QF: Germany v Argentina

[andy villa]

Quarter-final one
Berlin
Friday, 30 June
Kick-off: 1600 BST
How to follow the game: Live on ITV, Live on BBC Radio Five Live

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Germany are confident skipper Michael Ballack and striker Miroslav Klose will shake off injuries in time for Friday's quarter-final.

They returned to training on Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday's team session, Ballack with a swollen ankle and Klose with tendonitis.

Argentina team news to follow.

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BIG MATCH STATS
Head-to-heads

Germany have played Argentina on 16 previous occasions. The Germans have won five times and Argentina seven. Four matches have been drawn. The two nations have met on four previous occasions in World Cups including the finals of 1986 and 1990. Germany have the upper hand with two wins to one. The 1966 fixture was drawn.

Their most recent fixture was in last year's Confederations Cup and ended in a 2-2 draw. Neither of Germany's goalscorers, Kuranyi and Asamoah, will start this match. Argentina's two goals were netted by Riquelme and Cambiasso.

Team facts - Germany

Germany have reached seven World Cup finals in their 16 appearances, winning three (1954, 1974, 1990). Since the victory in 1954, Germany have only been eliminated before the semi-finals on three occasions, all against nations from Eastern Europe (1962, 1994 and 1998 ).

Germany have won seven of their last eight matches, including all four in this tournament, keeping clean sheets in each of the last three. Their record winning streak in World Cups is five between 1954 and 1962.

Team facts - Argentina

Argentina's best World Cup performances came in 1978 and 1986 when they won the World title. They've been eliminated from the competition at the quarter-final stage on two occasions (1966 and 1998 ). They also failed to progress from a quarter-final group stage in 1982.

Argentina are now unbeaten in their last five World Cup matches which is two shy of their all-time record of seven in 1986 when they lifted the silverware in Mexico.

Player facts - Germany

Torsten Frings will miss a potential semi-final match if he receives a yellow card against Argentina.

Miroslav Klose has a total of nine World Cup goals and is one away from becoming the 12th player in World Cup history to net 10 goals. Gerd Muller (14), Jurgen Klinsmann (11) and Helmut Rahn (10) are the other Germans on the list.

Player facts - Argentina

Both Gabriel Heinze and Juan Pablo Sorin will miss a potential semi-final match if they receive a yellow card.

Hernan Crespo has scored in the last four World Cup matches he has played in, and is the first player to score in three different matches in this 2006 tournament. Captain Roberto Ayala won his 104th cap in the second round match and is now just two away from his country's record of 106 held by Diego Simeone.

Miscellaneous Info

The hosts have won six of the previous 17 World Cup editions. Germany also hosted the World Cup in 1974, when they emerged victorious by defeating Holland in the final.

Germany's Arne Friedrich plays for Hertha Berlin, and therefore if selected will be playing in familiar surroundings, as this match is being staged in Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports

[hanuma]

Bizzare to think Klose could score more world cup goals than Klinsmann and if he stays fit to play a major part in 2010 (he'll be just 32) he could even get up to Mullers now defunct record.

The Germans can do it....but my God they will need all their traditional luck and then some.

[kennethlindheim]

I've really no idea who's gonna win, that are two of the best teams of this tournament... I expect a exciting game and a new climax of the wc...

[russe||]

I just don't give a fuck who wins this one TBH. Shame they can't both go out in the 1/4s.

[Jager]

Not sure either, but on paper, the Argies should win in a heartbeat, but the Germans have home field advantage.

If the Argies score first, it will be lights out I figure.

[hanuma]

Lehman > Abbon

Coloccini - Friedrich
Ayala > Metzelder
Heinze > Mertesacker
Sorin - Lahm

Mascherano > Frings
Rodriquez > Schneider
Cambiasso - Schweinsteiger (as far as this tourney is concerned)
Riquelme - Ballack

Crespo - Klose (again...tourney form)
Saviola > Podolski

Definite Argie advantage, but much closer than people might have thought considering the form of some of the German players....I just see Crespo, Saviola, Riqi, Tevez and Messi absolutely killing that German defence though.

[Jager]

Though it doesn't work that way does it? Mexico kept the Argies in check, and I rate the German ahead of them, not too mention the home field advantage which will be huge.

If we do get to the final, I would rather avoid Germany for that reason. The Azzurri don't seem to do well with hostile crowds.

[hanuma]

It never works that way...but you said on paper Argies win in a heartbeat...I analysed that claim.

[Forest_4eva]

Argentina should scrape it.
I make them favourites for the tournement so far.
A Brazil Argentina final would be something very special (although for obvious reason I hope that we are deprived.)

[mr.watford]

i will be supporting argentina when i watch it with a group of ten german people who will probably attack me.

i think germany will win though. they have been improving, while argentina weren't too great against mexico.

[robaldo]

hopfully it will be a great game, looking forward to it

[skeeta]

It is heartwarming to see that Cali Klinsi has instilled such confidence in our German friends, one wonders what the reaction to defeat will be.

And can I please register my displeasure at Pekerman for not starting with either Messi or especially Tevez? Impact substitutions are all well and good, but this is Germany at home.

[hanuma]

Tevez is starting over Saviola.

[Muscolino18]

C'mon Argentina..I really want the hosts' adventure to end here.

EDIT: Is it just me or is Miroslav Klose an ugly irritating little shit? Great header of the ball though, has he even scored a header yet this tourney?

[hanuma]

No, he had one great diving header against Costa Rica but was truly abysmal in the air against Poland.

Argies 1-0....will take that German luck to get back into it now.