Germany and Argentina drew 2-2 in their final Confederations Cup group match on Tuesday, putting Germany into the semi-finals as Group A winners and their opponents through as runners-up.
The outcome was a relative disappointment for the hosts, who led twice and were set to end a 13-match, five-year run without a victory against top-level opposition until Esteban Cambiasso hit Argentina's second equaliser with 16 minutes remaining.
The two sides will now face opponents from Group B, where Mexico are already qualified with six points and Brazil can join them by avoiding defeat to Japan in Cologne on Wednesday.
Germany, whose last win against a top-ranked nation was against England in October 2000, went ahead through Kevin Kuranyi after 29 minutes, before man of the match Juan Roman Riquelme equalised for Argentina with a blistering free-kick four minutes later.
Gerald Asamoah restored Germany's lead with a well-taken goal under pressure in the 51st minute before Cambiasso levelled with a superb shot from outside the box that took a slight deflection.
Second bookings for German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Argentine defender Walter Samuel mean both will be suspended from their semi-finals at the weekend.
Germany topped the group on goal difference from Argentina after both finished with seven points. Tunisia, who beat Australia 2-0 in Leipzig, were third on three points and Australia finished bottom with none.
RINGING CHANGES
Little could be read into Tuesday's result, the second time the teams have drawn 2-2 in Germany this year after a friendly ended with the same scoreline in Dusseldorf in February.
Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann changed his side from the one that beat Tunisia 3-0 on Saturday, while Argentina's Jose Pekerman also re-shuffled his pack for a game in which the hosts made a better start and the South Americans a stronger finish.
Germany's opening goal came after Argentina failed to clear a Thomas Hitzlsperger free-kick which the Germans were fortunate to get. Although Samuel had bundled Kuranyi off the ball, Kuranyi kept his balance and play continued.
However Slovak referee Lubos Michel booked Samuel, costing him his place in the semi, and Argentina were doubly punished by the goal.
Hitzlsperger's free-kick slammed into the wall, and was then played back in by Sebastian Deisler before eventually running out to Fabian Ernst whose cross was forced home by Kuranyi.
Germany's elation was short-lived as four minutes later Ernst tripped Javier Zanetti just outside the German penalty area and Riquelme's curling right-footed effort flew past Tino Hildebrand.
Asamoah, roundly booed by the crowd for a poor performance against Tunisia at the weekend, justified Klinsmann's faith in him with a well-taken goal after a perfect set-up by Kuranyi, firing home from an acute angle under German Lux's outstretched hand.
However Cambiasso's effort was the pick of the four, always swerving away from Hildebrand to leave the teams deservedly level at the end.
More from rediff