THE DAY REPLAYED: It was a fantastic match with a fantastic conclusion. Maxi Rodriguez plucked an extra-time goal out of the footballing heavens to propel Argentina into the quarter-finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ where they will face the host nation.

The South American team and Diego Maradona, a legendary star but now the team's most excitable fan, were jumping for joy as they saw off the wholehearted challenge of Mexico who pushed them all the way before succumbing 2-1 . Germany had a far easier time of it as they dismissed Sweden 2-0 .

All Argentina's big guns were back on duty in Leipzig after Jose Pekerman had taken the opportunity to leave some of them on the bench for the final group fixture. Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez, the young shooting stars who made such an impression against the Netherlands, were forced into a waiting game but their time would arrive because Argentina, so inventive, so strong, were still in need of something extra and the golden boys can offer just that.

This wasn't the same Mexico side who had failed to score against Angola and lost to Portugal. Something mighty stirs when Latin America locks horns with North America and they shocked the two-times champions by seizing an early lead, a free-kick routine springing Rafael Marquez free at the far post. Within four minutes Argentina were level, Hernan Crespo arriving to meet Juan Riquelme's corner and diverting the ball in as the striker's boot and the head of Jared Borgetti arrived together. Crespo wheeled away to take the acclaim from his team-mates, joining the ranks of those like Ronaldo who have scored in four successive FIFA World Cup appearances.

It set the agenda for an absorbing contest, Mexico staying with their opponents just as they had done in Hanover, almost a year to the day, in the semi-final of the FIFA Confederations Cup. On that occasion it went to a penalty shoot-out and it was beginning to look that way again.

Goal of the Day
Maxi Rodriguez – another dazzling Argentina goal

It appeared only a wonder goal would break the deadlock and so it proved. Messi, who had come on along with Tevez and Pablo Aimar switched play cleverly to the left where Juan Sorin's cross was an example of deadly accuracy. Having tamed the ball on his chest, Rodriguez produced a volley that was both breathtaking and unstoppable.

It was tough on Mexico who rose to the occasion with remarkable tenacity and skill. The final whistle hardly brought them a new sensation: this was the fourth successive time they have made their exit at the Round of 16.

Four hours earlier, Sweden were not expected to fall apart as easily as they did. They are a team that have become reknowned for their durability and refusal to give up lost causes. The start to the game mocked those pretensions.

Player of the Day
Miroslav Klose – not a scorer this time but a fine creator

The Scandinavians were a goal behind after four minutes, another high-class effort from Jurgen Klinsmann's team, superbly crafted by Michael Ballack's forward prompt and Miroslav Klose's swift turn. When Klose's shot was parried by the resourceful Andreas Isaksson, Podolski converted.

The thousands of painted faces inside the stadium in Munich proclaiming their allegiance to the black, red and yellow flag - and the millions more watching in Fan Fest venues across Germany or in their homes - broke out into wide smiles at that point. There was no need for that to change during the rest of what turned out to be 90 relatively comfortable minutes.

Moment of the Day
Jurgen Klinsmann jumps for joy

Something went badly awry with the Swedish gameplan because they permitted Germany the freedom to dictate the football match of their choosing. On 12 minutes another sublime Klose-Podolski combination put them 2-0 ahead, Klose demonstrating that he possesses nimble feet with a neat sway and reverse pass to his younger sidekick who swept the ball home imperiously. In the dugout Klinsmann let go of his emotions, a study of combined pride and delight. He's a coach who has always believed in his team and he now knows all his countrymen are believers as well.

Sweden missed a penalty when Henrik Larsson blazed over the bar. By that time they were operating with ten men, defender Teddy Lucic having been ordered off just before the break following a second yellow card. Like Mexico, it was not their day. But for Germany and Argentina the dream remains alive - and their showdown in Berlin on Friday promises to be an occasion to savour.