Berlin ? A World Cup that many expected to end in an Argentina-Brazil final took a decidedly Eurocentric turn over the weekend.

Led by Germany’s penalty-kick shootout upset of Argentina on Friday, and France’s Zinedine Zidane-inspired surprise of defending world champion Brazil on Saturday night, European teams claimed all four spots in the tournament’s semifinals for the first time since 1982.

Three of the four semifinalists from that tournament – Germany, France and Italy – again find themselves 90 minutes away from reaching the World Cup final.

Germany plays Italy today in Dortmund, while France meets Portugal, making its first World Cup semifinal appearance in 40 years, Wednesday in Munich.

“The semifinal is the hardest step to climb – not just for us, but for everybody,” France coach Raymond Domenech said. “The pressure is extremely high because of what’s at stake. You’re one match from the final, but you have achieved nothing. You can see the summit, but you’re not up there, yet.”

All four teams, however, have more in common than just their current view. Each were dismissed by critics both home and abroad in the weeks leading up to a tournament where England figured to be Europe’s best shot at breaking up an Argentina-Brazil final.

Germany's Torsten Frings, right, exercises behind coach Juergen Klinsmann during a training session. Frings won't be able to play in today's World Cup semifinal against Italy after being disqualified for throwing a punch in the quarterfinals.

Germany’s largest newspaper sounded a “WORLD CUP ALARM!” on its front page eight days before the tournament opener after a series of inconsistent and discouraging results under Jurgen Klinsmann. Reports of Italy’s growing match-fixing scandal were seemingly interrupted only by criticism of Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi’s tactics. Portugal couldn’t overcome its dismal World Cup history, France its age, critics charged.

Even before Germany knocked off Argentina, nationwide skepticism had been replaced by Klinsmania, the nation’s place among the game’s superpowers restored.

“The world is scared of the German national team again,” Germany team director Oliver Bierhoff said. “We gained respect for playing a fast, direct, aggressive stay and for always holding our nerve.”

The chief beneficiary of Klinsmann’s insistence on playing a very un-German, wide-open style has been forward Miroslav Klose, who leads the tournament with five goals.

Germany is a vastly different side than the one that lost, 4-1, to Italy in March but still expects the same old Azzurri today. If anything, historically conservative Italy is even more cautious under Lippi.

“It has been playing the same way for 60 years, it won’t give up that philosophy now,” Germany assistant coach Joachim Loew said. “They wait for their chance.”