FIFA World Cup: Germany thrash Argentina to make last four

Germany crushed Argentina 4-0 with a sparkling display of attacking football on Saturday to book their spot in the World Cup last four.

A double from Miroslav Klose on his 100th international appearance, along with goals from Thomas Mueller and defender Arne Friedrich ensured the convincing win over a lacklustre Argentina.

"It's insane to beat Argentina 4-0. It's hard to find the words for a result like that," Mueller told German television after the match. "I think Germany is quaking right now and that's the right way to celebrate this."

Man-of-the-match Bastian Schweinsteiger added: "That gives you goose bumps seeing the way people are celebrating at home. We may have to play Spain next -- they're the best team in the world, in my view. But we're good enough, we believe in ourselves."

German coach Joachim Loew said the team had played "like champions".                                            

"The team did everything nearly perfectly today," he said. "The result is nearly unbelievable because Argentina have a strong defensive team. It was first class that we were able to get so many goals."                                                                                    

Germany got off to a dream start when Mueller snatched his fourth goal of the tournament, heading in a curled Schweinsteiger free kick after just three minutes.

Klose doubled Germany's lead in the 68th minute when Lukas Podolski out in a perfect pass from the left and the striker tapped in from close range.

Friedrich got a third with his first international goal in the 74th minute, finishing from a metre out after Schweinsteiger's cross, before Klose completed the rout with his second in the 89th minute.                                            

Dictating the pace early in the first half, Germany refused to fall back after their quick lead, pressing high in Argentina's half and coming close to a second through Sami Khedira and Klose.                                            

Germany, who beat Argentina on penalties at the same stage of the tournament in 2006, gradually allowed their opponents to come forward, responding with lightning-quick counter-attacks.                                            

The Argentines, with playmaker Lionel Messi often stifled by two or three defenders, tried desperately to level with long-range shots before Klose doubled the German lead.                                            

Friedrich then added the third six minutes later, before Klose volleyed home a cross from Mesut Ozil for the fourth and his 14th World Cup goal, just one short of Ronaldo's all time record.                                            

"We just had a bad game. If you make mistakes like that, you go home," Argentine forward Carlos Tevez said. "We knew they could be dangerous on set-pieces and on the counter-attack.                                            

Germany now play the winners of the other quarter-final between Spain and Paraguay later on Saturday.