Argentina go down fighting

SOCCER: A day of drama was followed by a night of joyous delirium here in Berlin where Germany booked their place in the semi-finals courtesy of a 4-2 penalty shoot- out win over Argentina and a long-divided city took its cue to unite in celebration as if the trophy itself had been secured.

However Germany's victory was marred by a brawl on the pitch involving players and officials from both sides shortly after the final whistle. Fifa later confirmed in their official match report that Argentina's Leandro Cufre, an unused substitute, was shown the red card after the final whistle.

The trouble appeared to start when midfielder Tim Borowski gestured towards the Argentina players to "keep quiet" having scored his penalty to make it 4-2 in Germany's favour.

Several of the South American players walked towards him and when Esteban Cambiasso's final Argentina spot-kick was saved by German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, the Argentina defender Fabricio Coloccini approached Germany's Oliver Neuville and punches were thrown in a brief melee before it was broken up.

German coach Jurgen Klinsmann and his Argentine counterpart Jose Pekerman, who stepped down after last night's defeat, citing the end of a cycle, played down the incident, but Fifa are likely to take a very dim view of it .

Klinsmann dismissed the suggestion that a Fifa investigation might disrupt his side's preparations for Tuesday's semi-final against Italy in Dortmund.

"Well, for a start I don't even really know what went on," he said, We didn't see it because we were on the pitch but sure, something probably happened. What I do know, though, is that none of our people was involved, I think it was the Argentinians who were very emotional after losing.

"What you have to remember, though," he added, "is that there are so many emotions in a situation like this, particularly when the game goes all the way to a penalty shoot-out. In a situation like this it takes only a few words to cause a problem, it's natural and for us it's nothing."

"Football is just so emotional. It's just normal. It's no big deal, no problem at all," said Argentina manager Pekerman.

Though his side had never come close to reproducing the sort of irresistible form that had marked them out as early tournament favourites, Argentina had not gone, in any sense, without a fight.

For the best part of a tense and increasingly gripping game, they looked marginally the better of the two sides.

Until the 49th minute they chased an opening goal with more enterprise than their hosts and, once Roberto Ayala had got it, they defended their lead with gritty determination. Having been hauled back, though, and then beaten on spot kicks it took only the slightest provocation for their emotions to get the better of them.

It may not have been a hugely attractive game for the 72,000 spectators but it was certainly, after a sluggish start, a fascinating one in which the Germans trod cautiously until obliged to chase an equaliser.

Against a quality side, they looked rather less impressive than during wins over the likes of Ecuador or Sweden but their spirit was in evidence throughout.

When extra-time proved scoreless one team's 100 per cent record in World Cup penalty shoot-outs (they had both won three before this) was sure to fall.

Thanks to four flawless spot kicks and those two saves from Lehman it is the Germans who march on while all around them the World Cup party continues.