Photos: Dream over for Masch and Maxi

Javier Mascherano's aspirations of captaining Argentina to World Cup glory are over after Germany sent Diego Maradona's men crashing out of the quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory.

In perhaps the most stunning result of the tournament so far, Germany fired a clear statement of intent with a comprehensive rout of one of the competition favourites.

Mascherano and clubmate Maxi Rodriguez both retained their places in Maradona's starting XI, but the Germans made a blistering start to proceedings at the Green Point Stadium and duly took the lead inside three minutes.

Bastian Schweinsteiger's wicked in-swinging free-kick from the left was glanced over the line by Thomas Mueller with goalkeeper Sergio Romero caught out of position.

It should have been 2-0 moments later as Mueller strode through the Argentinean defence before cutting the ball back for Miroslav Klose, who uncharacteristically blazed over the crossbar.

Argentina slowly began to find their way into the contest, though the Germans remained a threat on the counter-attack.

Maradona's troops raised the tempo of their play in the opening exchanges of the second period as they poured forward in an attempt to find a leveller.

Still, the mercurial talents of Lionel Messi were failing to trouble Manuel Neuer's goal - and Germany doubled their advantage on 68 minutes when Lukas Podolski teed up Klose for a close-range tap-in after more good work by Mueller.

Soon after, they confirmed a place in the last four as the eye-catching Schweinsteiger waltzed through the Argentina defence to set-up Arne Friedrich for his first international goal. 

Klose volleyed home a fourth late on to seal a 4-0 win and the Germans will now meet either Spain or Paraguay in the semi-final next Wednesday evening.

Here are a selection of photos from today's game.