Reyna tracks back as Klose breaks (Allsport)

By PA Sport Staf

Germany were branded lucky and told they should have had defender Torsten Frings sent off for handling on the line as they marched into the World Cup semi-finals.

But they did not and, whether they did enough to deserve to go through, they reached the next stage.

The USA were the better side for long spells but still did not get what they deserved as their fantastic World Cup adventure came to an end.

As for English fans watching, Germany are still in there fighting while England are on their way home.

The irony should not be lost on a day when a team thrashed 5-1 by England last September, and lucky to qualify from the same group as Sven-Goran Eriksson's team, stride into the last four with England's dream over.

But then that is what we expect from Germany.

They survived a blatant hand ball on the line by Werder Bremen defender Frings when he blocked a shot from Crystal Palace defender Gregg Berhalter.

That turning point came early in the second half, a mere 10 minutes after Michael Ballack had headed Germany ahead in a first period that only the brilliance of Oliver Kahn kept his side in the game.

He produced a string of fine saves, notably from Landon Donovan, and broke the US hearts.

US defender Tony Sanneh summed up how the American players felt.

He said: "They got away with a blatant hand ball on the line, that should have been a red card and a penalty.

"They were lucky, we were the better side and believe we deserved more than that."

Berhalter agreed. He said: "Games are won and lost in such moments.

"I thought it was a hand ball but I'm not going to blame the referee because he might not have seen it, but it's still upsetting."

Coach Bruce Arena refused to be dragged into the uproar.

He said: "I'm told on the replay it looked like hand ball, but these things happen in the game.

"I'm more disappointed with the fact that we had so many chances and didn't convert any, that's why we lost."

In that first period Kahn - winning his 50th cap - was the only person who saved Germany from defeat and sent them into their 10th World Cup semi-final, where they will play South Korea or Spain on Tuesday's in Seoul.

Arena added: "We went for it, created more chances, and they converted one of their few.

"We showed the world we can play and anyone who watched the game could see we deserved to be here.

"We have not fully arrived yet but the future is bright and I hope we are back in 2006.

"If we'd had a break we would have been in the semi-finals. I'm proud of my team and we demonstrated to the world that we belonged here.

"Their team fell to the ground too much, I didn't think that we were that strong a team! But that is what happens with the big boys.

"The big countries still get more of the big calls than the smaller ones.

"I felt we were better, fitter and quicker. I just hope the way we have played will have an impact in our country."

German coach Rudi Voller accepted his team were fortunate.

He said: "I'm utterly happy we are through but not happy with the manner that we achieved it.

"But we are in the semi-finals and it is the first time in 12 years. We have turned round the disaster of two years ago in Euro' 2000.

"Prior to the World Cup people said we had no chance and wouldn't survive the group stages. We have proved them all wrong.

"But I accept we were fortunate at times, and that's thanks to Oliver Kahn, and we will have to play much better to survive in the semi-finals."

One header from Ballack - on his way to Bayern Munich - was the difference between the sides.

The German playmaker said: "Our strength is from set pieces, this time it worked and it's a great feeling.

"We had some luck but we are more than happy to have advanced to the semi-finals.

"The US lads put great pressure on us, they are fit and ran and ran.

"They certainly deserved to be in the quarter-finals. Many people thought it was going to be an easy game, but the States proved that that theory wrong.

"Oliver Kahn made some fantastic saves, and we are happy to have such a great goalkeeper."