Live Ticker: Germany 5 : 3 Argentina (1-1 AET, 4-2 on penalties)

Let the quarter-finals begin!
Hosts Germany face Argentina -- the team some are calling the best in the tournament. Will Klinsi's tactics prove to be what the Germans need to overcome the South American powerhouse? DW-WORLD.DE will have all the action. Until then, keep up with all the World Cup news at: www.dw-world.de/worldcup

Just under one hour to kick-off. Here are the team line-ups!
Germany (4-4-2): 1-Jens Lehmann; 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 21-Christoph Metzelder, 16-Philipp Lahm; 19-Bernd Schneider, 8-Torsten Frings, 13-Michael Ballack, 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger; 20-Lukas Podolski, 11-Miroslav Klose

Coach: Jürgen Klinsmann

Argentina (4-4-2): 1-Roberto Abbondanzieri; 4-Fabricio Coloccini, 2-Roberto Ayala, 6-Gabriel Heinze, 3-Juan Pablo Sorin; 22-Luis Gonzalez, 8-Javier Mascherano, 10-Juan Roman Riquelme, 18-Maxi Rodriguez; 11-Carlos Tevez, 9-Hernan Crespo

Coach: Jose Pekerman

Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)

Argentina's line-up shows a minor surprise as Saviola, who has played well together with Crespo up front, has to give way for Tevez.

It's less than half an hour to kick-off and the Berlin stadium is filling up while the teams are warming up on the pitch. Berlin is cloudy today and it's not as hot as the past days.

The teams walk in!
The two goal keepers reach out in a hand shake as they enter the pitch to roaring crowds.

Fifa has called for a two day anti-racism campaign. Ballack and Sorin speak to the 72000 crowd who cheer their speech.

The anthems are played.

1. min.
The first quarter final is on the way.

2. min.
First free-kick is Argentine. The German fans are whistling as soon as Argentina have possession to show their team they are ready to be the twelfth player.

2. min.
Riqulme hits a free-kick into the box put the Germans win one themselves.

3. min.
Podolski!
The striker sees yellow after a late challenging from behind.

4. min.
The Germans' first attempt at combining their way into the box is stopped just outside the line.

5. min.
Both teams, but especially the Germans, have started nervously and carefully, almost hesitatingly.

6. min.
Good free-kick position for Germany about ten meters from the box line. Podolski hits it but Abbondanzieri is there.

8. min.
First corner is Argentine. It bounces strangely at the first post and Schweinsteiger has to clear.

9. min.
Riquelme hits a free-kick into the box aimed for Crespo. The ball is long and Lehmann gets it in his arms.

10. min.
Podolski gets a shot away but it's blocked. The German's are nervous and have made a couple of mistakes in the first minutes of the game.

12. min.
Argentina are trying to build up from midfield but just like the Germans they've delivered a string of bad passes.

13. min.
Metzelder clears the ball into the stands after Sorin tries to find Crespo at the box line.

15. min.
Argentina are a bit more successful at putting pressure on their opponents.

16. min.
First good chance.
Germany break and start a counter which ends with a well hit cross from Schneider to Ballack but he heads it wide.

17. min.
Mertesacker turns on the line and shoots. Not a bad shot but a meter over the cross bar.

18. min.
Riquelme hits the ball into the box to Sorin who comes with good pace. Sorin's shot is blocked to corner.

21. min.
The game is so far colored by the many mistakes on midfield, two defense walls and two hesitating teams.

23. min.
Both teams take turns trying to build up but typically lose possession just outside the box.

24. min.
Ballack chips the ball to Lahm down by the left flag but the defender's cross goes past all German players in the box.

25. min.
Riquelme hits a well weighgted ball for Crespo to run for. The striker is blown off for handling in the box.

28. min.
Podolski will have to look out as the ref goes to speak to him after an unnecessary foul. The German is already booked.

30. min.
No team is willing to take the risk necessary to try to open up the defense line. Instead they both seem to wait for the other's mistake.

32. min.
Frings break Riquelme and passes on to Lahm who finds his way down the left. He is stopped at the left of the box.

35. min.
Crespo wins a free-kick as he tries to go through the very dense German midfield.

37. min.
The teams keep losing possession and going nowhere. Both have put a lock on their midfield and the few times the defenders have been tested they too have stood firm.

39. min.
The Argentine reach into the box. Mascherano crosses to Crespo who hits a quick pass to Tevez. The striker gets stuck though on the German defense.

41. min.
Argentina are passing the ball amongst their midfield for two minutes. LIttle comes out of it. Are they trying to build up confidence to attack?

44. min.
The Germans have had little possession in the last ten minutes. But win a free-kick down on the right.

45+1. min.
First half over.
Schweinsteiger hits the free-kick which is cleared to the sound of the ref's whistle.

Both teams seem to be playing the game as one with more to lose than to win. Hardly any chances were produced in first half, in which it was a battle in midfield with few glimpses at either box.

45. min.
Second half begins.

46. min.
Sorin gets yellow after bringing down Friedrich.

46. min.
Podolski's free-kick after the card is caught by Abbondanzieri.

48. min.
Argentina try to play the right wing where Rodriguez can win a corner-kick.

48. min.
Goal Argentina

48. min.
Ayala heads in the corner!
Crespo is too late but Ayala is there to head the ball into the lower right side of the goal. Klose ends up behind Ayala in the situation and must be blamed partly.

52. min.
Ballack tries a cross but it's too long. The German's will have to push some tempo into the game to not lose this.

53. min.
A German free-kick is hit into the box but is headed out by the Argentine defense.

55. min.
The game is finding its new pace with the Germans trying to advance faster, something that opens up for Argentine counters.

56. min.
The Germans are now higher up and try to combine. Ballack has a brief opening towards goal but tries a pass instead of a shot.

58. min.
The Germans are not coming with the speed or force that is needed. Their attacks are picked up by the Argentine defense.

59. min.
Mascherano gets booked.
The Argentine MIdfielder brings down Schneider just outside the right of the box.

61. min.
Schneider out for Odonkor.

62. min.
Odonkor is on to bring some more speed to the German attack which still rarely breaks through.

63. min.
Ballack gets the ball behind the spot after a corner but hits it straight down where the ball bounces up and out via an Argentine defender.

65. min.
Abbondanzieri spends two minutes lying on the pitch.

67. min.
Another German corner is dangerous but again headed out by the Argentine defense.

68. min.
The Argentine seem very cool and look like they are playing to defend their lead.

69. min.
Abbondanzieri is obviously worse off than expected after Klose's challenge some minutes back. The Argentine goalie will have to leave the pitch.

70. min.
Franco goes on as new keeper.

72. min.
Riquelme goes out for Cambiasso.
The Argentine are clearly not thinking of creative football anymore.

73. min.
After a German mistake the ARgentine counter ends with a shot from the right by Rodriguez. The ball hits the side of the net.

74. min.
Odonkor gets kicked from behind and wins a free-kick in a good position.

75. min.
Podolski hits the wall. The Germans are trying hard but getting little done. Odonkor crosses but to no one.

78. min.
Crespo out for Cruz.

78. min.
A ball dips into Klose in the box but he doesn't get any power behind.

80. min.
Germany score!

80. min.
Ballack crosses into the box where Borowski, who's gone on for Schweinsteiger, heads it over to Klose who puts a hard head on it.

83. min.
The Germans now have the upper hand. The Argentine were too quick substituting their creative Riquelme and striker Crespo, hoping they could keep their lead.

85. min.
Neuville on for Klose.

86. min.
The Germans are trying a bit more now at the end but the last crosses have gone wide.

87. min.
Rodriguez gets booked.
The Argentine is hoping for a penalty but sees the card instead.

90. min.
The teams seem like they would prefer to win this before extra-time, but of course the main thing now is to avoid mistakes.

90+1. min.
Corner for Argentina.

90+2. min.
The ball is headed back to Lehmann.

90+3. min.
A minute to go and the teams will have to accept extra-time.

90+3. min.
Odonkor is booked after a foul from behind.

90+4. min.
Second half is over. Time for extra-time.

90. min.
First half of extra-time is on the way!
Who will win the first quarter final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup? Stay with DW-WORLD.DE for the thrilling conclusion of this game.

92. min.
The game looks to continue much as it did through most of the ninety minutes, with two teams fighting on midfield and with few chances.

93. min.
Tevez has to leave the pitch with a bleeding nose. He was not fouled though.

95. min.
The Germans try with Odonkor, who've been successful a couple of times on his right side but now he is challenged by two Argentinians and loses the ball.

95. min.
Cruz gets booked.

97. min.
The Argentine are playing it safe, which could have to do with Riquelme not being on the pitch anymore.

98. min.
Ballack goes down in the box after a German free-kick but doesn't get the penalty he was fishing for.

100. min.
Neuville breaks on Argentine half but Lahm's cross moments later only finds Argentine players.

101. min.
Odonkor wins a corner for the Germans.

101. min.
Metzelder gets his head on the corner but it goes over.

103. min.
The Argentine try to combine their way into the box. It is the second time during the whole game! They're close though.

105. min.
First half of extra-time over.
Gonzalez gets the last chance but his shot goes high.

105. min.
Second half of extra-time!

105. min.
Tevez tries to surprise Lehmann with a shot from thirty five meters but the German goalie has no reason to be off guard.

107. min.
Mertesacker breaks and the Germans try a counter which ends just after half line.

108. min.
A corner for Argentine, who are the team to put pressure at the moment, is headed away by Ballack.

109. min.
Odonkor hits a cross into the box that bounces between the two German strikers just at the spot.

111. min.
Another Argentine corner! The South Americans are trying to make use of the Germans backing too far back.

112. min.
Odonkor nutmegs his defender and runs down the right but his cross is stopped by a leg.

113. min.
Coloccini tries a long shot. It is wide but not by far. Lehmann was there though.

114. min.
Friedrich gets booked.

114. min.
The cross bar.
Coloccini hits the cross bar with a balloon ball.

115. min.
Good chance for the Germans. After combining and hesitating around the box, Ballack hits a lovely ball to Odonkor who crosses in from the end line but Franco is there to snatch the ball.

118. min.
Tevez tries a shot from eigteen meters. It goes high.

119. min.
We're closing in on penalties!

120. min.
It's over! Penalties will decide the first quarter final.

If you planned to make coffe or fling something in the micro wave you better hurry up.

Kahn goes over to Lehmann and gives him his best!

Time for first penalty! Neuville against Franco!

Goal Germany

Cruz scores!

Ballack scores

Lehmann saves!!

Podolski scores

Rodriguez scores

Borowski scores!!!!

Lehmann holds another!!

Germany are through after Lehmann saves two penalties!