Germany v Italy, 04 July 2006

Score2-0 to Italy
RefereeBenito Archundia
CompetitionFIFA World Cup Semi-final
VenueWestfalenstadion, Dortmund
Attendance65,000
Kick-off: 9.00pm local After extra time Assistant referees: José Ramírez (Mexico) Héctor Vergara (Canada) Fourth official: Toru Kamikawa (Japan) Fifth official: Yoshikazu Hiroshima (Japan) Man of the Match: Andrea Pirlo (Italy) Stunning late extra-time strikes from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro del Piero took Italy into the World Cup final at Germany's expense with a 2-0 win. An absorbing semi-final seemed set for penalties until Grosso curled man of the match Andrea Pirlo's pass past Jens Lehmann with just one minute left. Del Piero then finished an Italy break with a delicate chip into the corner. Germany's Lukas Podolski earlier sent a header wide and saw a shot saved, but the hosts' Cup dreams were shattered. There were, unsurprisingly, tears among German players and fans after the extraordinary end to an enthralling encounter - in which Italy also hit the woodwork twice in extra-time. The opening 90 minutes were intriguing - but goalless - and it was in the extra period that the game truly exploded into life. In their seventh meeting at a major tournament, Italy retain their unbreaten record against Germany (including West Germany). By reaching their sixth World Cup Final, Italy deny Germany the chance to play in a record eighth Final.

0  Germany

Manager: Jurgen Klinsmann

2  Italy

Manager: Marcello Lippi

Goals:

Goals:

Fabio Grosso 119 G
Alessandro Del Piero 120 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann
Defender Arne Friedrich
Defender Philipp Lahm
Defender Per Mertesacker
Midfielder Michael Ballack (captain)
Midfielder Tim Borowski
Midfielder Sebastian Kehl
Midfielder Bernd Schneider
Forward Miroslav Klose

Starting lineup:

Gianluigi Buffon Goalkeeper
Fabio Cannavaro Defender (captain)
Fabio Grosso Defender
Marco Materazzi Defender
Mauro Camoranesi Midfielder
Gennaro Gattuso Midfielder
Simone Perrotta Midfielder
Andrea Pirlo Forward
Luca Toni Forward
Francesco Totti Forward

Substitutions:

Bastian Schweinsteiger for Tim Borowski 73
David Odonkor for Bernd Schneider 83
Oliver Neuville for Miroslav Klose 111

Substitutions:

Alberto Gilardino for Luca Toni 74
Vincenzo Iaquinta for Mauro Camoranesi 91
Alessandro Del Piero for Simone Perrotta 104

Cards:

Tim Borowski 40 Y
Christoph Metzelder 56 Y

Cards:

Mauro Camoranesi 90 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand
Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn
Defender Robert Huth
Defender Marcell Jansen
Defender Jens Nowotny
Midfielder Torsten Frings
Midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger
Forward Gerald Asamoah
Forward Mike Hanke
Forward Oliver Neuville
Forward David Odonkor

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Marco Amelia
Goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi
Defender Andrea Barzagli
Defender Alessandro Nesta
Defender Massimo Oddo
Midfielder Simone Barone
Midfielder Daniele De Rossi
Forward Filippo Inzaghi

Comments:

FIFA suspended midfielder Torsten Frings for this game due to the part he played in the fracas that followed the Quarter-Final with Argentina. Germany (inc. West Germany) joined Chile (1962), Italy (1990) and South Korea (2002) as hosts to have been halted in the semi-finals. Their defeat was the third in a World Cup match that was decided in extra time. They also fell to England in the 1966 final (4-2) and to Italy in the 1970 semi-finals (4-3). Prior to this game, Germany (including West Germany) had played 14 games in Dortmund - winning 13 and drawing one. The draw was against Wales on 14 December 1977.

Comments:

Italy have now kept five clean sheets in Germany 2006 - a new record for a World Cup finals. The only goal they have conceded so far was an own goal by Cristian Zaccardo in their group game with USA. As with their two previous matches, Alessandro Nesta is unavailable for this game due to a groin injury. Daniel De Rossi serves the last of his four-match suspension. Italy's 11 goals at the tournament have been scored by ten different players. Only Luca Toni has scored more than once.

0  Germany

Manager: Jurgen Klinsmann

Goals:

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann
Defender Arne Friedrich
Defender Philipp Lahm
Defender Per Mertesacker
Midfielder Michael Ballack (captain)
Midfielder Tim Borowski
Midfielder Sebastian Kehl
Midfielder Bernd Schneider
Forward Miroslav Klose

Substitutions:

Bastian Schweinsteiger for Tim Borowski 73
David Odonkor for Bernd Schneider 83
Oliver Neuville for Miroslav Klose 111

Cards:

Tim Borowski 40 Y
Christoph Metzelder 56 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand
Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn
Defender Robert Huth
Defender Marcell Jansen
Defender Jens Nowotny
Midfielder Torsten Frings
Midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger
Forward Gerald Asamoah
Forward Mike Hanke
Forward Oliver Neuville
Forward David Odonkor

Comments:

FIFA suspended midfielder Torsten Frings for this game due to the part he played in the fracas that followed the Quarter-Final with Argentina. Germany (inc. West Germany) joined Chile (1962), Italy (1990) and South Korea (2002) as hosts to have been halted in the semi-finals. Their defeat was the third in a World Cup match that was decided in extra time. They also fell to England in the 1966 final (4-2) and to Italy in the 1970 semi-finals (4-3). Prior to this game, Germany (including West Germany) had played 14 games in Dortmund - winning 13 and drawing one. The draw was against Wales on 14 December 1977.

2  Italy

Manager: Marcello Lippi

Goals:

Fabio Grosso 119 G
Alessandro Del Piero 120 G

Starting lineup:

Gianluigi Buffon Goalkeeper
Fabio Cannavaro Defender (captain)
Fabio Grosso Defender
Marco Materazzi Defender
Mauro Camoranesi Midfielder
Gennaro Gattuso Midfielder
Simone Perrotta Midfielder
Andrea Pirlo Forward
Luca Toni Forward
Francesco Totti Forward

Substitutions:

Alberto Gilardino for Luca Toni 74
Vincenzo Iaquinta for Mauro Camoranesi 91
Alessandro Del Piero for Simone Perrotta 104

Cards:

Mauro Camoranesi 90 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Marco Amelia
Goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi
Defender Andrea Barzagli
Defender Alessandro Nesta
Defender Massimo Oddo
Midfielder Simone Barone
Midfielder Daniele De Rossi
Forward Filippo Inzaghi

Comments:

Italy have now kept five clean sheets in Germany 2006 - a new record for a World Cup finals. The only goal they have conceded so far was an own goal by Cristian Zaccardo in their group game with USA. As with their two previous matches, Alessandro Nesta is unavailable for this game due to a groin injury. Daniel De Rossi serves the last of his four-match suspension. Italy's 11 goals at the tournament have been scored by ten different players. Only Luca Toni has scored more than once.