Germany sent Argentina tumbling out of the World Cup at the quarter final stage for the second World Cup in succession, this time thoroughly overpowering them in a 4-0 victory.
Miroslav Klose's double brought him level with his country's all time record World Cup goalscorer, the great Gerd Muller, who also has 14 goals at the finals.
At just 20 years of age, Thomas Mueller, is one who has every chance of one day competing with Klose for the record. His header in the third minute was the perfect start and was his fourth goal of the tournament.
Diego Maradonna has, in the last month, gone from being considered a madman who should not be given the reigns as an international coach, to a revered figure who magically dissolves pressure from his players and fills them with a deep sense of calm. This defeat may return him to square one.
Joachim Loew, in contrast, has always been happy in the background. But, the style of play from Germany at this tournament, and also four years ago when he was assistant to Jurgen Klinnsman, will surely earn him job offers from all over Europe no matter what the result of his next two games.
It took just 59 seconds for Germany to lay down a marker. Javier Mascherano picked up the ball in his own half and was run down, Audi A4 style by Klose. After a week of harsh words directed from the German camp towards South America, they were now ready to talk on the pitch.
Just a minute later they had the lead, Nicolas Otamendi fouled Lucas Podolski on the left wing, giving Sebastian Schweinsteiger the perfect angle to swing in his cross which was met by Mueller. The glancing header hitting the shin of Sergio Romero before crossing the line.
Schweinsteiger looked capable of conducting the remaining 84 minutes however he pleased. He and fellow field marshal, Sami Khedira, overpowered Mascherano, the lone rebel in the Albiceleste engine room.
But as Messi dropped deeper in search of possession, Germany drifted closer to their own goal. Manuel Neuer was called upon for the first time; midway through the first half he raced out to smother Messi's through ball before Carlos Tevez could capitalise.
The European side still threatened on the counter attack, from Gabriel Heinze's mistake Mueller drove into the box via the right hand channel with the presence of mind to pull back to Klose, but the veteran striker would have to wait before adding to his goals tally, sidefooting over the bar from just behind the penalty spot.
The score remained 1-0 at the break as Argentina began to exert more pressure. Gonzalo Higuain tapped into an empty net, but the effort was ruled out as Carlos Tevez had collected the ball in an undeniably offside position before squaring to the prolific number nine.
Messi, unsurprisingly looked the most capable of unlocking the door. But, as the game became stretched he, Tevez and Higuain, were all guilty of trying to dribble through the wall of black shirts when passes were available. As they tried desperately to force the issue, the opposition looked ever calmer and more composed.
The fate of Maradonna's star studded squad was sealed on 67 minutes, the tenacious Khedira won a tackle on the edge of the area and, while he lay on the ground, played in Podolski. Displaying the clarity of thought which characterises this incarnation of Germany, he looked up and squared to Klose, allowing him a tap in to make the score 2-0.
The game was up and Schweinsteiger gave even more weight to his case to be player of the tournament. The Bayern Munich midfielder breezed past a flurry of tackles in the penalty area before reaching the byline and pulling back for Arne Friedrich, who managed to finish with his left foot. Brazil may have gone home but Samba football is still here.
Mesut Ozil had been been a peripheral figure compared to his previous match-winning display's. But he helped put the icing on the cake, floating a left foot cross onto the right foot of Klose, whose assured first touch was a side foot volley to the corner of the net.
Messi, had one last effort in stoppage time but a shot straight at Neuer summed up his second disappointing Copa Mundial and denies him of a chance to playing against his teammates in the Spanish squad
Argentina (4-3-3): Romero, Otamendi (Pastore '70), Demichelis, Burdisso, Heinze, DiMaria (Aguero '76), Mascherano, Maxi, Messi, Higuain, Tevez.
Germany (4-3-3): Neuer, Lahm, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Boateng (Jansen '72), Khedira (Kroos '78), Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Muller (Trochowski '83), Klose, Podolski
Referee: R Irmatov (UZB)
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