Hosts Crash Out to Double Whammy - Germany 0 Italy 2

Home: World Cup Finals: Germany 2006: Knockout Stage: Germany vs Italy

Tuesday, 4th July
Hosts Crash Out to Double Whammy

Semi-final Match

Previous Encounters:
Of the recent encounters between the two teams, Italy have the slight advantage; although most of the games were friendly matches.

In previous meetings at the World Cup Finals, West Germany (as they were in those days) lost two and drew two with Italy: Spain 1982 World Cup Final (1:3); Argentina 1978 2nd Group Stage (0:0); Mexico 1970 Semi-final (3:4 aet - with the game 1:1 after 90 minutes, five goals were scored in extra time); and Chile 1962 Group Stage (0:0).

The Match:
No cattanaccio today as both teams were prepared to attack and counter attack, despite the heat.

No early goals though.

Germany's best chance came on the quarter hour, as Miroslav Klose tried to knock down a high ball to Lukas Podolski but Fabio Cannavaro sped in to clear the danger.

Then at the other end, Jens Lehmann scrambled at Simone Perrotta's feet and sprawled around trying to keep out any follow up. It took a few attempts before the Arsenal keeper could smother the ball.

Then just after the half-hour, Germany again with a real threat; as Miroslav Klose and Bernd Schneider linked up to try and profit from Andrea Pirlo's mistake. Gianluigi Buffon wasn't really tested though, as Schneider's shot flew over the bar.

Half-time: (0:0)

Italy tried to slow the tempo down after the break, then snapped into gear again.

In the 50th minute, Miroslav Klose tried to run through Gennaro Gattuso and Fabio Cannavaro but Gianluigi Buffon was right out to the edge of his area to clear.

Then at the other end, Jens Lehmann had to be sharp to stop Fabio Grosso. Some of the German fans started to look concerned; as if their party had been gate-crashed by unwelcome guests.

Then on the 62nd minute, Lukas Podolski turned in the area and tried a snap-shot. The angle was tight and an alert Gianluigi Buffon had it covered.

With twenty minutes to go, until the end of normal time, and still no substitutions, it looked like the two teams might be thinking about the long haul.

Then J�rgen Klinsmann played his first card and brought on some fresh legs; Bastian Schweinsteiger on for Tim Borowski.

Marcello Lippi immediately followed suit, with Luca Toni leaving the field for Alberto Gilardino.

With eight minutes to go, Germany were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area; Ballack blasted the ball over the wall and over the bar.

Two minutes later, Jens Lehmann ran off his line to make a flying save; before Simone Perrotta knew what hit him.

Into Extra Time.

Lippi made his second substitution: Vincenzo Iaquinta replacing Mauro Camoranesi.

Italy hit the woodwork twice in the first minutes of extra-time: first Alberto Gilardino beat Michael Ballack, to try and sneak a shot between Jens Lehmann and the post (hit the post) and then moments later, Gianluca Zambrotta hit the bar when the ball came out of the area to him, from a corner.

As Italy always go out on penalties (like England) and Germany always seem to win methodically from the spot, Lippi played his last card to try and pinch the game in the last fifteen minutes: Alessandro Del Piero coming on for Simone Perrotta.

With just over a minute before the penalties, Italy scored.

The German defenders crowded their penalty area but were caught flat-footed when Andrea Pirlo moved right along the edge of the area and fed Fabio Grosso; who unleashed a curling shot past the airborne Lehmann; what were all those defenders doing?

The German dream was dealt a double whammy, when Alessandro Del Piero ran on to Alberto Gilardino's flick and side-footed the ball into the top corner of the net.

Der Spiel ist Aus.

Final Score:
Germany 0 - Italy 2
After Extra Time

Goalscorers:
0:1 Fabio Grosso (119)
0:2 Alessandro Del Piero (120)

Teams

Germany: (Captain Michael Ballack)
1 Jens Lehmann; 3 Arne Friedrich, 16 Philip Lahm, 17 Per Mertesacker, 21 Christoph Metzelder; 5 Sebastian Kehl, 13 Michael Ballack, 18 Tim Borowski, 19 Bernd Schneider; 11 Miroslav Klose, 20 Lukas Podolski.

Italy: (Captain Fabio Cannavaro)
1 Gianluigi Buffon; 3 Fabio Grosso, 5 Fabio Cannavaro, 19 Gianluca Zambrotta, 23 Marco Materazzi; 8 Gennaro Gattuso, 10 Francesco Totti, 16 Mauro Camoranesi, 20 Simone Perrotta, 21 Andrea Pirlo; 9 Luca Toni.

Referee: Benito Archundia

Substitutions:
73 Mins (Germany) - 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger on for Tim Borowski
74 Mins (Italy) - 11 Alberto Gilardino on for 9 Luca Toni
83 Mins (Germany) - 22 David Odonkor on for 19 Bernd Schneider
91 Mins (Italy) - 15 Vincenzo Iaquinta on for 16 Mauro Camoranesi
104 Mins (Italy) - 7 Alessandro Del Piero on for 20 Simone Perrotta
11 Mins (Germany) - 10 Oliver Neuville on for 11 Miroslav Klose