WORLD CUP SOCCER | Saturday's games

Germany 2, Sweden 0
MUNICH, Germany -- Germany's game plan was to apply pressure from the start and score an early goal. Mission accomplished. Germany is in the quarterfinals of the World Cup and beginning to look and talk like a contender. Juergen Klinsmann's team needed only 12 minutes to break down the Swedes for a confidence-boosting win over one of the traditionally top European sides. "I can't remember the last time Germany played such a first 30 minutes. It was fantastic," Klinsmann said. "It couldn't have been better." Lukas Podolski scored both goals, in the fourth and 12th minutes, with his forward partner Miroslav Klose playing a big role. Podolski now has three goals in the tournament and the two have combined for seven. Germany, 4-0 in the tournament, next plays in Berlin on Friday against Argentina. Argentina and Germany met in the 1986 and 1990 finals, splitting titles. "Let Argentina come, but let's first see what they do against Mexico," Klinsmann said. "We played Argentina twice in the past two years and we drew both times in very good games. We have no fear. "We are three-time champions, we are playing at home. It won't end in the quarterfinals. We are getting hungrier and hungrier, we are growing with every game." Defender Teddy Lucic was sent off in the 35th for two yellow cards, and striker Henrik Larsson wasted a penalty kick in the 53rd to make matters worse for an overmatched Swedish team. "We scored two quick goals and that gave us confidence," Podolski said. "We were lucky with that penalty, but we deserved to win." Klinsmann took over the team two years ago, promising to bring Germany its fourth World Cup title. It may not have been an empty promise, although future opponents figure to provide much tougher tests. The team was maligned before the World Cup after a string of lackluster warmup matches, and many Germans were skeptical of its chances. But the doubters have become believers and euphoric home crowds have lifted Germany's performances even more. "We can be very pleased and proud of our performance," Klinsmann said. "We wanted to apply a lot of pressure from the start and score an early goal. We created a lot of chances and played at a very fast pace." Germany certainly did get off to a flying start. Michael Ballack, having another outstanding match, passed to Klose, who faked two defenders and cut inside, but came down over diving goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. The ball bounced back to Podolski, who drove it toward the net. Lucic got his head on it in a desperate attempt to save. The second score was prettier. Klose collected a pass just outside the box, drew three defenders and slipped a reverse pass into space for Podolski, who drove a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper in the 12th.
Argentina 2, Mexico 1, extra time
LEIPZIG, Germany -- It took a blast of brilliance by Maxi Rodriguez to separate Argentina from Mexico in a World Cup classic. Argentina moved into the quarterfinals on Rodriguez's goal in the 98th minute of the first extra-time game in the tournament. Rodriguez chested a long, arcing pass from captain Juan Sorin at the right corner of the penalty area and, in almost the same motion, wheeled and volleyed a soaring left-footed shot to the far portion of the net over flailing goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. The Argentines weren't too exhausted to celebrate, mobbing Rodriguez after his third goal of the tournament -- and biggest of his life. Still, Argentina had to stave off Mexico for another 22 minutes -- there is no sudden death in this World Cup. Two-time champion Argentina lost in the 1998 quarterfinals and was knocked out in the first round four years ago. This time, Argentina topped its group before barely getting past a Mexican team that struggled to finish second in its opening-round group, then found its rhythm against the heavy favorite. Mexico made the second round for the fourth straight time, but has lost each time. The game was only the second matchup in the World Cup for the two Latin American powers, and much closer than Argentina's 6-3 win when they last met in the inaugural tournament 76 years ago. At the end, several Mexican players were crying. Mario Mendez kicked the turf at the center of the field, walking glumly for the sideline. Teammate Francisco Fonseca sat nearby, staring up into the stands. Behind him in the far corner, bare-chested Argentina players twirled their shirts in the air, some dropping to their knees to salute their fans -- and each other.
Associated Press
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