Germany coach Joachim Loew has hailed his team's "unimaginable" 4-0 World Cup quarter-final demolition of Argentina as a performance worthy of champions.

Germany stormed into the semi-finals on Saturday with ruthless display over Diego Maradona's men as striker Miroslav Klose edged towards becoming the tournament's greatest ever goal-scorer.

Germany now face Spain in Durban next Wednesday with a place in the final at Johannesburg's Soccer City on July 11 at stake.

It was the third time at these finals that rampant Germany had scored four goals in a match while Argentina superstar Lionel Messi once again failed to reach the heights expected of him.

A third-minute goal by Thomas Mueller gave Germany a 1-0 lead, before the three-time champions turned the screw after the interval.

Klose, winning his 100th cap, netted in the 68th minute, centre-back Arne Friedrich scored his first for his country six minutes later before Klose completed the rout with an 89th-minute volley which gave him a 14th World Cup goal, just one behind Ronaldo's record of 15.

German coach Joachim Loew got the better tactically of a bewildered Maradona as the men in black defended doggedly and attacked in numbers.

"My team showed great resolve, a great willingness to win and it wasn't just a high-level victory, but a true champions' performance," said Loew.

"We really turned in an incredible showing.

"Scoring four goals against Argentina you just have to say that that was class. And we closed down Messi very well - without resorting to fouls, so that was great.

"We really stepped on the gas in the second half and played a liberated style of attacking football.

"This result and the amount of goals we scored was almost unimaginable before the game."

Argentine coach Diego Maradona said his team was devastated but admitted Germany controlled the game.

"We studied Germany well and defined exactly who was playing where but from the first cross they got a goal and suddenly it was a different match," said Maradona.

"We made it easy for them. They had more ideas and better control of the ball. They took advantage of the opportunities they had.

"But this does not taking away from my belief that the result does not correspond with what happened on the pitch."

He was keen to pay tribute to his players, and added that he would consider his own future in the days ahead.

"I'm still proud to be leading these players and I'd like to publicly thank them, as well as the technical staff," he said.

World footballer of the year Messi was tightly marked by Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger as Argentina's star-studded side failed to shine.

The only blot on Germany's copybook was Mueller's first-half yellow card for handball which sees him suspended for the semi-final.

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