Argentina 0 Germany 4

Scorers: Klose (Ger) 2 goals, Muller (Ger), Friedrich (Ger)

Attendance: 64100

Germany are through to the semi-finals after producing another masterful performance to beat Argentina 4-0 at Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium. Diego Maradona’s Albiceleste came into this match with high hopes of avenging their quarter-final defeat in 2006 but they ultimately had no answer to a slick, powerful German side who will now face either Spain or Paraguay in the last four.

Games as eagerly-anticipated as this one often disappoint, but this particular encounter took just three minutes to catch fire as Joachim Low's side snatched an early advantage. Bastian Schweinsteiger provided the assist with a superbly judged inswinging free-kick, and with Sergio Romero caught in no man’s land, Thomas Muller applied the slightest of headed touches to flick the ball into the net. It was Germany’s 200th FIFA World Cup™ goal, their fastest in 32 years and the quickest so far at South Africa 2010. The only downside for Low’s side was that it left Argentina with 87 minutes to respond.

However, it was the Germans who continued to carve out the better chances, with Miroslav Klose - winning his 100th cap – firing wastefully over from the edge of the box after some outstanding, unselfish set-up play from Muller. Argentina attempted to grab a foothold, with Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain creating decent shooting positions, but on each occasion Manuel Neuer proved equal to their goal-bound efforts.

Nevertheless, as the match wore on, La Albiceleste relied increasingly on speculative long-range efforts, with the subdued Lionel Messi firing over just before the break and Di Maria missing the left-hand post by a matter of inches with a ferociously-struck 25-yard drive. Germany also remained a constant threat on the break, and Podolski – who had earlier come close to scoring himself – was to lead the counter-attack that provided Low’s team with their all-important second goal.

With the second half reaching its midway point, the Cologne forward broke clear on the left and, from a position where he would have been forgiven for shooting, he instead squared intelligently for Klose to tap home from inside the six yard box. The goal left Argentina with little option but to throw men forward, and with Diego Maradona’s side over-committed, Germany proceeded to pick them off on the break.

Within six minutes of Klose making it two, Arne Friedrich removed any lingering doubts over the outcome with another close-range finish, profiting on this occasion from a dazzling solo run from the excellent Schweinsteiger. There was even time for Klose to rub salt into Argentinian wounds, side-footing home Mesut Ozil's measured cross with a minute remaining to round off a memorable German win. 

Germany 4 England 1

Scorers: Mueller (Ger) 2 goals, Klose (Ger), Podolski (Ger), Upson (Eng)

Attendance: 40510

Germany's youthful side delivered a striking statement of intent by overwhelming old rivals England 4-1 in Bloemfontein to take their place in the last eight of the FIFA World Cup™. 

Joachim Low's side built a two-goal lead through early goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski and although Matthew Upson reduced the deficit before the break, the Germans made sure of their quarter-final place when Thomas Muller concluded two lightning breakaways with a quick-fire double midway through the second half. While Germany can look forward with confidence to a quarter-final meeting with Argentina or Mexico, England will go home to lick their wounds and reflect on yet another FIFA World Cup defeat by their old nemesis.

It was a lapse of concentration which allowed Germany to take the lead in the 20th minute, the goal coming after a spell of prolonged England possession. Manuel Neuer's long goal-kick upfield should have been dealt with by England’s central defenders, but Klose, back from suspension, got between John Terry and Upson, outmuscling the latter before poking the ball past David James with his outstretched right boot.

While having plenty of the ball, England were creating little in the way of genuine scoring opportunities, with only a Gareth Barry shot from distance which went straight at Neuer. Indeed, Germany should have doubled their advantage on the half-hour when Sami Khedira combined well with Muller to set up Klose, who fired straight at James. Yet Die Nationalelf did not have to wait too long for their second goal as Muller floated a delightful ball into the path of the unmarked Podolski. With England's defence stretched, the Cologne man had the time to recover from a poor first touch and produce a left-footed finish that squeezed through the legs of the goalkeeper and just inside the far post.

England pulled a goal back in the 37th minute when a short Lampard corner from the right was played to Gerrard who crossed into the box. Upson, atoning for his earlier error, rose highest above the Germany defence and with Neuer stranded, powered a header into the net. Meetings between these two sides often provide talking points and this one's came 60 seconds later when Lampard's shot from the edge of the box struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down, with the referee ruling the ball had not crossed the goalline.

England started the second half strongly with Gerrard hitting a right foot shot just wide in the opening minutes and Lampard rattling the crossbar with a free-kick 30 yards from goal. However, Germany increased their advantage in the 67th minute through a counter-attack. Lampard's free-kick hit the German wall and, with England having committed men forward, they were left exposed as Schweinsteiger broke quickly before playing a delightful ball for Muller, who had started the breakaway, to fire past James.

Germany's fourth was more or less a carbon copy of their third. With England deep in their opponents' half, searching for a way back into the game, Germany won possession on the edge of their box and sprayed the ball to Ozil on the left. The midfielder outpaced Barry and played in Muller to sidefoot home from close range. England, to their credit, never gave up and only a fine one-handed save by Neuer from Gerrard stopped them from reducing their deficit – the heaviest in their FIFA World Cup history.

Germany 4 Australia 0

Scorers: Podolski (Ger), Klose (Ger), Muller (Ger), Cacau (Ger)

Attendance: 62,660

This match was the first for the new generation of German footballers and one thing I noticed when I saw the squad for the World Cup was the fact no German footballer was plying his trade outside the Bundesliga.

They were going up against an aging Australia, this was said to be their last chance of any glory before Australia would have to take a leaf out of Germany's book and find a new generation of players and it was the old folk from down under that had the first chance after 3 minutes, Lucas Neill's header found Richard Garcia and his shot from 8 yards was blocked on the line by Lahm.

4 minutes later and it was Germany that took the lead.  Lukas Podolski was found running unmarked into the area and hit a ferocious shot that even though Mark Schwarzer managed to get a full hand on it the ball still found the back of the net.

Germany took a hold on the match from here and Australia struggled to make any impact, the German defense was just to well orchestrated, in fact after 23 minutes Germany should have made it 2-0. Podolski made a run down the left, whipped in a cross and somehow Klose missed from 3 yards but it wasnt long before Germany did make it 2-0.  A long ball upfield from Philip Lahm and the Australian goalkeeper was in no mans land and Miroslav Klose made amends for his earlier miss by heading in.  From here it seemed to be game over already.

Germany seemed to be toying with the Australians and ready to score at will and in the 30th minute Mesut Ozil flicked the ball over Schwarzer and the ball seemed to be going in but Socceroo captain Lucas Neill managed to clear and keep Australia in the game.

The second half began with a booking for Lucas Neill who managed to knee Klose in the back and 3 minutes later they had a penalty appeal turned down.  Mertesacker looked to have handled but it was accidental and the Mexican referee was right to turn the appeals away.

In the 55th minute Tim Cahill slid into Schweinsteiger in what looked an innocuous challenge but the referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez obviously thought otherwise as he showed Cahill the red card effectively killing the game off for Australia.  From this moment the Germans smelt blood and attacked the Australian defence at will.  Mark Schwarzer earned his money tonight.

67 minutes Germany made it 3-0.  Great interplay by Klose and Podolski who played in Muller who kept his composure and put it past the desparing dive of Schwarzer, now it was time for the Germans to introduce Brazilian born striker Cacau and within 2 minutes he scored with his first touch tapping in from 3 yards out scoring his first goal for his adopted country.  Was there to be more embarrasement for Australia. All 4 German strikers had scored today so Joachim Low obviously thought it was right to introduce a 5th.  Mario Gomez replacing Ozil.  Could he complete a full set of strikers scoring? Unfortunately not but woith this performance tonight Germany have proved their many doubters wrong.  They will be a force in this World Cup.  An amazing performance.

Germany: 1. Neuer, 3. Friedrich, 6. Khedira, 07. Schweinsteiger, 8. Ozil, 10. Podolski, 11. Klose, 13. Muller 14. Holger Badstuber, 16. Lahm, 17. Mertesacker

Subs Used: 19. Cacau, 21. Marin, 23. Gomez

Australia: 1. Schwarzer, 2. Neill, 3. Moore, 4. Cahill, 5. Culina, 7. Emerton, 8. Wilkshire 11. Chipperfield, 13. Grella, 16. Valeri, 19. Garcia

Subs Used: 14. Holman, 15. Jedinak, 17. Rukavytsya