Argentina started the game seeking revenge for the 2006 quarter-final defeat against Germany.

But it was Germany who took the lead inside three minutes; Bastian Schweinsteiger's free-kick headed in by Thomas Müller.

Argentina struggled to get back into the game due to Germany's defensive discipline. Each time Argentina tried to ignite something, Germany smothered their flame and broke out in numbers, with plenty of options.

Twenty minutes after their first goal, Germany should have doubled their lead; if Müller's pass to Klose wasn't lofted over the bar.

Germany let Argentina come at them, just like they did with England, but then closed all the holes with doubled-up defence.

Argentina started to work a little harder for each other around the half-hour mark and came closer to penetrating the German area; Gonzalo Higuain cutting inside and forcing Manuel Neuer to save low at the near post.

Neuer then had a double fist clearance to keep Argentina out, as half-time drew ever closer.

Philipp Lahm tried one more forage down the right for Germany but they would have to be content with the one-goal lead at the end of the first forty-five minutes.

Half-time: 0:1

Argentina looked positive at the start of the second-half, with some ball dancing by Messi and a shot just wide from Di Maria.

Twice the ball fell out of Neuer's hands, but both times there was no Argentina follow-up threats to trouble him.

Angela Merkel was all smiles in the 68th minute as Podolski and Klose combined in a typical trademark move of theirs; Klose just getting into the right position to tap the ball into an open goal.

Argentina couldn't reply, as a well-drilled German Mannschaft made it all look so easy; because they played their football as a team game.

Bastian Schweinsteiger strolled through the Argentine defence on the left, to set up Arne Friedrich for his first international goal; and Germany's third, with over fifteen minutes still to play.

The icing on the cake came just before the final whistle, as Miroslav Klose volleyed home to make it four to Germany, for the third time in this tournament, and put himself on a total of 14 World Cup Finals goals; level with Gerd Müller and just one behind Ronaldo.

Germany progressed to the semi-finals for the eleventh time in the last fifteen World Cups.

Argentina 0 Germany 4