Italy take on the surprise package from Down Under!

The Socceroos are already further than they have ever been before in the World Cup and face Italy, a team which knows what it's like to go all the way. It promises to be a physical game with a distinct whiff of an upset in the air so stay tuned with DW-WORLD.DE's Live Ticker for all the action as it happens.

Italy are looking for revenge in this encounter. Not against Australia, whom they have only played once in recent memory, but against Socceroos' coach Guus Hiddink. The Dutchman was at the helm of the 2002 South Korean team that knocked out the Squada Azzurra on a Golden Goal by Ahn Jung Hwan in a controversial quarter-final. Italy would like to pay back the travelling manager for that controversial loss.

Today's line-ups for the match Italy vs. Australia
Italy (4-3-3):

1-Gianluigi Buffon; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 23-Marco Materazzi, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 3-Fabio Grosso; 20-Simone Perrotta, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 8-Gennaro Gattuso; 7-Alessandro Del Piero, 9-Luca Toni, 11-Alberto Gilardino

Australia (4-5-1):

1-Mark Schwarzer; 23-Marco Bresciano, 2-Lucas Neill, 3-Craig Moore, 14-Scott Chipperfield; 13-Vince Grella, 5-Jason Culina, 4-Tim Cahill, 21-Mile Sterjovski, 20-Luke Wilkshire; 9-Mark Viduka

Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)

12th man del Pierro to start
Italy coach Marcello Lippi decides to go without the offensive midfielder Francesco Totti and inserts a third striker, none other than veteran star Alessandro del Pierro. Guus Hiddink returns goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer into the line-up after his risky one-match experiment with Zeljko Kalac. Croatia game hero Harry Kewell will sit out at the beginning as he is still laboring with groin problems.

The other question that must be answered is whether the Italian defense, which has been the backbone of the team, can withstand the loss of Alessandro Nesta, who also is injured.

The sides are getting ready to enter the stadium here in Kaiserslautern. Striker Mark Viduka is at the head of the Socceroos. Captain of the Azzurri is Fabio Cannavaro.

The national anthems have been sung. The players move out onto the pitch. Will this be Guus Hiddink's last game as coach of Australia -- he is moving onto Russia after the tournament -- or will he pull another rabbit out of his hat and surprise the Italians?

Italy are wearing their traditional blue jersey with white shorts. Australia are as usual in yellow with green shorts. The Azzurri are playing from left to right on your computer monitors. We're ready for the kick-off.

0. min.
This round of 16 match has begun in Kaiserslautern.


2. min.
Australia have had control of the ball from the beginning but the two teams are really just getting a feel for each other at the moment.

3. min.
Australia with an attempt
The first chance! After some nice passing by the 'Roos, Chipperfield crosses one from the left but Tim Cahill can only head it weakly towards the goal.

3. min.
Italy strikes right back -- Luca Toni's header goes just wide right of Mark Schwarzer's net. Goal-kick Australia.

5. min.
Australia, bolstered by their rousing performance against Croatia in the last Group F match, are just happy to be in the knock-out stage -- and showing no respect for the three-time World Cup champs.

8. min.
Luca Toni with another nice move in the Aussie penalty box, showing why he is one of the most-feared strikers in the Serie A -- he has been the bright spot on the Italian side in the early stages of this contest.

10. min.
Italia! Italia! cheers rising from the throats of the crowd at Fritz-Walter-Stadion. The Tifosi however have had little to be extremely happy about as Australia have been the better team in the first 10 minutes.

13. min.
Fortunately this game has been a fair one so far. Italy played the USA here in Kaiserslautern that was fiercely fought, three men having been sent off. Only last night's Portugal-Netherlands match exceeded that game in its brutality.

14. min.
Zambrotta is pincered between two Australians on the right sideline -- but it was a fair tackle, exactly the way the game should be played.

16. min.
One-quarter of an hour is over and the initial enthusiasm that drove both sides has wilted a little under the warm conditions.

20. min.
The Australian supporter section is by no means small here and have provided the necessary support and given the deserved applause when their 'Roos have made the right moves -- and those haven't been too few up to now.

21. min.
Golden chance for Italy!
Schwarzer has to do a volleyball-like set to push the ball over his cross bar on a Gilardino shot. The ensuing corner-kick for Italy bears no fruit.

22. min.
Luca Toni just inches away from his first World Cup goal. Only Schwarzer's foot hinders the ball from hitting the net.

22. min.
Vince Grella booked for complaining


23. min.
Viduka gets his head on a free-kick but it's no threat for Gianluigi Buffon.

27. min.
This match is starting to get a little more physical. The tackles are coming sooner, and a tad bit harder. The crowd 46,000 are seeing some fair, if not excellent soccer, that is not being constantly interrupted by a foul.

29. min.
"No matter what happens, we will never give up!" is the motto of the Aussie players. They have no reason to give up so far -- in fact, they have been the slightly better team. But just barely.

30. min.
Chipperfield with a blast!
After a yellow card on Grosso, the direct kick is sent into the box. A couple of head balls later, Chipperfield launches a low line drive -- Buffon is on the spot and can smother the ball. Great chance for Australia there!

32. min.
Australia have had a clear advantage in ball possession -- 57% in the first half-hour.

34. min.
Luca Toni! The Florentine take a beautiful ball on his chest in the Australian box, turns but his shot is blocked. Toni is the only bright spot for Marcello Lippi's Squadra.

37. min.
Where is Alessandro del Piero? Lippi may have been disappointed with Francesco Totti's play in the group phase and sat him on the bench, but the Juve striker del Piero hasn't added much to the quality of the Italian game.

39. min.
The Italians are resorting to long, through balls now but that doesn't seem to be the solution to cracking the Australian defense.

42. min.
Craig Moore with a not so friendly how-do-you on Luca Toni. The striker is still lying down but ref Cantalejo saw no reason to blow the whistle on that hard tackle.

44. min.
We're nearing half-time and in the last 15 minutes, the Australians have taken it down a notch. Both teams have had one or two excellent chances. But the goalies have hindered either side from going ahead.

45. min.
Wilkshire with a fine ball from the left but Tim Cahill cannot just reach it.

45. min.
Half-time
+1 Referee Cantalejo blows the half-time whistle. You may not want to write home about this game but it has been exciting nevertheless. Italy and Australia are even.

46. min.
Before this game, Marcello Lippi commented "It's a false modesty," making reference to Australian statements that their chances were small to advance. Yet, after 45 minutes, Lippi's remarks have been true. Any team can still win this round of 16 contest.

46. min.
One substitution at the start of the half
The second-half is under way. Alberto Gilardino stays in the locker room for Italy. Vincenzo Iaquinta, who scored against Ghana, is in.

48. min.
Little happening at the beginning, so those fans who went to get refreshments have not missed much -- until Luca Toni lets loose a ball that flies high over the goal from close range.

49. min.
Tim Cahill booked but the reason is unclear


50. min.
First big development
Marco Materazzi took down Marco Bresciano just outside the Italian box. Ref Cantalejo judges harshly and sends the defender to the showers.

51. min.
Bresciano takes the free-kick but it's no danger for Buffon. But Italy now have a large mountain to climb. Their 10 men must beat a solid Australia.

54. min.
Suddenly the underdogs Australia are shoved into the favorites position. How will they deal with the newly-found "pressure" to win?

55. min.
Italy reacts
Their best man so far, striker Luca Toni, makes room for a true defender, Andrea Barzagli.

58. min.
Buffon saves
Scott Chipperfield again with a brilliant opportunity but Gianluigi Buffon rebuffs the shot from some 11 meters out on the left side.

61. min.
Italians must be wondering what it is the matter when they face Guus Hiddink. Just as in 2002, they are down to 10 men. Then, Francesco Totti was red-carded and the South Korean won. Will history repeat itself?

61. min.
Luke Wilkshire is cautioned


63. min.
Counterattack! Italy has a man advantage but Gattuso's cross to del Piero is too imprecise and the ball flies out of bounds. Italy must capitalize on such opportunities to win.

66. min.
Direct kick for Italy from 25 meters
Milan midfielder Pirlo steps up to take it. He shoots, but the ball lands on the top of the net.

69. min.
Materazzi's ejection has lowered the intensity of the game dramatically. Australia don't seem to know how to use their one-man advantage and their supporters are growing a little impatient. Italy, well, they are waiting patiently for an Aussie mistake.

74. min.
Italy, despite being at a numerical disadvantage, don't look so. Australia's 11 still cannot deal with their referee-given bonus. Francesco Totti is ready to come into the game for Alessandro del Piero. And that gives the Italian supporters something to cheer about.

75. min.
15 minutes to go in regulation time. Australia have shot four of their five goals at this World Cup in the final quarter of an hour. Doing that now would mean quite possibly victory for the 'Roos.

78. min.
One of the first shots in goal in quite a while but it's a dribbler from Marco Bresciano. Buffon easily picks up the ball.

80. min.
Noticable in this second-half is the tendency by Australia to go through the middle to get the go-ahead goal. Finally, a corner kick for Hiddink's side. It's a good one. Kewell gets his head on it cleanly but the ball flies far over the crossbar.

81. min.
Striker John Aloisi for an inconspicuous Mile Sterjovski
Will the sharpshooter from last year's Confederation Cup make the difference for Australia?

84. min.
After over 30 minutes with a man advantage, Australia are increasing the pace of the game. Bresciano with another good run but his shot is harmless. What must be done by Australia to win?

85. min.
World-class save by Buffon
A cross from the left, Viduka is close but Buffon pounces on the ball before the Middlesbrough striker gets to it.

87. min.
Mass confusion in the Australian box. Six or seven Australian defenders are completely uncertain what to do. A clearing attempt ends up on the foot of Perrotta but his shot flies straight into the hands of Schwarzer.

88. min.
Gattuso is booked after fouling Chipperfield


89. min.
We're heading to extra-time. Just minutes to go. Probably little stoppage time will be added on.

89. min.
John Aloisi with a bicycle kick -- but he only whiffs through the air at Fritz-Walter-Stadion.

90. min.
Zambrotta cautioned after delaying play by taking the ball after a foul
+1

90. min.
Penalty kick for Italy!
+3 Lucas Neill loses a challenge in the box and takes out Grosso who was just looking to take the fall.

90. min.
Italy wins in the final seconds!
+4 Francesco Totti takes the ball. He approaches and hammers the ball past Schwarzer who was without a chance.

Australia, oh Australia. The world can only cry for you after that heart-stopping performance. The Aussies did everything right to beat Italy, but the three-time world champions have luck on their side and the 10-man Italians win 1-0 in stoppage time!