-1 after ninety minutes and with extra time failing to produce a winner it was left to the lottery of a shootout to send the Germans through to a semi-final.

Jurgen Klinsmann unsurprisingly named his usually preferred starting line up for this vital encounter while counter Jose Pekerman decided to make three changes, Coloccini, Gonzalez and Tevez coming in for Burdisso, Cambiasso and Saviola.

Tevez in particular looked dangerous in a first 45 minutes bereft of any significant openings, Argentina's calm play pitted against Klinsmann's uncharacteristically pragmatic approach.

The best chance of the half fell to the inspirational Michael Ballack, who managed to time his run perfectly to meet Schneider's cross only for his header to flash agonisingly wide of Abbondanzieri's upright.

Mertesacker also had a long range effort fly over, but the tight nature of the contest was highlighted by the impressive Argentine's failure to produce even a single chance.

From the offset the second stanza looked like bring more lively play, and after a few minutes Argentina would turn the match completely by claiming the opening goal.

Perhaps characteristically the breakthrough came from a set-piece, Juan Riquelme's perfectly weighted corner met with a terrific header from Roberto Ayala which left the Germans needing a comeback in front of their expectant fans.

With Germany forced to attack they were always likely to leave space at the back, hero of previous rounds Maxi Rodriguez almost doubling the lead but his shot was blocked after some typically sumptuous build up play by the South Americans.

However the next major occurrence would prove not to be a goal but an injury, significantly to Argentine keeper Abbondanzieri who after failing to properly deal with Schweinsteiger's cross had to be substituted due to the resulting melee.

On came Leo Franco who was tested by a long range effort from fellow substitute Tim Borowski, and before long the replacement keeper would be picking the ball out of the net.

Almost inevitably Ballack was involved at the heart of the move and his intelligent pass found Borowski who in turn flicked the ball to Miroslav Klose, the top scorer nipping inside of Sorin to bury his header and spark celebrations of relief as much as delight.

Germany's physical approach paid dividends in extra time as the Argentine's began to tire, but while they had openings they couldn't get what would surely have been a winning goal.

Argentina came closest to removing the need for penalties when Fabricio Collocini's deflected cross struck the crossbar much to Lehmann's relief, and yet again it would be the lottery of a shootout that would decided Germany's fate.

Before the penalties Lehmann notably received some words of comfort from former no.1 Oliver Kahn, and he would prove to be the hero after two saves from Ayala and Cambiasso sent the hosts through to a semi final clash with Italy.

It was extremely tough on Argentina who can rightfully claim to have played the best football of the tournament thus far, and Jose Pekerman promptly announced his resignation as a result of it.

The rumours are that perhaps the great Diego Maradona may be waiting to take over from Pekerman, but the man who almost single handedly won the World Cup for Argentina in 1986 will be as distraught as any fan as they once again failed to reclaim the greatest prize in football.

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