CERRITOS, CA (smt) -- Host 1A-Germany (4-0-1) rallied to tie 1C-Argentina (3-0-2) in the 80th minute on Miraslov KLOSE's WC-leading 5th goal. A strategic gridlock happened for 30 minutes of OT sending the match to the PK Shootout. GER GK Jens Lehmann made his second save in the PSO sending the Germans into the Semis for the 11th time, winning the PSO 4-2. Both teams were 3-for-3 in WC PSOs prior to today. GER found itself behind for the first time (409 minutes) but continued to apply pressure up until the OT.

1E-Italy (4-0-1) seems to continue to get disturbing news (this time the attempted suicide by Juventus manager Gianluca PESSOTTO) before every match but once again put it aside to easily outshine 2H-Ukraine (2-2-1), 3-0, with Luca TONI scoring twice. ITA is now undefeated in its last 23 matches (14-0-9) and it's 6th minute goal ended UKR's 315-minute shutout string.

UNFORTUNATE: What should have been the traditional exchanging of jerseys after GER's win turned into a near melee as it looks like ARG's Leandro CUFRE (bench) got a red-card for starting the fracas... UKR got shut out for the 3rd time and scored just one goal in their last 3 matches...

DON'T CRY FOR ME ARG: What the USA lacked, the ARG's showed with the emotion of losing, with grown players crying on the pitch (especially Esteban CAMBIASSO who missed the final PK)... until the USA players realize what a big deal the WC is, they will never do well in it...

Seven entries went 2-for-2 with 17 getting GER correct and 18 picking ITA. SWEET LOU (6th, 109 pts, can't finish higher than 3rd) and SOURCE (10th-Tied, 100, now eliminated) paid dearly with their gutsy UKR pick. THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA is still on top (118) followed by HOFBRAU FUTBAL (who will always trail THE MM) with 116 pts. They have a 5-pt lead over the next wave of entries with PELE (111) making a move to 3rd.

ARG's loss eliminated seven and with UKR's loss, just 16 entries have a chance for money. And only five can win 1st. THE MM has 31 of 32 possible winning outcomes (96.9%) with HOFBRAU FUTBAL at 78.1%. In the race for first, THE MM and ELASTIGIRL (4th-T, 110) combine for 75% of the first place possibilities (FC CALONGE (7th, 106), PELE, and JJ (17th-T, 97) are the others with a chance for the $220 top prize). Five more joined MIREAL (44th, 33) in going 0-for-the-Final-Four.

WC STATS: 58 matches (13 ties)... 137 goals (2.36 per game)... 26 Red Cards (4-TRI, 14-TOG, 15-UKR, 17-POL, 21-SCG, 22-ANG, 25-ITA, 25-USA(2), 26-CZE, 39-MEX, 38-SCG, 38-CIV, 41-CZE, 44-CRO(2), 44-AUS, 48-TUN, 49-SWE, 52-POR(2), 52-NED(2), 53-ITA, 55-GHA, 58-ARG); team with advantage (14 goals for, 1 against (53-ITA))... 15 PKs (11/15) (15-ESP (G), 24-POR (G), 26-GHA (LP), 28-CRO (S), 31-ESP (G), 39-POR (G), 39-MEX(H), 38-CIV(G), 38-CIV(G), 42-GHA(G), 44-AUS(G), 48-UKR(G), 49-SWE(H), 53-ITA(G), 56-ESP(G))... Scoring first: 37-8-7 (12-JPN, 14-TOG, 31-TUN, 34-CRC, 38-SCG, 43-JPN, 50-MEX, 56-ESP)... Shutouts: 42 (6 0:0 ties)... Leading at the half: 27-4-3 (12-JPN, 14-TOG, 31-TUN, 38-SCG)... Both teams scoring in the first half: 12 (1-GER-CRC 2:1, 7-MEX-IRN 1:1, 25-ITA-USA 1:1, 22-NED-CIV 2:1, 34-CRC-POL 1:1, 39-POR-MEX 2:1, 38-CIV-SCG 1:2, 42-GHA-USA 2:1, 43-JPN-BRA 1:1, 44-CRO-AUS 1:1, 50-ARG-MEX 1:1, 56-ESP-FRA 1:1)... Own goals: 3 (3-PAR, 25-ITA, 36-TRI)... ET/OT: 3 (50-ARG-MEX 1:0, 54-SUI-UKR 0:0, 59-GER-ARG 0:0)... PSO: 2 (54-SUI-UKR 0:3 [3+], 59-GER-ARG 4:2 [4])