7/1/2006
Paul Radford

BERLIN (Reuters) – Champions Brazil and France top the bill at the World Cup on Saturday when they meet in the competition for the first time since their memorable clash in the 1998 final in Paris.

This time the two will be fighting for a place in the semi-finals and a meeting with either England or Portugal, the team now coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari, who guided Brazil to their fifth title at the last World Cup four years ago.
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June 26, 2006
FIFAworldcup.com

After dinner on Wednesday, several members of Carlos Parreira’s Brazil squad took time out from preparing for their forthcoming showdown with France to enjoy a spot of virtual football action on their games consoles.
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6/30/2006
Mike Collett

BERLIN (Reuters) – Players and officials from both teams clashed on the pitch and an Argentine substitute was given a red card after Germany beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup on Friday.

Although German coach Juergen Klinsmann and his Argentine counterpart Jose Pekerman played down the incident, FIFA are likely to take a very dim view of it especially as TV pictures were beamed to a huge global audience.
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Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:50 PM BST
Simon Evans

HAMBURG (Reuters) – Luca Toni struck twice in the second half as Italy beat Ukraine 3-0 on Friday to set up a World Cup semi-final against hosts Germany.

The Italians were clearly superior to a Ukraine side making their first appearance at a finals, although Oleg Blokhin's team twice hit the woodwork early in the second half.
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6/30/2006
By Rex Gowar

BERLIN (Reuters) – Juan Roman Riquelme came to the World Cup as a potential player of the tournament but his slow march off the pitch with 20 minutes to go foreshadowed Argentina's quarter-final defeat to hosts Germany on Friday.

Argentina led 1-0 from defender Roberto Ayala's headed goal from Riquelme's corner and the South Americans looked like winning in 90 minutes.
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6/30/2006

Okay Robby, Maria, and the rest of Argentina fans,

Time to cheer up. This is a good one to make you smile

Friday June 30, 2006
Paul Jump, The Gaurdian

Jose Pekerman says he will quit as coach of Argentina after his team's 4-2 defeat on penalties to Germany.

"This has come to an end and I will certainly not go on," he said after the game. "You have to make a decision and I'm convinced I've done everything in my reach, and it's time to look for something else.
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June 30, 2006

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentines were stunned, some with tears in their eyes, in packed cafes and bars across Buenos Aires on Friday after Argentina lost 4-2 to Germany in a penalty shootout in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Silence fell across the normally bustling Argentine capital after the match, bringing a painful end to weeks of World Cup fever that had gripped the country.
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June 30, 2006
BARRY WILNER, AP Sports Writer

BERLIN — Racked with exhaustion, its leader hobbled by cramps and fatigue, Germany summoned its last ounces of energy.

Showing there's no end to their resourcefulness and tenacity at this World Cup, the hosts beat Argentina 4-2 in a shootout Friday after a grueling 1-1 draw. Moments after he sat on the pitch at the end of a scoreless extra time, captain Michael Ballack made a penalty kick to help dispatch an old rival — and one of the tournament's fellow glamour teams.
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June 30, 2006
DAN BURCH, STATS Writer

The pressure of being the host nation at this World Cup hasn't seemed to affect Germany so far.

Facing high-powered Argentina in the quarterfinals might be a bit more intimidating.

The squads reprise their World Cup history when they meet in Berlin on Friday in a classic matchup between two historical powers.
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