"We're not thinking of getting to the penalties," Pekerman said when asked if he already had five names in mind if a shootout were necessary to decide Friday's match in Berlin.

Pekerman told a news conference that although Germany have home advantage, both teams go into the game as favourites.

"We are facing a team with a lot of goal power who are quick to go from defence into attack," he said.

"And that's how they defend, they retreat very quickly with their midfielders."

"If we dominate up front we may be short of space, if we sit deep we'll be a long way from goal. We have to be intelligent and orderly, that's why it's important to get to the match in the best shape to develop that idea.

"It's true that Germany are very good shooting from middle and long distance and we'll have to prepare for that over and above the game we want to play," he said.

Asked if the winners of the Berlin match could consider their way was clear to the title, Pekerman said: "Obviously, we're playing a big game between two title favourites and it's a shame that one of them won't go further even after doing good things at the World Cup.

"But we need to be careful because there are other good teams. There's France ... and Portugal-England is another important match, without even mentioning Brazil, who were favourites before the start and continue to be so."

Pekerman was not happy to consider that Argentina had achieved their objective in reaching the last eight.

"I've always said we have to fight to be the champions. I thought that with the junior teams and also as a fan, we mustn't think of anything else," said Pekerman, who won three World Youth Cup titles with Argentina's under-20s.

Pekerman added that the match would be settled by the football displayed by two evenly balanced teams that can both be regarded as favourites.

"We give no importance to the refereeing," Pekerman said when asked what he thought of the appointment of Slovakian match official Lubos Michel.

"I want to emphasise that we are very happy here in Germany, enjoying the World Cup ... and that puts us in a position of respect (towards our hosts) and this (match) will be resolved on the pitch, playing football," he told a news conference.

"Germany have done very good things in the Klinsmann period, a renewal with many new players, an attacking style that is producing great matches for them.

"This has to be said, and the same for Argentina, who always go out to play. The truth will be revealed on the pitch."

Pekerman, speaking on the 20th anniversary of Argentina's second and last world title in Mexico, said his team would try to honour the memory of the side captained by Diego Maradona.

"More than ever, we will honour that title," Pekerman said. "Because we know just how difficult it is to get to the title.

"We also honour the title of 1978," he added, referring to Argentina's first World Cup victory on home soil.

"And we salute all the good teams Argentina have had, with and without titles.

"This team has signs of those teams," Pekerman said referring to his own players. "They way they play, the positions some of the players occupy.

"They are trying to keep the history going. In each one of these lads there is a bit of that history."