World Cup Semifinals Preview: Germany vs Italy
Hosts Germany and three-time winners Italy square off on Tuesday in a rematch of the 1982 World Cup final, with a berth in this year's final at stake.
The Germans will be without midfielder Torsten Frings, who was suspended by FIFA on Monday for throwing a punch at Argentina striker Julio Cruz in a scuffle that followed the Germans' penalty shoot-out win in the quarter-final.
Frings' Werder Bremen teammate, Tim Borowski is expected to deputize for him, but Jürgen Klinsmann will have the rest of his usual squad at his disposal for the match.
Italy, meanwhile, will be without center-back Alessandro Nesta yet again, but Marco Materazzi returns from suspension to start, with Andrea Barzagli dropping back to the substitutes' bench.
It is unsure whether Marcello Lippi will re-insert Alberto Gilardino into the line-up as midfielder Mauro Camoranesi is struggling to be fit with a knee injury. Luca Toni will start up front, with Francesco Totti lying a bit deeper in attack.
Facts:
Germany and Italy have won a combined six World Cup titles and have appeared in a total of 12 World Cup finals. With a win, Germany would be the first nation to appear in the final match of the World Cup eight different times.
Italy have not lost in 23 international games and have allowed just one goal in this tournament, an own goal against the USA, while scoring nine of their own.
Head to head:
These two nations have met a total of 28 times in the past, including Italy's 3-1 win over Germany in the 1982 final. Their most recent meeting was a friendly earlier this year in a 4-1 Italy drubbing of the Germans.
Probable line-ups:
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Lahm, Schneider, Borowski, Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Klose, Podolski.
Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Materazzi, Cannavaro, Grosso, Pirlo, Gattuso, Perrotta, Totti, Toni, Gilardino.
The Germans will be without midfielder Torsten Frings, who was suspended by FIFA on Monday for throwing a punch at Argentina striker Julio Cruz in a scuffle that followed the Germans' penalty shoot-out win in the quarter-final.
Frings' Werder Bremen teammate, Tim Borowski is expected to deputize for him, but Jürgen Klinsmann will have the rest of his usual squad at his disposal for the match.
Italy, meanwhile, will be without center-back Alessandro Nesta yet again, but Marco Materazzi returns from suspension to start, with Andrea Barzagli dropping back to the substitutes' bench.
It is unsure whether Marcello Lippi will re-insert Alberto Gilardino into the line-up as midfielder Mauro Camoranesi is struggling to be fit with a knee injury. Luca Toni will start up front, with Francesco Totti lying a bit deeper in attack.
Facts:
Germany and Italy have won a combined six World Cup titles and have appeared in a total of 12 World Cup finals. With a win, Germany would be the first nation to appear in the final match of the World Cup eight different times.
Italy have not lost in 23 international games and have allowed just one goal in this tournament, an own goal against the USA, while scoring nine of their own.
Head to head:
These two nations have met a total of 28 times in the past, including Italy's 3-1 win over Germany in the 1982 final. Their most recent meeting was a friendly earlier this year in a 4-1 Italy drubbing of the Germans.
Probable line-ups:
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Lahm, Schneider, Borowski, Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Klose, Podolski.
Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Materazzi, Cannavaro, Grosso, Pirlo, Gattuso, Perrotta, Totti, Toni, Gilardino.
posted by 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany at 11:31 AM
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