AN UNBELIEVABLE QUARTER-FINAL ROUND

Goals, dramatic games and penalty shootouts - the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup provided plenty of talking points for fans of the beautiful game.

Here are just some of the highlights:

Germany marches on: Just when you think you have the Germans beat, they somehow manage to turn the tables and escape with a victory. Germany came from behind to secure a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Argentina on Friday in Berlin.

Down 1-0 and staring elimination squarely in the face, the Germans pulled off the miracle comeback when Miroslav Klose scored an equalizer with 10 minutes left in regulation and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann made two saves in the shootout.

"We have a strong belief in Jens Lehmann," Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said. "As a former striker, I don't want to face him, and he proved that."

The tension on the field was palpable with players often shoving and pushing each other after the referee's whistle. All the while, the Berlin crowd buzzed like a horde of bees, jeering every touch of the ball by Argentina and urging every move forward by Germany.

"It's a thriller, like a Hitchcock movie. Obviously you're the happiest person in the world if you win it, and the saddest if you lose," added Klinsmann.

Don't cry for me, Argentina: Pegged as one of the favourites to win it all, Argentina was unlucky to run into a hot German team that came into the game riding a four-game unbeaten streak.

The contest quickly developed into a bruising affair with plenty of fierce tackles and physical play. A brawl nearly erupted at the end as several Argentine players surrounded the referee and took swings at German officials before order was quickly restored.

"It was a very emotional game, worth a quarter-final," Argentina coach Jose Pekerman said. "Argentina played like a favourite, played well."

Pekerman, whose contract expires after this year's World Cup, announced he was stepping down as coach of Argentina.

"For sure I am not going to continue," said the 56-year-old Pekerman, who took over the team in September of 2004 from Marcelo Bielsa.

Luca Toni, Italy silence their critics: Luca Toni scored his first two goals of the tournament and Italy put forth a convincing and consummate performance in earning a 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Hamburg on Friday.

"I wanted to score one. I managed two," Toni said. "It's a wonderful feeling."

Toni and his Italian teammates had points to prove coming into the quarter-final contest.

Toni won the European Golden Shoe award as the continent's top marksman this past season - the Italian scored a club-record 31 goals with Fiorentina - but he went goalless through the team's first four games of the World Cup.

"We couldn't understand why he hadn't scored until now, so it's great news," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said of Toni.

After needing a controversial penalty shot in injury time to defeat Australia in the second round, the Italians were full value for their victory against Ukraine, dictating the pace of the game and producing far more dangerous scoring chances.

Italy, renowned for closing up shop and falling into defensive posture as soon as it takes a lead, continued to play attacking and stylish soccer for the full 90 minutes, clearly intent on silencing their many critics.

No shame for Ukraine: Ukraine impressed in its first World Cup appearance, advancing to the quarter-finals.

In the quarter-finals, Ukraine worked hard in midfield, but its counter-attacking style was unable to pry open the steely Italian defence. Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, who played the last seven seasons in Italy with AC Milan, was a non-factor.

Ukraine didn't come close to penetrating the Italian penalty area in the first 45 minutes, but it did nearly net an equalizer early in the second half. Andriy Gusin forced a finger save from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who tipped the Ukrainian's header onto the post.

Soon after, Luca Toni scored to give the Italians a 2-0 lead and it was all over.

"I am disappointed that we are out, but this World Cup has been a great achievement for us," Ukraine coach Oleh Blokhin said. "The class of the Italian team was just greater. They have better players."

World Cup ecstasy for Portugal: For the first time in 40 years, Portugal is through to the semifinals of the World Cup.

Ricardo Pereira made three spectacular saves and Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive goal to lead Portugal to a dramatic 3-1 penalty shootout victory over England on Saturday in Gelsenkirchen.

The teams played to an exciting 0-0 draw following 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time filled with tension. Star forward Wayne Rooney was red carded in the 62nd minute, forcing England to play with only 10 men for the rest of the game.

Portugal last made it to the final four in 1966 when it lost to eventual champion England.

"It was great," Pereira said. "I managed to stop three [shots]. I'm really happy."

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is undefeated in 12 World Cup matches. Brazil won all seven of its games en route to winning the 2002 World Cup with Scolari in charge and the Brazilian coach is 5-0 with Portugal in Germany.

"It was an electrifying marvellous game with two great teams," Scolari said. "The game had everything in the good sense. Only penalties decide who would go on. I have great respect for England, who even with 10 men made us sweat and run even more."

Becks steps down as captain: A day after his country crashed out of the World Cup, David Beckham stepped down as captain of England.

Fighting back tears, Beckham read a statement to a news conference at England's training camp on Sunday, stressing that he wanted to continue playing for England.

"I have lived the dream," he said. "I am extremely proud to have worn the armband and been captain of England, and for that I will always be grateful."

Beckham said he felt "the time is right to pass on the [captain's] armband as we enter in a new era," referring to the fact that Steve McClaren is taking over as coach from Sven-Goran Eriksson who is stepping down.

The midfielder, who plays in the Spanish league with Real Madrid, said he decided "some time ago" to quit as captain after this World Cup.

Beckham made his national team debut in September 1996 against Moldova when he was 21. He was made captain after Alan Shearer retired from the national team following Euro 2000. Beckham has appeared in 94 games for England during his career, 58 as the team's captain.

The top candidates to replace Beckham as England captain are Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, and defender John Terry and midfielder Frank Lampard of Chelsea.

France eliminates Brazil: After struggling through the first round, France appears to be peaking at the right time.

Thierry Henry scored the winning goal in the 57th minute to lift France to a stunning 1-0 victory over Brazil Saturday in Frankfurt.

"We played well and this was not a lucky victory," Henry said. "We had the tactics in place for the match and we stuck to them and never gave up."

The win sends the French through to the final four, while Brazil, the reigning champion and overwhelming favourite at the start of the competition, heads home after losing for the first time in 12 World Cup games.

Brazil was aiming to become only the second South American side to win the World Cup on European soil - the Brazilians turned the trick in 1958 in Sweden. Instead, Brazil's elimination means the World Cup will return to Europe for the first time since 1998.

Brazil entered Saturday's contest having won a record 11 straight games at the World Cup, including four in a row in Germany, and had not lost since the 1998 final.

Brazil's conqueror on that fateful day? France.

Ronaldinho fails to shine: This was supposed to be Ronaldinho's time to shine.

Four years ago, it was Ronaldo and Rivaldo who led Brazil to it fifth World Cup title, with Ronaldinho playing a supporting role.

The FC Barcelona playmaker came into the 2006 World Cup regarded as the best player on the planet, the two-time reigning FIFA world player of the year. The Brazilian sensation looked anything but, as he didn't score a single goal and failed to impress.

Ronaldinho called Brazils quarter-final elimination one of the greatest disappointments of his career.

"The Olympics and [the World Cup] are competitions that are very important and every player would like to do well in them," he said. "It's very sad when we can't."