Football: Big hand for Jens the hero; WORLD CUP 2006.

JURGEN KLINSMANN hailed keeper Jens Lehmann as Germany's I trump card in their last- I eight win over Argentina.

The Arsenal No.1 stopped penalties from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso as the Germans won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw - the fourth shoot-out success out of four in their World Cup history.

Boss Klinsmann said: "The penalties are always a matter of nerves and experience and we have a very experienced keeper in Lehmann. I was a striker and I wouldn't want to face him.

"He proved he has a sense about where the ball is going and almost saved the other two as well."

Lehmann, who stopped a penalty from Villarreal's Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme in Arsenal's Champions League run of last season, said: "I've been in those situations before but we won as a team.

"For me, it's a lot of fun to see how the fans are celebrating. I don't see that often since I don't live in Germany."

Klinsmann reckoned his young players were a bit too emotional at the start.

He said: "They were hectic and we didn't see the flow of the previous games. At half-time we told them to stay calm and keep on going and that things would settle.

"We're extremely proud of this team but we want more - we want the World Cup."

Argentina will face the wrath of FIFA after the shameful scenes at the end. At least one German player was left lying on the grass after being kicked while there was also widespread punching and pushing.

Michael Ballack, the German captain, said: "The first signs of provocation came from Argentina. They were shouting at our players in Spanish when they were walking to the spot.

"When Lukas Podolski scored he put his finger to his lips and said 'shut up' and they didn't like that."

Argentina manager Jose Pekerman, who quit after the game, said: "With all the drama these things can flare up."