Germany Draws with Argentina
June 21, 2005
Germany still can't beat the big boys. The tournament hosts twice surrender the lead after goals from Brazilian-born striker Kevin Kuranyi (29min) and Gerald Asamoah (51) saw Germany forge ahead.
But Argentina twice replied through Juan Roman Riquelme (32) and Esteban Cambiasso (74) to also qualify for the last four of the competition finishing as runners-up on goal difference - although neither team know their semi-final opponent.
Mexico have qualified from Group B but Brazil and Japan face off on Wednesday for the other spot.
Germany manager Jürgen Klinsmann will be delighted to be two games from winning the trophy but will rue a glorious chance to end their miserable run against the big teams. Not since October 2000 have Germany defeated a recognized top team when England fell 1-0 in the final game at Wembley Stadium.
"We've come a long way, especially tactically," said Klinsmann about his young team after the match. "That makes us more confident and each player able to believe that we can be a contender at this level. I believe we're on the right path."
Klinsmann chose to rest captain Michael Ballack, scorer of two penalties in the competition so far, with Bernd Schneider taking over the captain's armband.
Germany starts strong
The hosts started the more promising but Argentina should have scored in the 16th minute when Carlos Tevez crossed brilliantly from the right but Luciano Figueroa headed over. Argentina then had a controlled spell of possession but gave the ball away cheaply at the back and were made to pay in the 29th minute.
A Thomas Hitzlsperger free-kick took a series of pinball deflections in the penalty area and the ball fell to Kuranyi who prodded in. But the lead lasted just three minutes as Villareal star Riquelme curled a delightful free-kick past Timo Hildebrand to restore parity.
Hildebrand was making a rare start between the German posts but could do nothing about the exquisite strike.
The interval seemed to benefit Germany and in the 51st minute they retook the lead through Asamoah. Kuranyi saw the run of Schalke star Asamoah and the powerful front-man drilled a shot low into the corner.
The two teams met in Dusseldorf back in February and Germany twice led only to be pegged back late on at 2-2. And history was to repeat itself as Cambiasso rifled in a 74th minute equalizer after great work from Tevez.