Germany stormed into the World Cup semi-finals with a stunning victory over Argentina in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.
Germany stormed into the World Cup semi-finals with a stunning victory over Argentina in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.
Joachim Loew's side will now play Paraguay or Spain in the last four after a ruthless display against Diego Maradona's beleaguered troops.
Germany's cause was significantly aided by Thomas Muller's early strike.
A free-kick on the left wing was fizzed in by Bastian Schweinsteiger and the young striker forged clear of his marker to glance home off goalkeeper Sergio Romero after just the minutes.
The three-time world champions quickly pressed through the gears as the Albiceleste struggled to come to terms with their shocking start, but around the midway stage of the first half, the South Americans gained a foothold.
With Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and Muller looking sharp in advanced areas, Argentina counterparts Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi grew into the contest.
Without significantly troubling keeper Manuel Neuer, Argentina saw plenty of the ball and they did have the ball in the back of the net, but Higuain's tap-in was correctly chalked off for offside.
They started the second half as they ended the first and all that was missing was a cutting-edge and a telling final ball and, against the run of play, Podolski cut in from the left and rolled the ball into the six-yard box.
Klose, who was playing his 100th game for his country, kept his composure to finish the chance from close range and, soon after, defender Arne Friedrich bundled in his first international effort.
Schweinsteiger again broke free on the left and, as he dropped his shoulder and skipped past his markers, he coolly picked out the big centre-back to roll the ball home.
With the game over as a contest, Argentina continued to huff and puff, but it was Klose who put the icing on the cake as he finished off a superb flowing counter-attack.
Messi lost possession, leaving Podolski to break free on the left. He then found Mesut Ozil and his pin-point chip into the area found Klose to sidefoot into the far corner of the net.
Joachim Loew's side will now play Paraguay or Spain in the last four after a ruthless display against Diego Maradona's beleaguered side.
Germany's cause was significantly aided by Thomas Muller's early strike. A free-kick on the left wing was fizzed in by Bastian Schweinsteiger and the young striker forged clear of his marker to glance home off goalkeeper Sergio Romero after just the minutes.
The three-time world champions quickly pressed through the gears as the Albiceleste struggled to come to terms with their shocking start, but around the midway stage of the first half, the South Americans gained a foothold.
With Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and Muller looking sharp in advanced areas, Argentina counterparts Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi grew into the contest.
Without significantly troubling keeper Manuel Neuer, Argentina saw plenty of the ball and they did have the ball in the back of the net, but Higuain's tap-in was correctly chalked off for offside.
They started the second half as they ended the first and all that was missing was a cutting-edge and a telling final ball and, against the run of play, Podolski cut in from the left and rolled the ball into the six-yard box.
Klose, who was playing his 100th game for his country, kept his composure to finish the chance from close range and, soon after, defender Arne Friedrich bundled in his first international goal.
Schweinsteiger again broke free on the left and, as he dropped his shoulder and skipped past his markers, he coolly picked out the big centre-back to roll the ball home.
With the game over as a contest, Argentina continued to huff and puff, but it was Klose who put the icing on the cake as he finished off a superb flowing counter-attack.
Messi lost possession, leaving Podolski to break free on the left. He then found Mesut Ozil and his pin-point chip into the area found Klose to sidefoot into the far corner of the net.
