Germany beats Argentina 4-0

Germany fans celebrate after the 2010 World Cup quarter-final soccer match between Argentina and Germany at Green Point stadium in Cape Town July 3, 2010. Banner reads "Goodbye Maradona". [Agencies]

JOHANNESBURG - Germany's disciplined defense and clinical counter attacks earned a convincing 4-0 win over Argentina on Saturday to set up a World Cup semifinal against Spain, which needed a late goal from David Villa to beat Paraguay 1-0.

Thomas Mueller gave Germany an early lead in Cape Town, and Miroslav Klose scored two second-half goals either side of Arne Friedrich's simple tap-in as the Germans scored four goals for the third time this tournament.

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"What the team showed, it was not only international level, but the level of champions," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "It was absolute class."

Klose's two goals in his 100th international gives him 14 total World Cup scores, putting him level with fellow German Gerd Mueller on the all-time list. Brazil's Ronaldo tops the list with 15, but Klose will have two more games at this tournament to surpass him.

In the other quarterfinal in Johannesburg, Villa's tournament-leading fifth goal took Spain to its first World Cup semifinal after both teams had missed penalties over a three-minute period in the second half.

Villa collected the ball inside the area after teammate Pedro Rodriguez had hit the post, and curled a shot that struck the far post and then the near post before crossing the line in the 83rd minute.

Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved a 59th-minute penalty by Oscar Cardozo. Paraguay captain Justo Villar repeated the feat two minutes later, but only after Xabi Alonso had to retake an initially successful kick because of encroachment by several teammates.

Spain meets Germany in Durban on Wednesday, the team it beat in the 2008 European Championship final.

"Quite apart from their results, the Germans are playing brilliantly, so they must be tremendously motivated," Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta said. "It will be a game between two rivals who enjoy having the ball and I think it will be a beautiful battle."

Argentina entered the game with perhaps the tournament's most potent attacking lineup, but neither Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez or Gonzalo Higuain managed to break down the compact wall of German defenders.

Instead it was Argentina's defense that repeatedly cracked as all three of Germany's second-half goals came on well-constructed counter attacks.

After Mueller's third-minute header, Klose added a simple tap-in in the 68th minute. Friedrich then raced from defense to strike home the third in the 74th, and Klose added his second in the 89th.

"The first cross produced a goal, and suddenly we were looking at a different game," a devastated Maradona said. "They took advantage of all their chances." Maradona gave no indication about whether he would resign.