Bitter End To German Dream

First Team
Wednesday, 05.07.2006 / 08:03

Werder Bremen's Miroslav Klose, Tim Borowski and Torsten Frings have missed out on proceeding to the World Cup final. Itlay won the semi-final in Dortmund in the last two minutes of extra time.

Werder Bremen's Miroslav Klose, Tim Borowski and Torsten Frings have missed out on proceeding to the World Cup final. Itlay won the semi-final in Dortmund in the last two minutes of extra time. Italy were to be the somewhat lucky but not undeserved winners of the abttle of the three time World champions.

Fabio Grosso and substitute Alessandro Del Piero curled superb goals in the last two minutes of extra time to sink outclassed but tireless hosts Germany.

The stylish Italians usually held the edge, but rarely by enough to suggest anything other than a shootout was likely.

But then Grosso arrowed a glorious left-footer from the edge of the area into the opposite corner.

And Del Piero's imperious effort immediately confirmed what even the Germans knew by now - a famous Italian victory.

So, in a tournament where impressive performers Argentina and Spain perished far earlier than their stature merited, Italy avoided the penalty farce that did for the talented Argies and under-achieving England.

Only Simone Perrotta's poor touch as he sped into the area enabled outstanding German keeper Jens Lehmann to rush out and block early on.

And the hosts' main hopes nearly always rested with strikers Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, whose link-up play surely represented the finest partnership of the tournament.

The hard-grafting duo sent Bernd Schneider bursting into the right of the area for a chance blasted narrowly but wastefully high on the half-hour.

And, though Francesco Totti prompted neatly for Italy's midfield stylists, his keeper Gianluigi Buffon had to dash out quickly to defy Klose after the targetman weaved through the middle.

Buffon then thwarted the quick-turning Podolski, with Arne Friedrich blasting the 16-yard rebound high.

But Italy finished normal time in the manner they had mostly contested it - with patient but incisive passing, well supported by a back four comfortable in possession.

Lehmann punched clear and flattened Perrotta in the process when Totti flicked a volley through.

But it was Italy who provided the KO blows in the extra half-hour - after hitting the woodwork twice in the first two minutes of the additional period.

Substitute Alberto Gilardino jinked past two players on the right byline to screw a left-footer off the near post and across goal.

Then Gianluca Zambrotta, probably the best right-back in the tournament, cracked a 25-yarder that easily beat even Lehmann as it thudded onto the bar.

Podolski almost matched that with a scorching drive superbly tipped over by Buffon.

But it was Podolski who headed woefully wide of a gaping goal when substitute David Odonkor - Germany's brightest menace late on with his pace - measured a precision cross.

After that, though, it was only a question of whether Germany could cling on for penalties.

Elegant Andrea Pirlo produced a 25-yard special pawed round by Lehmann.

Then he slipped the ball out for full-back Grosso to curve a shot inches inside the left post.

Gilardino soon teed up Del Piero on the opposite side of the box to swerve Italy's equally-sublime second goal into the far stanchion.

Italy in ecstacy, Germany in agony. Jürgen Klinsmann and his men have a third place play-off on Saturday for which they will have to drag themselves off the floor to play.

 

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