Neither side will be slow about going forward

WORLD CUP 2006: Quarter finals The paths to this point of the respective coaches could scarcely be more stark, but the devotion shown to attacking football over the past few weeks by Jürgen Klinsmann and Jose Pekerman might make this afternoon's hugely attractive first World Cup quarter-final in Berlin a tough one for the neutrals to call.

While Pekerman has made his name coaching the national federation's underage side to countless success, including three World Youth titles, Klinsmann was appointed solely because of his playing credentials, popularity and the lack of an obvious alternative when Rudi Völler departed two years ago.

Both, though, have demonstrated a gift for their role during this tournament so far based on a strong connection with their players. And both have looked on approvingly as their teams contributed handsomely to what has been an outstanding tournament.

The South Americans wrapped up their final training session before heading for Berlin yesterday afternoon with a brief stint of penalty-taking. Pekerman insisted that it wasn't the way his side intended to beat the hosts, but wisely noted that it is always best to be prepared.

If it does take spot kicks to separate the two sides after two hours of football, however, it seems unlikely that it will be because a tight and constricted contest failed to yield a single goal.

"We are facing a team with a lot of goal power who are quick to go from defence into attack," said Pekerman.

The same could be said of his own side who, like the Germans, have scored 10 goals in four games since the tournament got under way. Argentina's cup positively overflows in this department, and Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez will almost certainly both have to settle for places on the bench again this afternoon as Pekerman sticks with the pairing of Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola up front that has served the team well so far.

Juan Roman Riquelme should present the Germans with a major challenge from just behind the pair in midfield, while Klinsmann's defence will be more keenly aware of the threat posed by Maxi Rodriquez, too, in the wake of his stunning winner against the Mexicans.

Luis Gonzalez looks set to start again on the right side of midfield after recovering from a groin strain, but Leandro Cufre is expected to get the nod over Lionel Scaloni in defence.

Pekerman was yesterday openly comparing his side to the one that beat Germany in the 1986 final, remarking that: "The players, the positions they occupy, the way they work together . . . in each of them there's a bit of that history and we want to keep it going."

Diego Maradona, a constant presence in the stands at his side's games in this tournament, inspired the South Americans that day as they won 3-2, but Klinsmann will prefer to recall the final in Rome four years later where, in the fifth and last of the World Cup meetings between these two, a team in which he featured prominently took the title thanks to a late penalty by Andreas Brehme.

The approach this afternoon is likely to be a little different, with Klinsmann reiterating his intention yesterday that Germany will play positively and seek to take the game to their opponents.

"What I hope people will see is quick, attack orientated football, total commitment with every player giving 100 per cent," he said.

"So far I've been happy, but it doesn't just happen, it has to be fine-tuned every day in training. We do that, though, and what we have here is a sworn community dedicated to making further progress in this competition.

"Still, there's zero chance that we'll lose touch with the ground because we have tremendous respect for Argentina, but that self-confidence is based on six weeks of very hard work during which time we have come a long way and achieved a lot.

"There are no guarantees but we will look to play a certain way, the way we have been playing, and I wouldn't put it past us to beat Argentina. Why not? I don't think that's arrogance."

Klinsmann is likely to name the same side that started against Sweden last week, with Michael Ballack (swollen ankle) and Miroslav Klose (tendonitis) expected to be fully recovered.

All eyes, though, will be on the team's defence, a department that was viewed prior to the tournament as the weakest link and which now, after comfortably getting by against the Swedes, faces its toughest test.

"We had some disappointing performances and some disappointing results during the warm-up to this competition and they highlighted, quite brutally at times, what our weaknesses were.

"We've worked very hard to remedy those problems and I hope people will see how we have benefited from that work in this game."

Probable line-ups

Germany (4-4-2)

Lehmann; Friedrich, Metzelder, Mertsacker, Lahm; Schneider, Frings, Ballack, Schweinsteiger; Podolski, Klose.

Coach: Jürgen Klinsmann

Argentina (4-4-2)

Abbondanzieri; Cufre, Ayala, Heinze, Sorin; Gonzalez, Mascherano, Riquelme, Rodriguez; Saviola, Crespo.

Coach: Jose Pekerman

Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)

Kick-off: 4.0pm

Venue: Berlin

On TV: RTÉ 2, 3.30, UTV 3.30

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