Published Sat, Jul 03 10 10:22 PM
Cape Town, Jul 3 (PTI) Germany taught Argentina a footballing lesson with a 4-0 drubbing in a World Cup clash of titans to book a semifinal berth with Miroslav Klose scoring twice in his 100th international match here today. In the much-anticipated World Cup quarterfinal match at the Cape Town Stadium, Germany outplayed their bitter rivals by showcasing their characteristic football of hard-running, relentless chase, fast attacks and clinical finishing. Thomas Mueller (third minute), Klose (68th and 89th) and Arne Friedrich (74th) scored for three-time champions Germany. Germany and Argentina had met five times in World Cup before today''s clash with the former having won thrice. Argentina had won once -- in the 1986 final -- while one match had been drawn. For Argentina, this was their second defeat in the quarterfinals in two successive World Cups having lost in penalty shootout in 2006. With two strikes in the match, Klose is in the striking distance to become the most prolific scorer in the World Cup history having scored 14 goals -- equalling his great compatriot Gerd Muller and just one short of Brazilian goal machine Ronaldo. Klose, who plays for Bayern Munich, today overtook legendary Pele of Brazil, who had 12 World Cup goals to his credit. Mueller, on the other hand, established himself as the star of this World Cup with the fastest goal of the tournament, but the 20-year-old Bayern Munich player will miss the semifinal after his second booking today. Bastian Schweinsteiger also established himself as the top midfielder in the tournament as he was involved in almost Germany''s goal-bound moves. He was the one who cut through three Argentine defenders before releasing the ball for Friedrich to score the third German goal. Jochim Loew''s men will now meet either Spain or Paraguay in the semifinal on July 7. Two-time champions Argentina came back into the match in the second period of opening half and early into the second session but failed to produce the spark expected from a team which boasts of World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi and several other Europe-based stars in their ranks. Messi was not given space by the Germans and the anticipation of the glimpses of his mesmerising runs never came and he had to return home without scoring a goal in this World Cup. It was also a sad end to the tournament for colourful and sometimes maverick Diego Maradona and he had to head for home without joining the ranks of World Cup winners as player and coach. More PTI PDS DB
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