Germany 1 Argentina 1 (Germany won 4-2 on penalties)
Argentina departed the World Cup under the shadow of disgrace as Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann became the hero of all Germany with two saves in the hosts' 4-2 penalty shoot-out triumph.
A gripping match in Berlin's Olympic Stadium - which was 1-1 after extra time - ended with Germany advancing to the semi-finals while Argentina will face an investigation into some unsavoury clashes involving several players and officials at the end of the shoot-out.
Lehmann has been a controversial selection by Jurgen Klinsmann but he repaid his coach's faith with saves from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso.
The keeper even buried the hatchet with his bitter rival Oliver Kahn - the Bayern Munich stopper making a point of shaking hands before Lehmann took his place between the sticks.
The Argentina players were already complaining about the behaviour of some of the Germans during the shoot-out itself, but this was Germany's day and how the bulk of the 72,000 fans celebrated.
This match may not have been the best spectacle but nevertheless it was an epic struggle and a fascinating occasion.
Contests between these powerhouses of world football can usually be guaranteed to be hard-fought affairs, usually desperately close and settled by a single goal.
That was the case in the World Cup finals of 1986 and 1990, and so it was in the Olympic Stadium.
Roberto Ayala's header had given Argentina the lead early in the second half and perhaps if the South Americans had shown more adventure they could have wrapped up the match while the Germans were chasing the game.
As it turned out, Jose Pekerman's substitutions erred on the side of caution and Miroslav Klose's header earned extra time for the hosts, for whom Ballack had been an outstanding leader.
In the first half, this was a cautious affair, with good football only flickering into life fitfully.
Nerves were taut and ambition reined in and though Argentina dominated possession they struggled to force the openings, even if Carlos Tevez's darting skill and drag-backs always threatened peril.
The first indications of those stretched nerves came when Lukas Podolski's curled free-kick from 30 yards went straight to Roberto Abbondanzieri it looked easy enough for the Argentina keeper but he managed to spill the shot and was grateful he had enough time to recover.
Under Klinsmann, Germany have rediscovered an attacking attitude this World Cup but in the first half at least the coach sacrificed adventure for pragmatism.
Perhaps focusing on set-plays and counter-attacks was the safest way to play Argentina and one quick break almost paid dividends when Bernd Schneider crossed for Ballack to flick in a header that only just cleared the top corner.
Per Mertesacker blazed over from 18 yards, a fair effort from the central defender, but that was about it for the first half with Argentina failing even to muster a single effort.
The second half was a different affair however as from the re-start Argentina had more zip in their stride.
Tevez tried an ambitious volley on the turn from 25 yards that sailed way too high but four minutes after the break, Argentina opened the scoring in the most straightforward manner.
Juan Roman Riquelme fired in a corner and Ayala beat Klose to the ball to drill in a header between Lehmann and the man on the post Philipp Lahm.
Now this was a game. Germany were left with no option but to attack and that immediately left gaps in midfield.
Argentina nearly exploited one but Luis Gonzalez saw his shot blocked after some classy build-up between Tevez, Riquelme and Maxi Rodrigues.
Klinsmann sent on his speed merchant David Odonkor and his pace immediately gave Germany added firepower.
Abbondanzieri made a complete hash of claiming Bastian Schweinsteiger's delivery and all Germany held their breath as the ball fell to Ballack but Ayala made a vital block.
There was some cost to Argentina however as their keeper was injured in the melee and was replaced by Leonardo Franco.
Rodriguez blasted into the side-netting after Tevez had carved open Germany, then Lukas Podolski hammered a direct free-kick into the wall and Tim Borowski tested the replacement keeper with a deflected long-range effort .
With 10 minutes left Argentina paid dearly for giving Ballack too much space. The German skipper picked out Borowski with a penetrating ball whose flick found Klose stealing in ahead of Juan Pablo Sorin to bury a header into the bottom corner.
With normal time running out, Rodriguez was booked for diving after being challenged in the box by Lahm though it was a knife-edge decision for referee Lubos Michel.
Germany's fitness gave them an edge in extra-time but though they had a couple of chances Argentina came closest to a goal when Fabricio Coloccini's sliced cross landed on Lehmann's crossbar.
A gripping match in Berlin's Olympic Stadium - which was 1-1 after extra time - ended with Germany advancing to the semi-finals while Argentina will face an investigation into some unsavoury clashes involving several players and officials at the end of the shoot-out.
Lehmann has been a controversial selection by Jurgen Klinsmann but he repaid his coach's faith with saves from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso.
The keeper even buried the hatchet with his bitter rival Oliver Kahn - the Bayern Munich stopper making a point of shaking hands before Lehmann took his place between the sticks.
The Argentina players were already complaining about the behaviour of some of the Germans during the shoot-out itself, but this was Germany's day and how the bulk of the 72,000 fans celebrated.
This match may not have been the best spectacle but nevertheless it was an epic struggle and a fascinating occasion.
Contests between these powerhouses of world football can usually be guaranteed to be hard-fought affairs, usually desperately close and settled by a single goal.
That was the case in the World Cup finals of 1986 and 1990, and so it was in the Olympic Stadium.
Roberto Ayala's header had given Argentina the lead early in the second half and perhaps if the South Americans had shown more adventure they could have wrapped up the match while the Germans were chasing the game.
As it turned out, Jose Pekerman's substitutions erred on the side of caution and Miroslav Klose's header earned extra time for the hosts, for whom Ballack had been an outstanding leader.
In the first half, this was a cautious affair, with good football only flickering into life fitfully.
Nerves were taut and ambition reined in and though Argentina dominated possession they struggled to force the openings, even if Carlos Tevez's darting skill and drag-backs always threatened peril.
The first indications of those stretched nerves came when Lukas Podolski's curled free-kick from 30 yards went straight to Roberto Abbondanzieri it looked easy enough for the Argentina keeper but he managed to spill the shot and was grateful he had enough time to recover.
Under Klinsmann, Germany have rediscovered an attacking attitude this World Cup but in the first half at least the coach sacrificed adventure for pragmatism.
Perhaps focusing on set-plays and counter-attacks was the safest way to play Argentina and one quick break almost paid dividends when Bernd Schneider crossed for Ballack to flick in a header that only just cleared the top corner.
Per Mertesacker blazed over from 18 yards, a fair effort from the central defender, but that was about it for the first half with Argentina failing even to muster a single effort.
The second half was a different affair however as from the re-start Argentina had more zip in their stride.
Tevez tried an ambitious volley on the turn from 25 yards that sailed way too high but four minutes after the break, Argentina opened the scoring in the most straightforward manner.
Juan Roman Riquelme fired in a corner and Ayala beat Klose to the ball to drill in a header between Lehmann and the man on the post Philipp Lahm.
Now this was a game. Germany were left with no option but to attack and that immediately left gaps in midfield.
Argentina nearly exploited one but Luis Gonzalez saw his shot blocked after some classy build-up between Tevez, Riquelme and Maxi Rodrigues.
Klinsmann sent on his speed merchant David Odonkor and his pace immediately gave Germany added firepower.
Abbondanzieri made a complete hash of claiming Bastian Schweinsteiger's delivery and all Germany held their breath as the ball fell to Ballack but Ayala made a vital block.
There was some cost to Argentina however as their keeper was injured in the melee and was replaced by Leonardo Franco.
Rodriguez blasted into the side-netting after Tevez had carved open Germany, then Lukas Podolski hammered a direct free-kick into the wall and Tim Borowski tested the replacement keeper with a deflected long-range effort .
With 10 minutes left Argentina paid dearly for giving Ballack too much space. The German skipper picked out Borowski with a penetrating ball whose flick found Klose stealing in ahead of Juan Pablo Sorin to bury a header into the bottom corner.
With normal time running out, Rodriguez was booked for diving after being challenged in the box by Lahm though it was a knife-edge decision for referee Lubos Michel.
Germany's fitness gave them an edge in extra-time but though they had a couple of chances Argentina came closest to a goal when Fabricio Coloccini's sliced cross landed on Lehmann's crossbar.
posted by dgarden at 8:39 am
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