The Hindu : Sport : Germany confident, but history points to Italy

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Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006

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Germany confident, but history points to Italy

BERLIN: Italy and Germany played one of the most memorable games in World Cup history but it might be too optimistic to expect another when they clash in Tuesday's semifinal in Dortmund. Still, with some exciting strikers on show, fans could get a treat from two teams with three titles each.

World Cup history speaks for Italy, but Germany is playing at home, at its favourite stadium in the country. The team has never lost at Dortmund's noisy stadium and has been held to a draw only once in 14 games.

"We like going back to our favourite stadium," said German coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

"It's not just my stadium but it has become our stadium," said Borussia Dortmund defender Christoph Metzelder.

"It's really motivating to come to Dortmund and play the semifinals. It will be a match Germany hasn't seen to date. I hope we can exploit the atmosphere of the stadium," he added.

Klinsmann's young team may need all the support it can get. Italy won't be without friends, drawing support from its considerable community in Germany.

Germany has never beaten Italy in four World Cup matches, including two draws. At the 1970 semifinal in Mexico, Italy won 4-3 in extra-time in one of the World Cup's most dramatic games.

They also met in a final, in 1982, when Italy won 3-1, their most recent World Cup match. Italy also leads the all-time series 13-7, with eight draws.

Growing in confidence

Germany began the tournament with relatively low expectations. But Klinsmann's team — like many of the previous German sides — has grown during the tournament and his men go into the semifinal full of confidence.

"We are hungry for more," Klinsmann revealed.

LETHAL MARKSMEN: The odds will be on Germany's prolific goalscorer Miroslav Klose to find the net again when the two teams clash in the first semifinal. — PHOTO: AP

His team had a tougher road into the semifinals, only getting past Argentina on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time. Italy cruised past Ukraine 3-0 and has conceded only an own-goal.

Italy's toughest obstacles in reaching the semifinals have come from home. The Azzurri have persevered amid a Serie A corruption scandal and the grave condition of former player Gianluca Pessotto, who was hospitalised in Turin after falling out of a window.

"I think, if anything, that scandal has welded the team together," said German assistant coach Joachim Loew. "I think the scandal will work to their favour, as ironic as that may sound. That scandal has generated team spirit," he added.

Stars getting fitter

Germany's stars, captain Michael Ballack and striker Miroslav Klose, both injured their calves against Argentina.

Klose didn't finish the match and was replaced after scoring the equaliser in the 80th minute while Ballack played on throughout the extra-time.

Klose has scored five of Germany's 11 goals and is the tournament's top scorer. "They are getting physiotherapy and both will be fit and able to play on Tuesday," Loew said on Sunday.

Germany called off Sunday's practice session, saying the team would have a fitness session instead. The team has not trained since Friday's game, except for a recovery session on Saturday.

Italy defender Alessandro Nesta is almost sure to miss the game because of a thigh injury.

Tests on Nesta's leg showed improvement but his chances of playing against Germany are "very remote," team spokesman Antonello Valentini revealed on Sunday. Nesta missed Italy's last two games.

In their last meeting, a friendly in Florence in March, Italy won 4-1, a defeat that nearly cost Klinsmann his job.

"We are not thinking of that now at all," Loew said. "We are a different team now."

Likely line-ups:

Germany: 1-Jens Lehmann, 3-Arne Friedrich, 21-Christoph Metzelder, 17-Per Mertesacker, 16-Philipp Lahm, 19-Bernd Schneider, 8-Torsten Frings, 13-Michael Ballack, 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 20-Lukas Podolski, 11-Miroslav Klose. Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann.

Italy: 1-Gianluigi Buffon, 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 23-Marco Materazzi, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 3-Fabio Grosso, 20-Simone Perrotta, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 10-Francesco Totti, 9-Luca Toni, 11-Alberto Gilardino. Coach: Marcello Lippi.

Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico). — AP

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