Germany are through to the World Cup semi-finals are beating Argentina 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra-time in Berlin.

The host nation started brightly with starlet Lukas Podolski testing Roberto Abbondanzieri with a 30-yard curling free-kick, while skipper Michael Ballack flashed a header just over the bar after latching onto Bernd Schneider's cross following a trademark late run into the area.

The remainder of the half was a cagey affair with very little in the way of goalmouth action as Argentina kept possession well, frustrating Germany and the majority inside the Olympic Stadium in Berlin as a result.

And there was to be further frustration for Jurgen Klinsmann's men just four minutes into the second period when Juan Riquelme's corner from the right was powerfully headed home by central defender Roberto Ayala - beating the two men on the post and the despairing dive of Jens Lehmann.

Germay tried to rally with Ballack having a goalbound effort blocked and substitute Tim Borowski firing straight at sub keeper Leonardo Franco.

But just when it looked as if their efforts were set to come to nothing Klose, who had hardly had a look in all game, steered an 80th-minute header past Franco after Borowski had flicked on Ballack's centre from the left - Klose's fifth goal of the tournament.

The extra 30 minutes came and went with neither side able to fashion a decent opening to win the contest, and so it was to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

And it was the Germans who progressed to Tuesday's semi-finals after Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso's efforts were saved by Lehmann to hand Klinsmann's side a 4-2 shoot-out victory.