Miroslav Klose

Miroslav Klose will finally get his chance to test Argentina's defense today.

Germany and Argentina meet in a World Cup quarterfinal in Berlin and Klose will lead the host's attack having missed the teams' previous two meetings.

He goes into the game as the tournament's leading scorer with four goals.

"We know they are a top team. They were considered the favourites before the World Cup but now they have the bad luck that they have to play us in the quarterfinals," Klose said. "The shape I am in, I don't need to worry about any defenders. I am ambitious and I always go for the maximum." Germany's players have spoken about their firm belief that they will beat Argentina and maybe go on to win their country's fourth World Cup.

"If you put them under pressure for 90 minutes, they make mistakes," Klose said.

The Werder Bremen striker has other qualities too. He did not score in the 2-0 second-round win over Sweden, but set up both goals. Klose praised Argentina's strikers Javier Saviola and Hernan Crespo. "Saviola is very strong with the ball, and Crespo you don't see the whole match and then he snatches the decisive goal," Klose said.

Germany and Argentina played twice last year and both games ended in 2-2 draws. In both games, Germany were without Klose and captain Michael Ballack.

"We nearly beat them, without Ballack and Klose. With the two of them, we are stronger, we have more possibilities. We have grown as a team since then and we've become very confident," assistant coach Joachim Loew said.

In the zone

Both Ballack and Klose are nursing minor injuries, Ballack a slightly swollen ankle and Klose tendinitis in his foot, but Loew said they will be fit to play today.

After winning their first four games, the Germans are optimistic, although few people believed before the tournament that the host nation could go beyond the quarterfinals.

"We really believe that we can win the title," Ballack said. "We haven't been that confident in a long time. We are in a zone right now, everything is going our way." Even the pressure of grown expectations and the euphoric fans is not bothering the players. "On the contrary. We are flourishing," Ballack said.

Klose, 28, was born in Poland and came to Germany with his parents when he was 8. His partner on Germany's strike force, Lukas Podolski, also was born in Poland. Podolski, however, is not much of a threat in the air, so it will be up to Klose and Ballack to try to dominate in an area where Argentina's defense lacks in height. Ballack also will have to do a lot of defensive work, seeking to disrupt Argentina's midfield as it tries to build up a move forward.

Klose led Bundesliga scoring last season with 25 goals in 26 games. He overcame several injuries, including a cheek bone fracture. He required surgery that left him with two small metal plates his cheek, which will be removed after the World Cup.