From the ensuing corner, Geremi returned the ball and captain Rigobert Song was guilty of a glaring miss, putting a clear header wide after another mistake in the German defence.

That was the cue for Germany to lose their discipline, Michael Ballack quickly following Dietmaar Hamann into the referee's book.

And after a flurry of reckless challenges by Germany, Ramelow's dismissal came as little surprise, the Leverkusen defender receiving a second yellow for a cynical trip on the sprightly Samuel Eto'o.

Voeller would have been more than relieved to hear the half-time whistle and he took the opportunity to introduce Bode into the attack, replacing the ineffectual Carsten Jancker.

Cameroon dominated the first half...after we were leading 1-0 things got better for us and we began dominating the match Rudi Voeller

Cameroon reaction Germany reaction

And four minutes later, Bode repaid his coach's faith, the 32-year-old sprinting onto a Klose through-ball and calmly slotting the ball past Boukar Alioum.

The goal calmed Germany's nerves and had the opposite effect on Cameroon, who still could not take advantage of their numerical advantage.

As the minutes ticked by, they became increasingly desperate and the game was marred by a series of stoppages as referee Antonio Lopez Nieto broke the record for the number of bookings in one World Cup match.

And after Suffo's swift departure, Michael Ballack glided down the right flank and Klose was on hand to head home his cross.