Germany 4-0 Argentina
Germany are through to the World Cup semi-finals after thumping Argentina 4-0 with an extremely impressive performance in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.
The game had been eagerly anticipated as both sides were in great form leading into the game, a repeat of the World Cup quarter-final in Germany in 2006, which the home side won on penalties.
There was only one side in this game, however, as Joachim Loew’s side dominated from start to finish and looked likely winners from as early as the third minute, when Thomas Muller headed Bastian Schweinsteiger’s free kick to the net.
Argentina looked briefly as if they might get back into the game after a sustained spell of pressure early in the second half, but Miroslav Klose, playing in his 100th international for Germany, put paid to any hopes of revival with a tap in from Lukas Podolski’s cross in the 69th minute.
Argentina were a deflated side after Klose’s goal and a ruthless German side added insult to injury with two more goals before the final whistle.
Arne Friedrich scored his first international goal in 77 appearances in the 74th minute after Bastian Schweinsteiger waltzed through the German defence and squared it to the defender to tap in from three yards and Klose added his second a minute from time, volleying home from Mezut Ozil’s left wing delivery.
It was the third time in this World Cup that Germany have scored four goals and Joachim Loew’s side will now face the winners of Spain and Paraguay in the semi-final on Wednesday evening.
