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Podolski puts hosts in last eight

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Podolski celebrates his second goal that left Germany firmly in command.

MUNICH, Germany -- Lukas Podolski struck twice in the first 12 minutes on Saturday as hosts Germany swept into the World Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over 10-man Sweden.

The 21-year-old striker scored after four minutes with a deflected drive and again eight minutes later with a precise finish from a clever pass by Miroslav Klose as the three-times winners took control.

Germany, performing with great power and belief and backed by extraordinary support, will meet Argentina in the last eight in Berlin on Friday.

Sweden had a man sent off and Henrik Larsson missed a second-half penalty on an afternoon they will wish to forget.

Stunned by the Germans' high-tempo opening spell, they were reduced to 10 men after 35 minutes when central defender Teddy Lucic was sent off.

The luckless Lucic, who with partner Olof Mellberg struggled to contain the movement and interchanges of Klose and Podolski, was dismissed for two yellow cards in eight minutes for fouls on Klose.

Sweden scrapped their way back into the game before the interval when Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with a low shot on the turn from eight meters, forced an athletic low save from Jens Lehmann.

But the Germans, buoyed by their two-goal blitz, were in command and this allowed Torsten Frings and Michael Ballack to dictate the pace and shape of their game from central midfield where the Swedes were mostly outnumbered.

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Unlucky Lucic is sent packing by a smiling Brazilian referee.

The opening goal was made by Klose who won a ball in the air, collected it again and turned past two defenders. His shot was blocked, but Podolski followed up and though Lucic dived to try to head clear the shot flew in.

The second came when Klose drew three defenders with a diagonal run and then played a reverse pass across the area for Podolski to fire in his third goal of the tournament.

Apart from the goals, the German fans in a 66,000 sell-out crowd at the Allianz Arena, enjoyed a series of near-misses by their team as they basked in warm sunshine and the 32 Celsius heat.

Sweden were awarded a harsh-looking penalty after 52 minutes when Christoph Metzelder made a late challenge on Larsson but the 34-year-old striker blazed his spot kick over the bar.

Ballack drove a 23-meter shot against Andreas Isaksson's left post as the Germans regained their composure but Sweden, to their credit, refused to give up and created more anxious moments before the end.

"The fans are carrying us, they are carrying us on a cloud," Klinsmann told reporters afterwards.

"The world can see that Germans are having a good time and know how to party. It's a blast."

Germany defender Philipp Lahm also credited the frenzied crowd for propelling his once-maligned team to one of their best matches in years.

"It's an indescribable feeling to run out in front of the crowd here," Lahm told reporters. "There's this incredible euphoria across the country and that's pushing us all on."

"Funnily we lost a little bit of rhythm after the sending off," said Klinsmann. "They repositioned themselves with 10 men and there were one or two critical situations because they have classy players like (Henrik) Larsson and (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic who can score a goal from nothing.

"There was just a slight thought that hopefully something won't happen, but on the whole it was fantastic the way the team played. The entire team are all there for each other. For us coaches its a pleasure to see.

"Sweden noticed that there was a team out there which has not only got a lot going for it from a playing point of view, it is also top fit. We can go at a high pace. We have not had an injured player for six weeks."

Of double scorer Podolski, Klinsmann said: "He's a very young fellow with a lot to learn still, but what he's achieved is great.

"Goals are everything for him. The inhibition and nervousness which must be there for a World Cup in his own country is gradually going - and Miro (Klose) helps him a lot, of course. It's not for nothing that half of Europe is after Klose. They can carry on like that."

Klinsmann believes Germany can match the free-flowing Argentinians if they also go through.

"We're fit, we can keep up this high pace - and we know that we can keep up with a side like Argentina, who are very fast. The Argentinians can come, we have no fear.

"We are definitely in a position to reach the semi-finals, and also the final. The team is maturer then it was at last year's Confederations Cup, and we were close to beating Argentina then. Mexico we beat. And we are hungry. We want to be there on July 9."

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