Football GERMANS ARE SPOT TO TROT; WORLD CUP 2006 GERMANY ARGENTINA 1 Germany win 4-2 on penalties Jurgen's men the hosts with most as they oust Argiesand savour penalty joy once again.

Byline: By Gary Ralston in Berlin

SPOT-KICK specialists Germany sent Argentina crashing out last night with a dramatic shootout victory in Berlin.

The Germans, who clearly engineer their penalty kicks the way they engineer their motorcars and domestic appliances, were again flaw-less from 12 yards as Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann twice dived to his left to keep out efforts from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso.

Something had to give at the Olympic Stadium as the host nation and the South Americans had both won three out of three spot-kick deciders in previous tournaments.

But it was Jurgen Klinsmann's men who held their nerve to book their place in Tueday's semi-final in Dortmund.

However, there was little dignity in the manner in which the victory was celebrated as furious Argentina players rounded on Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff as he cavorted wildly with the players, much to the disgust of the defeated side.

They attempted to make a beeline for the former German striker as security guards rushed in, with the scenes not befitting the occasion this match had so splendidly represented.

It was a case of Klose, but no cigar for Argentina legend Diego Maradona who has puffed his way through some of Havana's finest exports while cheering his side to the last eight.

Defeat was doubly tough to take for spot-kick sinner Ayala, who had nodded his side in front before striker Miroslav Klose levelled, also with a header, in 80 minutes.

This was the most important sporting event to take place at the venue since Jesse Owens jumped and sprinted to four gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1936.

The great American fell foul of the ruling Nazi elite at that time but that was a darker Germany, in stark contrast to the vibrant and confident nation of the 21st century. German critics have claimed these World Cup finals are only a month-long departure from the grim reality of life in a country where unemployment tops 10 per cent.

But for those of us from the outside it has been impossible to think of anything other than a confident people who are revelling at being centre stage in world sport.

The banners that draped from the lampposts leading up to the Olympic Stadium were once sinister in nature.

Now, the main thoroughfare is known as Jesse Owens Allee and the German flags fluttering all the way along it in the summer breeze smack only of national pride, not supremacy.

Indeed, it is remarkable how the Germans, usually a stony-faced breed, have lightened up these past few weeks and learned to party with the rest of the world.

The sight of many flags being flown from cars, zany wigs being worn and woollen scarves draped around shoulders in the baking heat are usually the preserve of the English.

But the Germans' newly-developed sense of fun and patriotic fervour is such that a million Berliners - nearly a third of the city's population - turned up at the Fan Mile to watch the action on big screens.

The opening stages of this game were tetchy and wunderkind Lukas Podolski was booked after only two minutes for a late tackle on Ayala.

He almost redeemed himself five minutes later with a low free-kick that was spilled by Roberto Abbondanzieri but the keeper quickly gathered before further damage could be done.

The German defence coped comfortably in the early stages with Argentina's attack, which was being put under pressure in midfield -especially with the quick, clever forward passing of danger men Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

They combined after 15 minutes and when fellow midfielder Bernd Schneider clipped in a delivery, Ballack had darted free of Fabricio Coloccini, but his header flashed narrowly wide from 10 yards.

The hosts were much more aggressive, sometimes overly so, and Podolski breathed a sigh of relief when ref Lubos Michel settled for a word rather than a second yellow when he went in clumsily on Maxi Rodriguez.

Nevertheless, it was falling flat for the Germans in the final third as half-time approached and Abbondanzieri became a virtual spectator.

Counterpart Lehmann was hardly being overworked either as strikers Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez struggled to find space.

But Argentina threw off the shackles of self-doubt that seemed to hold them in reserve in the first half - and were immediately rewarded with the opening goal.

There were less than three minutes gone in the second half when Juan Roman Riquelme sent over a corner from the right that was met perfectly eight yards out by defender Ayala.

He leaped above Klose and although Philipp Lahm tried his best on the front post, the header was delivered with too much pace to keep it out.

The Argentina fans, quiet until then, were on their feet waving thousands of blue and white balloons in the air while home fans sat deflated, their hopes hanging in the balance.

The goal at least allowed the game to open up and Klinsmann was in no mood to delay his wait for an equaliser as he brought on pacey wide man David Odonkor for midfield anchor Schneider.

The goal was proving elusive, although Podolski did his team no favours when elected to try to hit the target when Germany were awarded a free-kick over at the right corner flag when a cross would surely have yielded a greater result.

Ayala also came to the rescue at the other end when he blocked a Ballack effort with his chest after keeper Abbondanzieri had failed to grasp a corner under pressure from Klose.

The Boca Juniors No.1 looked as if he was playing for time when he went down but he really was hurt and had to be replaced by Leonardo Franco.

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman was clearly concerned about the amount of German possession and threw on Cambiasso to strengthen the midfield, with Riquelme sacrificed. Argentina almost went two up minutes later when Tevez fed Rodriguez.

But he struck his shot into the side net with only Lehmann to beat.

Itwas amiss Argentina immediately came to regret as Germany snatched the equaliser with just 10 minutes left.

Chelsea new boy Ballack sent in a cross from the left that was knocked on by Tim Borowski into the path of Klose and the Werder Bremen hitman threw himself at full length in front of Juan Pablo Sorin to send a flying header past Franco from eight yards.

The first period of extra time was significant for nothing other than a few tousy scraps as the minds of both sets of players seemed to turn to penalties. Odonkor looked lively on the right as others around him wilted in the heat but the Argentina defence was not for budging. Neither, however, was Lehmann as his big hands ushered Germany into the last four.

GERMANY - Lehmann, Fr iedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Schweinsteiger (Borowski 74), Frings, Ballack, Schneider (Odonkor 62), Klose (Neuville 85), Podolski. Subs not used: Asamoah, Hanke, Hildebrand, Hitzlsperger, Huth, Jansen, Kahn, Kehl, Nowotny.

ARGENTINA - Abbondanzieri (Franco 71), Sorin, Ayala, Coloccini, Heinze, Maxi, Gonzalez, Riquelme (Cambiasso 72), Mascherano, Crespo (Cruz 78), Tevez. Subs not used: Aimar, Burdisso, Cufre, Messi, Milito, Palacio, Saviola, Scaloni, Ustari.

Referee:L Michel ( Slovakia).

CAPTION(S):

SPOT ON: Germany's players mob keeper Jens Lehmann moments after his penalty save from Esteban Cambiasso hich took the hosts into semi-finals. Lehmann saves the kick, right' AY, AY, AY: Roberto Ayala is a picture of misery at end