Hosts Germany beat Argentina in a penalty shootout on Friday to reach the
semi-finals of the World Cup where they will play Italy, who cruised past
debutants Ukraine 3-0.
Germany goalkeeper
Jens Lehmann makes a save from a kick by Argentina's Esteban Cambiasso
during the penalty shootout in their World Cup 2006 quarter-final soccer
match in Berlin June 30, 2006. [Reuters] |
Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was the hero for Germany, saving two penalties to
give his country a 4-2 win in the shootout after the game in Berlin's
Olympiastadion had ended 1-1.
"It was very exciting for us on the bench," German coach Juergen Klinsmann
told reporters. "It was like a Hitchcock movie."
Players and officials from both teams clashed on the pitch in a melee
immediately after the decisive penalty save. Argentine Leandro Cufre, an unused
substitute, was given a red card for his part in chaotic scenes broadcast around
the globe.
Italy rarely looked in trouble after fullback Gianluca Zambrotta put them
ahead in the sixth minute. Striker Luca Toni scored twice in the second half to
snuff out a rally by Ukraine, who were supported in Hamburg by President Viktor
Yushchenko.
The German capital was a sea of black, red and gold flags as hundreds of
thousands of fans poured into the city. Those without tickets gathered in the
shadow of the Brandenburg Gate to follow the match on big-screen TVs.
"This is just great. It's just great. To do this in our own country - the
feeling is hard to describe," said Gerd Findeisen, 48, a travel agent from
Quedlinburg near Hanover.
Italy's Luca Toni (9)
celebrates with team mate Simone Perrotta after scoring his second goal
against Ukraine during their World Cup 2006 quarter-final soccer match in
Hamburg June 30, 2006. [Reuters] |
"And you know what is really wonderful - it's this new patriotism. There are
no nasty undertones to it at all. It's just party, party, party."
The mood was darker in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen where riot
police moved in to separate hundreds of English and German fans after they
briefly clashed.
Police in helmets moved on to the main street to divide the two groups after
they threw bottles at each other. Thousands of England fans are expected in the
industrial city for their team's quarter-final against Portugal on Saturday.
A spokesman for local police said 50 fans had been detained - 25 English and
25 German. One English fan was arrested for throwing a bottle and one German
supporter had been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Holders Brazil play France in Frankfurt on Saturday night in the last
quarter-final.
Argentina, winners of the trophy in 1978 and 1986, looked set to gatecrash
the German party when defender Roberto Ayala headed them in front in the 49th
minute.
But the tournament's leading scorer Miroslav Klose headed an equaliser in the
80th minute to send the match into extra time, his fifth goal in the finals.
Goalkeeper Lehmann saved penalties from Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso in the
shootout, while the German players kept their nerve and converted all four of
their spot kicks.
Germany are bidding to add to world championships won in 1954, 1974 and 1990
-- all as West Germany before the country was reunified.
Italy won the last of their three World Cups in 1982 when they beat West
Germany in the final. The two meet in Dortmund next Tuesday.
About 10,000 fans had gathered to watch the match on a giant screen in Kiev's
Independence Square - focal point of Ukraine's 2004 "Orange Revolution" -- and
all left the square happy despite the score.
Serhiy, 20, student: "Yes, we lost. But these guys were simply great. We
achieved what no team anywhere else in eastern Europe could
manage."
