Germany's progress through the World Cup continued with a fortunate win over a courageous USA team.
The USA dominated large chunks of the first-half and Oliver Kahn pulled off a series of world-class saves to keep his team on level terms.
Michael Ballack then scored the only goal of the game against the run of play late in the first half - and his team held on to secure their place in the last four.
Germany will now meet the winner of Saturday's match between Spain and South Korea in Tuesday's semi-final.
The USA have enjoyed a superb tournament and can go home proud of their achievements, even if their progress has gone largely unnoticed in the States.
Bruce Arena's team exceeded all expectations in reaching the last eight and - on the balance of chances created - were very unlucky not to score against Germany.
The USA started positively, pushing forward and asking early questions of the German defence.
Landon Donovan was clean through on goal but unluckily penalised for a foul on Christoph Metzelder and Torsten Frings made a vital clearing header with Brian McBride lurking.
Donovan was particularly threatening and broke down the left after 17 minutes before forcing a brilliant save from the superlative Kahn.
Minutes later the San Jose Earthquakes forward was through on goal but was again thwarted by Kahn.
Donovan's lay-off was smashed goalwards by Eddie Lewis from the edge of the area after 36 minutes - but again Arena's team were denied by Kahn.
Germany offered little in the first half but dealt their opponents a harsh lesson in the value of converting chances into goals.
Minutes after disappointingly heading wide from a Bernd Schneider corner, Ballack nodded home a curling Christian Ziege cross to give his team a scarcely deserved lead.
Miroslav Klose hit the post with half-time looming.
It would have been harsh in the extreme had the USA trailed 2-0 at the break.
The States were extremely unfortunate not to equalise - or at least be awarded a penalty - early in the second half.
Kahn spooned Gregg Berhalter's shot into the path of Tring, who appeared to palm the ball clear on the German goal line.
The USA continued to take the game to Germany, with Kahn clearing from Tony Sanneh and saving from Donovan, while Claudio Reyna almost lobbed the goalkeeper from the perimeter of the centre-circle.
But try as they might, the States could find no way through Germany's superbly organised defence and had to settle for glorious failure.
Germany: Kahn, Linke, Kehl, Metzelder, Frings, Hamann, Ballack,
Schneider (Jeremies 60), Ziege, Neuville (Bode 79),
Klose (Bierhoff 87).
Subs Not Used: Asamoah, Baumann, Bohme, Butt, Jancker, Lehmann,
Ramelow, Rehmer, Ricken.
USA: Friedel, Sanneh, Mastroeni (Stewart 80), Pope, Berhalter,
Hejduk (Jones 65), O'Brien, Reyna, Lewis, Donovan,
McBride (Mathis 58).
Subs Not Used: Agoos, Beasley, Cherundolo, Keller, Llamosa,
Meola, Moore, Regis, Wolff.
Booked: Lewis, Pope, Reyna, Mastroeni, Berhalter.
Referee: H Dallas (Scotland).