Spot-on Germany into semis
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Esteban Cambiasso's miss from 12 yards proved decisive as Germany defeated Argentina 4-2 on penalties to book their place in the World Cup semi-finals after a 1-1 draw in Berlin.
Evoking memories of penalty shoot-out victories over England in years gone by, Germany were once again coolness personified from the spot, netting all four of their kicks, while Jens Lehmann denied first Roberto Ayala and then Cambiasso.
Miroslav Klose, the tournament's top goalscorer, had earlier cancelled out Ayala's opener for Argentina with an 80th minute header to ensure the match would go the full distance.
As the hosts celebrated another historic win, tempers flared and Gabriel Heinze and German official Oliver Bierhoff became involved in an ugly exchange.
The fraught conclusion was in stark contrast to a subdued opening to the match, where neither side were able to establish a measure of control.
Keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri gathered Lukas Podolski's free kick at the second attempt after Heinze's rash foul on Klose, while a set-piece at the opposite end also handed Argentina their first sniff of goal - Juan Roman Riquelme's corner being cleared at his near post by Bastian Schweinsteiger.
A murmur of anticipation coursed round the Olympiastadion whenever Michael Ballack received possession while Podolski, seemingly growing in influence as the tournament wears on, offered an alert threat in and around the 18-yard box.
Lucho Gonzalez, preferred to the more defensive-minded Cambiasso on the right side of Argentina's midfield, probed, riding a succession of challenges but, after dispossessing the Porto man on the edge of their own area, the hosts broke only for Ballack to pass up the best opportunity of the half in the 17th minute - heading over the bar from Bernt Schneider's cross when the ball dropped invitingly just 10 yards from goal.
Argentina's patience in possession was immediately evident as they sought to quell the home side's support but Jose Pekerman's team are adept at adjusting their approach where necessary and Ayala's direct ball found Carlos Tevez, who teased a pass through to the rampaging Juan Pablo Sorin, only for the full back to have his effort blocked.
The tenacious Tevez had provided Argentina with their most effective outlet on the left hand side of attack but the first half was a contest fought in midfield, with neither side able to find the decisive pass.
As Riquelme, in his languid style, dropped deep to receive the ball so Germany's playmaker Ballack was prompting but both faltered to deliver in the all-important final third.
As referee Lubos Michel blew up for half time, supporters expected that the best was still to come.
And so it proved. Just four minutes into the second period the deadlock was broken. Ayala - eluding the marking of Klose - headed Riquelme's corner emphatically past the helpless and hitherto under-utilised Jens Lehmann to stun Berlin and hand Argentina the lead.
Finding themselves trailing for the first time in the tournament, the goal threw down the gauntlet to Jurgen Klinsmann's side but Podolski's wastefulness from a promising set-piece opportunity on the hour left his team-mates exasperated.
Klinsmann shuffled his pack - introducing the direct running of David Odonkor for Schneider and Germany almost claimed the equaliser seconds later.
Abbondanzieri missed Schweinsteiger's corner and the ball landed at Ballack's feet but the Chelsea midfielder choked the first time attempt into the ground allowing Ayala to block.
In fluffing his clearance, the Boca Juniors keeper appeared to suffer injury and, despite attempting to play on, Leo Franco was introduced in his stead after a lengthy stoppage.
The hosts suspected time-wasting on the Argentine's part but they were almost architects of their own downfall a quarter of an hour from time - Philipp Lahm's misplaced pass was seized upon by Tevez who, in turn, found Maxi Rodriguez on the right edge of the area but his shot seared the outside of the net as Berlin breathed again.
Frustration then turned to elation for, after Klose had slipped at the vital moment seconds earlier, there was no doubting the Werder Bremen striker's poise ten minutes from time. Ballack swung over the cross, substitute Tim Borowski flicked on and Klose, ever the arch-poacher, headed down and into the corner of the net to haul the hosts level with his fifth goal of the tournament.
Germany, the game's dominant force, sensed they could even snatch a winner in the final ten minutes but Argentina - after a spate of questionable substitutions from Pekerman - recovered their composure sufficiently to ensure the closest of contests would enter an additional 30 minutes.
Creative inspiration was at a premium during much of extra-time, rather, too many of the players were preoccupied by attempts to get the opposition booked - witness the limping Ballack's shameful attempt to defame Ayala by implying the use of an elbow.
The players' minds may have already turned to penalties but Tevez, still sharp of mind after 105 minutes of football, tested Lehmann from distance as Perkerman's team sought to take advantage of a German side, who were almost a man light due to the injured Ballack's token involvement.
Fabrizio Coloccini's overhit cross almost left Lehmann red-faced as the ball bounced precariously off the crossbar, while Odonkor's pace against tiring legs stretched the South Americans.
Two minutes from time, Tevez, the game's outstanding attacking player, shot high over the bar when his swagger promised more and the lottery of penalties loomed large.
Evoking memories of penalty shoot-out victories over England in years gone by, Germany were once again coolness personified from the spot, netting all four of their kicks, while Jens Lehmann denied first Roberto Ayala and then Cambiasso.
Miroslav Klose, the tournament's top goalscorer, had earlier cancelled out Ayala's opener for Argentina with an 80th minute header to ensure the match would go the full distance.
As the hosts celebrated another historic win, tempers flared and Gabriel Heinze and German official Oliver Bierhoff became involved in an ugly exchange.
The fraught conclusion was in stark contrast to a subdued opening to the match, where neither side were able to establish a measure of control.
Keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri gathered Lukas Podolski's free kick at the second attempt after Heinze's rash foul on Klose, while a set-piece at the opposite end also handed Argentina their first sniff of goal - Juan Roman Riquelme's corner being cleared at his near post by Bastian Schweinsteiger.
A murmur of anticipation coursed round the Olympiastadion whenever Michael Ballack received possession while Podolski, seemingly growing in influence as the tournament wears on, offered an alert threat in and around the 18-yard box.
Lucho Gonzalez, preferred to the more defensive-minded Cambiasso on the right side of Argentina's midfield, probed, riding a succession of challenges but, after dispossessing the Porto man on the edge of their own area, the hosts broke only for Ballack to pass up the best opportunity of the half in the 17th minute - heading over the bar from Bernt Schneider's cross when the ball dropped invitingly just 10 yards from goal.
Argentina's patience in possession was immediately evident as they sought to quell the home side's support but Jose Pekerman's team are adept at adjusting their approach where necessary and Ayala's direct ball found Carlos Tevez, who teased a pass through to the rampaging Juan Pablo Sorin, only for the full back to have his effort blocked.
The tenacious Tevez had provided Argentina with their most effective outlet on the left hand side of attack but the first half was a contest fought in midfield, with neither side able to find the decisive pass.
As Riquelme, in his languid style, dropped deep to receive the ball so Germany's playmaker Ballack was prompting but both faltered to deliver in the all-important final third.
As referee Lubos Michel blew up for half time, supporters expected that the best was still to come.
And so it proved. Just four minutes into the second period the deadlock was broken. Ayala - eluding the marking of Klose - headed Riquelme's corner emphatically past the helpless and hitherto under-utilised Jens Lehmann to stun Berlin and hand Argentina the lead.
Finding themselves trailing for the first time in the tournament, the goal threw down the gauntlet to Jurgen Klinsmann's side but Podolski's wastefulness from a promising set-piece opportunity on the hour left his team-mates exasperated.
Klinsmann shuffled his pack - introducing the direct running of David Odonkor for Schneider and Germany almost claimed the equaliser seconds later.
Abbondanzieri missed Schweinsteiger's corner and the ball landed at Ballack's feet but the Chelsea midfielder choked the first time attempt into the ground allowing Ayala to block.
In fluffing his clearance, the Boca Juniors keeper appeared to suffer injury and, despite attempting to play on, Leo Franco was introduced in his stead after a lengthy stoppage.
The hosts suspected time-wasting on the Argentine's part but they were almost architects of their own downfall a quarter of an hour from time - Philipp Lahm's misplaced pass was seized upon by Tevez who, in turn, found Maxi Rodriguez on the right edge of the area but his shot seared the outside of the net as Berlin breathed again.
Frustration then turned to elation for, after Klose had slipped at the vital moment seconds earlier, there was no doubting the Werder Bremen striker's poise ten minutes from time. Ballack swung over the cross, substitute Tim Borowski flicked on and Klose, ever the arch-poacher, headed down and into the corner of the net to haul the hosts level with his fifth goal of the tournament.
Germany, the game's dominant force, sensed they could even snatch a winner in the final ten minutes but Argentina - after a spate of questionable substitutions from Pekerman - recovered their composure sufficiently to ensure the closest of contests would enter an additional 30 minutes.
Creative inspiration was at a premium during much of extra-time, rather, too many of the players were preoccupied by attempts to get the opposition booked - witness the limping Ballack's shameful attempt to defame Ayala by implying the use of an elbow.
The players' minds may have already turned to penalties but Tevez, still sharp of mind after 105 minutes of football, tested Lehmann from distance as Perkerman's team sought to take advantage of a German side, who were almost a man light due to the injured Ballack's token involvement.
Fabrizio Coloccini's overhit cross almost left Lehmann red-faced as the ball bounced precariously off the crossbar, while Odonkor's pace against tiring legs stretched the South Americans.
Two minutes from time, Tevez, the game's outstanding attacking player, shot high over the bar when his swagger promised more and the lottery of penalties loomed large.
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