On the spot again, German nerve holds - Argentina's cracks

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann makes the winning save against a penalty shot by Argentinian midfielder Esteban Cambiasso during a shootout at the end of the quarter-final World Cup clash between Germany and Argentina in Berlin. Germany won 4-2 on penalty kicks.

Germany's nerve held out once again on Friday as Jurgen Klinsmann's Mannschaft secured a place in the World Cup semi-final after their 4-2 shootout win over Argentina - the match having finished 1-1 after extra-time.

The Germans kept up their incredible spotkick record as keeper Jens Lehmann twice guessed right to save from Roberto Ayala - who had given Argentina the lead early in the second-half - and Esteban Cambiasso.

Just beforehand, the England soccer anthem 'Football's Coming home,' blared out over the public address system - almost as a reminder, intentional or otherwise, to both sides that they had both knocked England out in their last penalty test - Argentina in the 1998 quarters and Germany in the 1990 semis.

Lehmann lay on the ground to contemplate the possibility of being cast as hero - or villain - before rival and 2002 first choice German keeper Oliver Kahn came over to wish him luck.

It seemed to do the trick for Lehmann, whereas the unfortunate Leonardo Franco, a 28-year-old from Atletico Madrid who had to seize his chance in the limelight after replacing the injured Roberto Abbondanzieri 20 minutes from the end of normal time, was unable to stop any German strikes.

Oliver Neuville smashed the Germans ahead but Julio Cruz levelled. Skipper Michael Ballack then sent Franco the wrong way and then Lehmann guessed right, going to his left to smother a poor Ayala kick whereas Lukas Podolski showed nerves of steel to make it 3-1 for the hosts.

Maxi Rodriguez saw his shot squeeze low past Lehmann for 3-2 but Tim Borowski took Die Mannschaft to the brink with Franco going the wrong way.

Inter Milan's Cambiasso then hit his effort straight at Lehmann, who was promptly smothered by the whole squad and coaching staff before some of the Argentine players engaged in a brief bout of frustrated fisticuffs with Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze and German team manager Oliver Bierhoff having to be pulled apart.

Germany thus maintained their perfect World Cup penalty shoot-out record, having beaten France (1982), Mexico (1986) and England (1990) - with Uli Stielike being the only German to have missed one, against the French.

In contrast, Argentina spoilt their record after beating Yugoslavia (1990), Italy (1990) and England (1998).