World Cup 2006 Semi Final - Germany v.s Italy

Posted by footynut in July 4th, 2006

Stadium: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

Semi finals tonight,it’s just passing by too fast..i’m already beginning to feel ‘World Cup Withdrawal Syndrom’

Anywayz back to tonight’s semi final,which is between Germany and Italy.

This will be ~~Kevin Costner~~ Jurgen Klinsmann’s hardest game yet in this finals,facing a very very impressive Italian side who has conceded just a single goal..and own goal at that!,
and he will also be without the services of midfield strong man Torsten Frings.

Tim Borowski will replace Frings,and really that’s not a bad replacement either.

Can Klinsmann’s man reach the final again? that would be an impressive feat reaching the finals in two consecutive World Cup’s.

They have all their players at their disposal (except Frings) while the Italians may recall Marco Mertarazzi after he served a one match ban.

3 months ago nobody would have believed that Germany would reach the semis,especially after their disappointing show against (would you believe it) Italy where there lost 4-1.Now however Germany are a different prospect and Italy can only dream of a 4-1 win again

The Italians on the other hand are getting better with each game,and with their lanky foward Luca Toni already off the mark with 2 goals in the quarters against Ukraine, confidence are high in the Italian camp,and so it should be,there have been impressive in all their games (except maybe against Australia) with a strong midfield marshalled by the “Growler” Genarro Gattuso,the creative input of Totti,the experience of Del Piero and the hardwork of Pirlo.

I still thing Inzaghi should play upfront with Toni instead of Gilardino.

lehmann

Important Players:

Germany: Lahm,Klose,Borowski,Lehmann,Ballack

Italy: Zambrotta,Buffon,Cannavaro,Toni,Totti,Pirlo

Who will win?
I think the home side will make it to the final..but i will be rooting for the Italians,i hope they make it especially after their 1994 heartbreak (Roberto Baggio!), plus my dream final would be Italy against Portugal