Germany start semi-finals against Italy
Germany want to give fans in the host country another reason to fill the streets with honking cars and waving flags with a win over Italy in Dortmund in the semi-final match against Italy. The Azzurri will have a difficult time getting past the Germans, who are riding a massive wave of public support after beating tournament favorites Argentina in a penalty shoot-out.

Line-ups:
Germany: 1 Lehmann (FC Arsenal/36/38) - 3 Friedrich (Hertha BSC/27/42), 17 Mertesacker (Hannover 96/21/29), 21 Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund/25/27), 16 Lahm (Bayern München/22/24) - 19 Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen/32/70), 5 Kehl (Borussia Dortmund/26/30), 13 Ballack (Bayern München/29/70), 18 Borowski (Werder Bremen/26/26) - 11 Klose (Werder Bremen/28/61), 20 Podolski (1. FC Köln/21/31) Coach: Jürgen Klinsmann Italy: 1 Buffon (Juventus Turin/28/66) - 19 Zambrotta (Juventus Turin/29/57), 5 Cannavaro (Juventus Turin/32/99), 23 Materazzi (Inter Mailand/32/31), 3 Grosso (US Palermo/28/22) - 16 Camoranesi (Juventus Turin/29/25), 8 Gattuso (AC Mailand/28/46), 21 Pirlo (AC Mailand/27/30), 20 Perrotta (AS Rom/28/30) - 10 Totti (AS Rom/29/57), 9 Toni (AC Florenz/29/23) Coach: Marcello Lippi Ref: Archundia (Mexiko)

Fifteen minutes to kick-off. The German streets are empty. The bars and homes are full. The country is expecting a TV-viewing record.

The Italian anthem is played. Italian Prime Minister Prodi is in the stadium.

And the German anthem. The players look extremely concentrated.

Flecks of blue are scattered in the sea of white dressed, German fans.

1. min.
Germans kick off.


2. min.
The Italians are first to go close to the box. They do so accompanied by a massive whistling orchestra from the German fans.

3. min.
Gattuso conceives the first foul against Podolski.

3. min.
Totti hits a free-kick from thirty meters that dips nicely but is still no problem for Lehmann.

5. min.
The Germans get a chance to combine in the otherwise very tight midfield. Ballack wins a free-kick.

7. min.
Klose goes in from the far left and passes Podolski who quickly flicks the ball over to Ballack. The German skipper waits a bit too long with his shot that ends up harmless.

9. min.
As expected both teams have started carefully, keeping the midfield cramped and trying to avoid taht the opponent gets a chance to reach the box.

11. min.
The Italians were given a couple of easy chances to cross the ball into the box.

12. min.
Italy try a counter but the two Italians meet the full four defense line and lose possession.

14. min.
A long ball from Grosso all along the left side has Toni off-side.

15. min.
A nice combination between Podolski and Klose almost has the German striker free with Buffon. In the following counter, Toni is one on one with Lehmann who wins the fight for the ball.

17. min.
Borowski wins Germany's first corner.

19. min.
The tempo is a bit higher now with both teams starting to pass the ball quicker, hoping to find their way in.

21. min.
Podolski tries a volley from the box line but the ball finds friends in the stands.

23. min.
The Italians had backed down too deep and suddenly had the Germans lined up just outside the box. After a bit of pinball, Buffon found himself with the ball.

24. min.
Pirlo hits a free-kick from right and Toni is not far from getting his head on it. First time that the German defense missed marking their man.

27. min.
Lahm makes a run around the Italian midfield and passes Schneider who takes the ball upto the box where he fires the ball into an Italian leg.

29. min.
Good free-kick position for Italy on the right side of the box. Pirlo hits it in and back to Totti whose shot gets deflected.

30. min.
Zambrotta dribbles past Metzelder and goes in from the left. He passes the ball to Toni on the near post. The shot is deflected to a corner.

32. min.
The Italians have managed to put pressure on the Germans for a couple of minutes now and are getting more and more time in the box.

34. min.
After an Italian mistake, the Germans come three against three. Klose passes to Schneider who shoots from the right side of the box. The shot is half a meter high.

35. min.
Another attempt at finding Schneider. This time deep inside the box on the right. The German midfielder tries to reach the ball for a volley but is too far away.

38. min.
It's starting to smell a bit like the mistake that both teams are waiting for is getting closer.

40. min.
Borowski gets booked.


41. min.
Pirlo hits a free-kick from the right to Camoranesi who is standing unmarked in the box. The header is good but high and wide.

43. min.
The Italians are the team who try harder at the moment with the Germans backing home deeper and biding their time.

44. min.
Kehl gets a cross in from the left but it's headed out.

45+1. min.
The Germans get a chance to counter but Borowski's long ball is too long and Buffon picks it up.

45+1. min.
First half is over.
Both teams are disciplined and careful but the Italians have definitely had it a bit easier to play their way into the box. It looks like another game in which the fatal mistake will decide the outcome.

45. min.
Second half begins.


46. min.
First chance is Germany's as Kehl gets a volley away from the box line. The ball goes wide though.

49. min.
Klose runs with the ball from the midline into the box where he goes between Gattuso and Cannavaro. Buffon is quick on his feet though and can cover the shot.

52. min.
The Germans have started stronger in second half with pace and a wish to take control.

54. min.
Lahm loses the ball to Camoranesi but runs after and wins it back to the crowd's applause.

56. min.
Metzelder gets Germany's second booking.


57. min.
It seems the initial German attempt at taking control has lost it's force. The game has levelled out and is much like what we saw in first half.

59. min.
Both teams are preparing substitutions it looks like. Perhaps after all hoping to end the game before extra-time.

61. min.
Klose plays the ball from the right along the boxline to Ballack who extends it to Borowski but the shot is stopped.

63. min.
Schneider fools his defender on the right side and chips the ball to Podolski in the box. The striker turns and shoots. A good chance and good play by the Germans.

65. min.
Lahm goes down the left side and passes the ball back to Ballack who tries to gently cross it in but the ball is headed away.

67. min.
The Italians make a mistake on midfield and it opens up for a counter but Borowski's ball along the pitch from the left of the box is snapped up by the Italian defense.

69. min.
The Italians have not had much in the last ten minutes. The last attempt was a poor pass that saw Camoranesi off-side outside the box because the pass came too late.

72. min.
Borowski goes off for Schweinsteiger in the game's first sub.


74. min.
Toni leaves and makes room for Gilardino.


76. min.
Zambrotta gets a cross in from the right which is not far from Gialrdino's head. That could have been dangerous.

79. min.
The teams are not ready to take any risks but perhaps fatigue will help bring forward a mistake that could open things up.

81. min.
Podolski wins a free-kick just outside the box.

82. min.
Ballack takes the free-kick and shoots it hard but high.

83. min.
Odonkor goes on for Schneider.


84. min.
Can the fresh midfielder who made a difference in Germany's game against Argentina do it again?

85. min.
Perrotta accidentally gets punched by Lehmann as the two go for the ball in the German box. Before hitting Perrotta, Lehamann manages to fist away the ball though.

88. min.
Camoranesi gets booked.


90. min.
Free-kick for Germany close to the left corner flag.

90+1. min.
Schweinsteiger gets his head on the ball which continues through the box to no one.

90+3. min.
Odonkor gets a good cross in but there's only one German in the box and the ball is nowhere near.

90+3. min.
Second half is over. EXTRA-TIME!


90. min.
First extra-time half is on.


90. min.
Iaquinta has gone on for Camoranesi.


91. min.
Gilardino hits the Goal Post!
The Italian striker more or less walks into the German box, dribbles past Ballack at the near post and hits his shot on the post.

93. min.
Zambrotta hits the cross bar!
The Italian fires away from eighteen meters and the ball goes straight on the bar. The Germans have had their share of luck in the last two minutes.

95. min.
Lahm wins a free-kick that results in a corner.

96. min.
Kehl hits a shot from afar that knocks out Materazzi for a minute.

98. min.
Good free-kick position for Germany on the left of the box

100. min.
The game has mainly been controlled by the Italians who play in their typical style, wheras the Germans have not been able to find the game of previous matches.

103. min.
Perrotta goes out for Del Piero!
Can the Italian icon change this ever slower and more boring game?

105+. min.
Del Piero goes into the box and gets a cross in.

105+. min.
Best German chance!
Podolski is free in front of goal after a cross but the striker heads the ball meters wide and hides his face in the palms of his hands.

105+. min.
First half of extra-time is over.


105. min.
Second half of extra-time starts.


107. min.
Iaquinta runs into the box and wins a corner which Lehmann has no problem collecting in mid air.

108. min.
Lahm gets the opportunity to shoot close to the box line but his shoot ends up looking more like a balloon cross.

110. min.
Neuville goes on for Klose.


111. min.
Podolski gets the ball on the right edge of the box and fires a shot that Buffon saves with one hand. One of few real chances of the game.

113. min.
Nice combination by the Italians. Iaquinta heels the ball to Zambrotta in the box who passes Del Piero coming in with speed but the striker gets a poor hit on the ball.

115. min.
The last minutes have been an endless counter attack going from goal to goal. At last we've gotten to see some open football.

118. min.
Italy scores!!


120. min.
Italy again!!! Del Piero.


120+. min.
Italy win and go to the final on sunday!!


Grosso scored the first after a pass from Pirlo. Grosso was left alone in the box on the right side and shot without hesitating past Lehmann. Del Piero's goal was a counter where the Italian was free with Lehmann and made no mistake. Join DW-WORLD.DE tomorrow for the second semi-final.