Argentina 0 Germany 4 - Impressive Germany roll over Argentina
Miroslav Klose(credit:
Wikipedia)
Germany embarrassed Argentina, winning 4-0 to set up a World Cup semi-final clash with Spain.
Joachim Loew’s men were able to shackle Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez throughout as Miroslav Klose (2) and Arne Friedrich added to Thomas Muller's early opener.
Neither coach made changes to the side that won their respective last-16 matches, and it was Germany who raced out of the blocks and took the lead after just three minutes.
Bastien Schweinsteiger swung in a free-kick from the left-hand side and Muller, who up until the tournament had never scored for his country, glanced home a header for his fourth goal of the World Cup.
Argentina were completely stunned and were struggling to find ways through a well-drilled German defence, and when they did find a hole, courtesy of Messi's precise through-ball for Tevez, Manuel Neuer was quickly off his line to gather.
Klose should have doubled Germany's advantage after Muller gathered a loose ball and surged into the box before squaring for the striker, but Klose then blazed his effort harmlessly over the crossbar.
Argentina thought they had levelled before the break when Tevez squared for Nicolas Otamendi to stroke home, but the linesman's flag was correctly up for offside, with four Argentinians the wrong side of Germany's defensive line.
The South Americans were on top in the early stages of the second half and Neuer's handling was causing some concern as he fumbled a couple of weak Argentinian efforts on goal.
Higuain, quiet for much of the game, just failed to time his run right and was flagged for offside, and from there Germany wrapped up a comprehensive victory.
A great ball played in Lukas Podolski on the left-hand side of the penalty area and he unselfishly squared for Klose to extend Germany's lead.
It got worse for Diego Maradona's side when Schweinsteiger burst past three men to get to the bi-line, and his pull-back was bundled home by Arne Friedrich, the defender's first goal for his country.
And Klose then ensured he would join team-mate Muller on four goals, placing a volley past Sergio Romero for his second of the game and 14th of his World Cup career, meaning he is just one goal behind Ronaldo's all-time scoring record.
However, it was not all good news for Germany as Muller's first-half booking for handball means he will now be suspended for the semi-finals.
Argentina: Romero, Demichelis, Burdisso, Heinze, Di Maria (Aguero 75), Higuain, Messi, Tevez, Mascherano, Otamendi (Pastore 70), M Rodriguez.
Germany: Neuer, Friedrich, Khedira (Kroos 77), Schweinsteiger, Oezil, Podolski, Klose, Muller (Trochowski 84), Lahm, Mertesacker, Boateng (Jansen 72).
Goals: Muller 3, Klose 68, 89, Friedrich 74
Bookings: Mascherano, Otamendi (Argentina), Muller (Germany)