BY ADAM SERRANO
The final quarterfinal match day was supposed to feature a game for the ages and one blow out. It did. Only it weren't the matches that you'd expect.
It was a young Germany side led by a pair of goals from veteran Miroslav Klose that ended the World Cup dream for Maradona's Argentina with a convincing 4-0 victory to book their place in the last four of the World Cup.
Germany got on the board in the third minute of play as a German free kick was converted far post by young striker Thomas Muller. With the Argentines stunned, the Germans exploited each gap in the Argentine defense with ruthless efficiency. Germany added a second in the 68th minute when Klose scored after a fantastic set up and the rout was on.
The Germans would carve up the Argentine defense that was missing its best defender Walter Samuel two more times. Anne Fredrich added a third before Klose added his second goal of the match and fourth goal of the tournament. The German striker has scored 14 World Cup goals and sits only one goal from the goals record of 15 held by Brazilian forward Ronaldo.
On a fantastic day for Germany, there was a bitter sweet moment as breakout star Thomas Muller picked up a controversial yellow card that will cause him to miss the semi finals.
The highlights are below:
VILLA GOAL RESCUES SPAIN IN 1-0 DEFEAT OF PARAGUAY
In one of the most bizziare games of the tournament, Spain needed a pair of bounces off the post to defeat a strong Paraguay side, 1-0.
It was a David Villa goal in the 83rd minute that put the Spanish into the semi finals. After a shot by Pedro hit the post, the ball fell to Villa whose shot bounced off the far post and near posts before eventually going in.
The Paraguayans sought to frustrated the Spanish throughout the match and earn scoring opportunities on their counter attacks, it was a strategy that nearly put an end to the pre-tournament hopes of the World Cup. Nelson Valdez nearly put the South Americans up in the 40th minute when he finished a goal that was not allowed due to a questionable offside call. Although the game only featured one goal, the game will be remembered for a two minute sequence for the ages.
In the 59th Minute, Spanish defender Gerard Pique brought down Oscar Cardozo in the box for a clear penalty. The forward stepped up to take the penalty but was subsequently denied by a save by Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Moments later, Spain would get their own penalty when David Villa was fouled in the box by Antolin Alcoraz. Xabi Alonso took the penalty and converted, but the penalty was called back for encroachment by the Spaniards. On the second effort, the Paraguayan keeper Justo Villar made the save to keep the South Americans in the game until Villa's goal.
The victory put the Spanish into the semi-finals for the first time in their history and will now take on Germany in a rematch of the Euro 2006 final.
Here are the highlights: