Lukas Podolski was Germany's two-goal hero as the hosts cruised into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a comprehensive 2-0 victory against an outclassed Sweden side in Munich.

Podolski struck twice in the opening 12 minutes and Germany could have had several more goals before the Swedes had Teddy Lucic dismissed for two bookable offences before half-time.

The second half was a turgid affair compared with the opening 45 minutes although Henrik Larsson blasted a penalty over the bar to cap the Swedes' afternoon.

Germany took the lead with their first real attack in the fourth minute. Miroslav Klose burst into the area and, although Andreas Isaksson blocked the striker's effort, the ball broke to Podolski who slotted the ball home - via Lucic's head.

After Larsson had fired a presentable chance into the side-netting, Germany doubled their advantage in the 12th minute, Podolski firing a left-footed effort past Isaksson after being sent free by Klose.

Germany were rampant and could easily have added to their tally before the break - Isaksson denying Michael Ballack several times and also saving efforts from Bernd Schneider, Klose and Torsten Frings.

The game was effectively all over in the 35th minute when Sweden were reduced to ten men. He was booked for tripping Klose before being dismissed after tugging the same player's shirt.

Germany strolled through the second half but were almost made to pay for their lackadaisical attitude when Larsson was upended by Christoph Metzelder in the 53rd minute. However, the veteran former Celtic and Barcelona striker blazed his spot-kick way over the bar.

Ballack saw several more long-range efforts either saved by Isaksson or fly over the crossbar after the break. The closest he came to scoring was in the 56th minute when he made space for himself before firing in a 25-yard right-footed shot that was flicked on to the post by Isaksson's fingertips.

With six minutes left Schneider's deflected shot also hit the woodwork but Sweden were by then a well-beaten outfit.

They will be heading home while the hosts go on to a last-eight encounter in Berlin on Friday.