Argentina and USA were both dumped out of the Davis Cup at the quarter-final stage on Sunday as the supposed minnows continued to surprise.

Last year's beaten finalists Argentina bowed out 3-2 to the Czech Republic, losing in the fifth and final rubber, while the USA - winners in 2007 - went down in four rubbers to Croatia.

The results came just a day after Israel had beaten 2006 champions Russia to reach the last four for the first time in their history.

The Argentines managed to force a deciding rubber in Ostrava, but the Czechs called Radek Stepanek in to face Juan Monaco and he delivered with a straight-sets win.

Stepanek, who missed Friday's singles to rest a knee problem but starred in Saturday's doubles triumph, claimed a 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 6-2 win to spark celebrations on the CEZ Arena.

"It was the biggest effort I have ever done in Davis Cup," said Stepanek.

"I had to really dig deep to step on the court. After the doubles I was 90 per cent sure that I'm not able to play singles, but I was assured by the doctors that it was not going to damage my knee.

"I had to lie to myself that it didn't hurt."

Juan Martin Del Potro had earlier kept Argentina's hopes alive with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 defeat of Tomas Berdych.

The Czechs will now travel to meet Croatia in September's semis.

The Croatians, leading 2-1 going into the final day in Porec, clinched victory when Marin Cilic beat James Blake 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-2.

Blake threatened a comeback when he recovered from a break down in the third set to push the contest further, but Cilic responded well and hit back to seal the win.

"I think this was one of the best matches I've played," Cilic told the tournament's official website.

"Today I played a lot of it on adrenaline, the crowd was carrying me throughout the match. I really played well, I felt good on court, moved really well, and even though I lost the third set I felt I was playing well and my tactics were perfect, so I kept going and eventually broke him."

On the other side of the draw, Israel will travel to defending champions Spain after they battled past Germany 3-2.

The Spaniards needed a deciding rubber after Philipp Kohlschreiber levelled the tie a 2-2 with a 6-4 6-2 1-6 2-6 8-6 win over Fernando Verdasco.

However, former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero replaced Tommy Robredo for the fifth rubber against Andreas Beck and delivered the tie-clinching point.

Ferrero was rarely troubled en route to a 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory in Marbella, although he did need two attempts to serve the match out.

The shock results elsewhere leave Spain odds-on favourites to retain the trophy.

Israel and Russia split Sunday's dead rubbers in Tel Aviv, the Russians getting on the board in the tie when Dudi Sela quit his clash with Igor Andreev and Harel Levy then beat Igor Kunitsyn to make the final score 4-1.