Order restored as Ballack averts crisis

Germany reached the World Cup semi-finals with an entertaining 1-0 victory over the United States on Friday courtesy of Michael Ballack’s first-half header and great goalkeeping by Oliver Kahn. Ballack rose to glance home a Christian Ziege free kick six minutes before half-time to send his country into the semi-finals, or equivalent, for the 10th time in 15 tournaments, where they will play Spain or South Korea. But they were pushed all the way by the underdog US team, who showed no respect for the three-times winners and created some great chances of their own, only to be foiled by Kahn.

American coach Bruce Arena had made a lot of noise in the build-up to the game about Germany’s physical superiority and his players showed their intent not to be overwhelmed as they flew into their challenges from the first whistle.

They also played the more creative football and midfielder Landon Donovan lived up to Arena’s description of him as oblivious to fear by twice breaking through the German defence. First, after 17 minutes, the 21-year-old cut in from the right and fired in a sharp low shot that forced Kahn into a full length diving save.

After half an hour a defence-splitting pass by Claudio Reyna sent him through again but the giant Kahn was on hand once more to save well at the near post.

(Reuters)