CAPE TOWNL: Germany steamrollered Argentina 4-0 on Saturday to reach the World Cup semi-finals with goals from Thomas Mueller, a brace from Miroslav Klose, winning his 100th cap, and Arne Friedrich seeing off Diego Maradona`s men.

Three-times Germany now face either Spain or Paraguay in the last four with Uruguay meeting Holland in the other semi-final.

Mueller, who picked up a booking to rule him out of the semi, nodded in a Bastian Schweinsteiger free-kick after just three minutes.

Although Lionel Messi strove to raise the Argentinians the Germans continued to dominate as Klose tapped in after Mueller combined with Lukas Podolski on 68 minutes.

With Chancellor Angela Merkel watching in the stands, Friedrich added the third with his first for his country in the 74th minute after a surging run and pass from Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Klose volleyed home the fourth in the 89th minute as an outplayed Argentina disintegrated to notch his 14th World Cup goal, level with German legend Gerd Mueller and just one behind record holder Ronaldo.

BDST: 2155hrs, July 3, 2010