GERMAN HOPES KEEPS ON KICKING HOSTS CAPTURE PENALTY-KICK WIN AGAINST ARGENTINA GERMANY 1, ARGENTINA 1.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

BERLIN -- Gary Lineker, England's top forward a generation or so ago, once described soccer as ``a simple game'' in which 22 players chase a ball for 90 minutes. ``And in the end, Germany always wins.''

And so the party rages on, next stop Dortmund, after the World Cup host -- with each success greatly surpassing expectation -- bulled its way to the semifinals, a delirious nation on its back.

The Germans rallied for a 1-1 draw Friday in front of 72,000 at Olympiastadion, then outfired Argentina on penalty kicks 4-2 to pull out a tight, tactical clash that turned on a disastrous series of substitutions for the South Americans.

The hoped-for classic between the longstanding rivals never materialized. It was a defensive battle, dictated most of the way by the technically superior Argentines, with little space to penetrate and, subsequently, few chances.

Roberto Ayala's header from a Juan Roman Riquelme corner kick four minutes into the second half appeared decisive, but injury and exhaustion forced Argentina coach Jose Pekerman to waste two substitutions, and he made a rash error with his third.

It gave the Germans an opening, and that was that. Miroslav Klose's tournament-best fifth goal near the end produced overtime, Jens Lehmann came up big in the shootout, and a date has been set for Tuesday night against Italy, the three-time champions' first World Cup meeting since the 1982 final.

``It's a thriller -- like a Hitchcock movie,'' Southern California-based Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said. ``Obviously, you're the happiest person in the world if you win it and the saddest if you lose.''

Argentina's reaction was more anger than grief. Defender Leandro Cufre, who didn't play, apparently kicked Germany's Per Mertesacker at the finish, and security had to separate Argentine players from German general manager Oliver Bierhoff. Cufre was given a post-match red card, and Klinsmann and Pekerman agreed it was emotion boiling over, no big deal.

It was a match largely devoid of emotion, a test of systems -- Argentina's slow, deliberate buildup, so contingent on Riquelme, and Germany's quick-strike attack -- and the Argentines' clearly won out, not that it mattered.

With Riquelme at the center of a possession game that relied heavily upon terrific forward-winger Carlos Tevez, left back Juan Sorin, and midfielders Maxi Rodriguez and Luis Gonzalez, the Albiceleste contentedly passed the ball back and forth, around and around, unsuccessfully seeking entry to the German box.

Germany could do no better. Argentina's defense, anchored by center back Roberto Ayala and holding midfielder Javier Mascherano, won the majority of first and second balls. When the Germans could possess, they made unforced errors. When they pushed forward, space was quickly cut off, options disappeared.

``The match was maybe not so interesting for spectators,'' acknowledged German central midfielder Michael Ballack. ``But it was a match at a very high level.''

There was only one true scoring opportunity in the first half -- Ballack headed a Bernd Schneider cross just off-target in the 16th minute -- and not many more in the second. Then goalkeeper Robert Abbondanzieri, who took a knee in the gut from Klose as they battled in the air, had to depart, and Riquelme, apparently exhausted, was pulled out a minute later in favor of defensive-oriented midfielder Esteban Cambiasso.

As the Germans' pressure intensified, Pekerman made his final move, withdrawing ineffective striker Hernan Crespo for ball-holding forward Julio Cruz and leaving magicians Lionel Messi and Javier Saviola on the bench. It would prove costly after Klose scored in the 80thminute, stepping in front of Ayala to head home Tim Borowski's flick-on of Ballack's left-wing cross. Argentina never seriously challenged again.

``Maybe with the inclusion of the little, speedy ones, we could have scored more goals,'' said Pekerman, who announced after the game he was stepping down. ``You have to make a decision in that moment.''

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CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(color) German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann makes a save during a penalty-kick shootout win Friday against Argentina.

Thomas Kienzle/Associated Press

Box:

(1) ENGLAND vs. PORTUGAL

(2) BRAZIL vs. FRANCE 

- Scott French