Herr Flick's mighty Mannschaft brings tears to Ronaldo's eyes

Well the first match of the knock-out stages, the quarter final between Michael Ballack's Germany and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal (copyright Clive-twatting-Tyldesly), continued the tournaments fantastic ratio of great games and goals, with the Germans ominously reaching the semis.

With Jogi Löw (pronounced "Yogi Lurve") banished to the stands, for his bizarre altercation with the fourth official in their final group match gainst Austria, Germany, led by assistant coach Herr Hansi Flick, eased their way past the much fancied Portugeezers, 3-2.

Germany opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, with a superbly worked team goal, top-scorer Lukas Podolski swapping passes with Ballack on the left before squaring for Schweinsteiger (who's girlfriend is pictured above, lucky bugger) to hit a low shot past Ricardo. 

Only four minutes had elapsed before Germany had a second, this time Goldenboy Ronaldo neglecting his defensive duties to leave an unchallenged Miroslav Klose a simple header from man-of-the-match, Schweinsteiger's free-kick.

Portugal did manage to give themselves a lifeline just before half-time when the generally useless striker and contender, alongside Fernando Torres, for the most feminine looking player of the tournament, Nuno Gomes, slotted home after goalkeeping mentalist Lehmann had saved Ronaldo's shot.

After the re-start Germany continued to look the stronger of the two teams as Portugal wasted possession with a succession of long range efforts that only troubled the crowd.

Whilst attacking play, especially lightening quick counter-attacks, has been a pleasing feature of this tournament, it's also been notable for appallingly bad defending particularly at set-pieces and this ultimately proved to be Portugal's undoing with Ballack heading home from another Schweinsteiger free-kick in the 62nd minute.

In Portugal's defence there was more than a hint of a shove by Ballack on Paulo Ferriera which was unseen by the referee, a point made vociferously by "Big" Phil Scolari on the touchline, although he did look more like he was doing a "Just like that" Tommy Cooper impersonation.

Portugal did make a bit of a game of it and gave the German's a tense finish when deadly ex-Spurs hitman, Helder Postiga, headed in a Nani cross, however Germany held on to progress through to the semi-finals to potentially set up a re-match with Croatia.

For all the brilliant play of Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Croatia and Russia, it's starting to look as if the traditionally slow starting powerhouses of Germany and Italy could well sneak it to the final, I certainly wouldn't bet against it.