World Cup 2006 hosts Germany beat a very skilful Argentinean side on penalties to progress to the World Cup semi-final.

Germany's team was: Lehmann, Freidrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Schweinsteiger (Borowski 75), Ballack, Frings., Schneider (Odonkor 62), Podolski, Klose (Neuville 85),

Argentina's team was Abbondanzieri (Franco 71), Coloccini, Ayala, Heinze, Sorin ,Mascherano, Rodriguez, Gonzalez , Riquelme (Cambiasso 72), Crespo (Cruz 78), Tevez

This was the first quarter final of the World Cup 2006 and it was held in Berlin, Germany on 30 June 2006. Argentina qualified top of a tough Group C by beating the Ivory Coast 2-1, Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 and then drawing 0-0 with Holland. In the second round Argentina beat Mexico 2-1 in extra time but did have six days rest before this game.

Germany came top of Group A after beating Costa Rica 4-2, Poland 1-0 and then Ecuador 3-0 when both teams had already qualified for the second round. Germany then beat Sweden 2-0 in the second round with two goals from Lukas Podolski and that performance must have given Germany plenty of confidence for this tough game.
 

Argentina had the better of the first half and kept possession well but they did not score until the 49th minute when Roberto Ayala headed in a corner from Juan Riquelme.

After the goal Germany were forced to come out and play their attacking football and Michael Ballack had a good shot blocked by Ayala with the Argentinian goalkeeper Abbondanzieri out of his goal - he had just gone down injured after clashing with Miroslav Klose trying to get to a cross. Aboondanzieri was down for minutes which frustrated the Germans with the clock ticking down - he did continue for a short while before having to be replaced by Leonardo Franco.

Argentina could have made it 2-0 and put the game beyond Germany after 73 minutes but Maxi Rodriguez shot just wide.

Germany continued to press for an equaliser and with 10 minutes to go they got one to make the score 1-1. Klose got in front of his marker to head in a Ballack cross and take the match into extra time.

By this stage Argentina had already substituted their playmaker Riquelme and striker Crespo and with an enforced goalkeeping change too they could not bring on strikers Saviola or Messi.

Although both teams had won all three of their previous World Cup penalty shoot-outs it was Argentina that looked keener to win in extra time - they did have a penalty appeal turned down when Maxi Rodriguez went down in the box under a challenge from Phillip Lahm. Ballack also struggled through extra time with an ankle injury.

The game went to penalties and Neuville, Cruz and Ballack all scored before Ayala had his attempt saved by Jens Lehmann. Podolski, Rodriguez and Borowski then scored to leave Germany 4-2 up on penalties. Esteban Cambiasso needed to score to keep Argentina's hopes alive but had his low shot to Lehmann's left easily saved.

The Argentinean unused substitute Leandro Cufre was then sent off for coming onto the field and kicking Germany's Per Mertesacker and there were a few other kicks and punches thrown in the middle of the pitch which will probably lead to a FIFA investigation. Germany's Torsten Frings said after the match that it just shows they were bad sports but manager Jurgen Klinsmann said that "Football is just so emotional" and that it was no big deal. Argentina's manager Jose Peckerman resigned after the game but said that Germany and Argentina have great respect for each other and this incident was just a thing of the moment.

Argentina and Spain had looked the strongest teams in the group stages of the competition (scoring 8 goals and only conceding one goal) but they have now both gone home earlier than expected (Spain lost 3-1 to France in the second round).
 

Germany will now play Italy in the semi finals after Italy beat Ukraine 3-0 in their quarter final later that evening.

For all the World Cup 2006 fixtures and results click here.