|
|
Played
June 29, 2012 12:15 AM IST
Stadion Narodowy — Warszawa
Referee: S. Lannoy
Attendance: 55540
June 29, 2012 12:15 AM IST
Stadion Narodowy — Warszawa
Referee: S. Lannoy
Attendance: 55540
Germany - Italy Preview: German juggernaut out to end Azzurri jinx in semi-final clash
Joachim Low's in-form side will be aiming to defy history and secure their first ever competitive victory over the 1968 winners in Warsaw's National Stadium on Thursday
By Karthick Arvinth
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
|
GERMANY
 Neuer Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm Khedira, Schweinsteiger Reus, Ozil, Schurrle Klose |
ITALY
 Buffon Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Balzaretti Marchisio, Pirlo, Nocerino Motta Balotelli, Cassano |
Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has overcome a lingering ankle problem and will be available for his country's semi-final showdown with Italy.
Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan, who is yet to make an appearance at Euro 2012, suffered a knock to his ankle during training on Saturday and is a minor doubt.
Coach Joachim Low may opt to tinker with his line-up again after completely overhauling his forward line for the quarter-final win over Greece.
Veteran striker Miroslav Klose is likely to retain his place up front ahead of Mario Gomez, while midfielder Lars Bender may get the nod over Jerome Boateng at right-back.
Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini has returned to training after a hamstring injury and could return to the starting line-up in place of his Juventus team-mate Leonardo Bonucci.
Azzurri boss Cesare Prandelli is also sweating over the fitness of Daniele De Rossi and Ignazio Abate after the duo picked up muscle injuries in the penalty shoot-out victory over England, while Christian Maggio is suspended.
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta has recovered from a thigh problem and may return to the side in place of Riccardo Montolivo.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Germany have won a record 15 successive competitive games, breaking the 14-match international record previously held by Spain (2010-11), Netherlands (2008-10) and France (2002-04).
- Die Mannschaft have never beaten Italy in a competitive fixture. Their record in seven head-to-head meetings in major tournaments is D4, L3.
- Three-time champions Germany have won all but one of their six European Championship semi-finals.
- Joachim Low's side have scored at least once in each of their last 20 games.
- Italy have won just one of their last seven matches in regulation time.
- The Azzurri are meeting Germany for the 31st time, with their record in previous encounters reading W14, D9, L7. They have not lost to the Germans since a 2-0 friendly defeat in June 1995.
- Italy are yet to lose a competitive game under Cesare Prandelli, recording nine wins and five draws to date.
- Andrea Pirlo (pictured right) attempted 146 passes in the quarter-final against England, completing 117 - the most by any player at Euro 2012, extra-time included.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Germany 1-2 Italy
- 18.83 %
-
Germany 2-1 Italy
- 16.68 %
-
Germany 2-0 Italy
- 10.91 %
| Euro 2012 (EC) | 29-Jun-2012 | Germany 1 - Italy 2 |
|
| International Friendlies (FR) | 10-Feb-2011 | Germany 1 - Italy 1 |
|
| World Cup 2006 (WC) | 05-Jul-2006 | Germany 0 - Italy 2 |
|
| International Friendlies (FR) | 02-Mar-2006 | Italy 4 - Germany 1 |
|
Germany
    |
||
| 27-Mar-2013 | Germany 4 - Kazakhstan 1 | WCQE |
| 22-Mar-2013 | Kazakhstan 0 - Germany 3 | WCQE |
| 07-Feb-2013 | France 1 - Germany 2 | FR |
| 15-Nov-2012 | Netherlands 0 - Germany 0 | FR |
| 17-Oct-2012 | Germany 4 - Sweden 4 | WCQE |
Italy
 |
||
| 27-Mar-2013 | Malta 0 - Italy 2 | WCQE |
| 22-Mar-2013 | Italy 2 - Brazil 2 | FR |
| 07-Feb-2013 | Netherlands 1 - Italy 1 | FR |
| 15-Nov-2012 | Italy 1 - France 2 | FR |
| 17-Oct-2012 | Italy 3 - Denmark 1 | WCQE |
| 1 | Manuel Neuer | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | Mats Hummels | Defender |
| - | Holger Badstuber | |
| 16 | Philipp Lahm | Defender |
| 20 | Jerome Boateng | Defender |
| 6 | Sami Khedira | Midfielder |
| 7 | Bastian Schweinsteiger | Midfielder |
| 8 | Mesut Özil | Midfielder |
| 18 | Toni Kroos | Midfielder |
| 10 | Lukas Podolski | Striker |
| 23 | Mario Gomez | Striker |
| - | Tim Wiese | |
| 22 | Ron-Robert Zieler | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Marcel Schmelzer | Defender |
| 4 | Benedikt Höwedes | Defender |
| 17 | Per Mertesacker | Defender |
| 2 | Ilkay Gündogan | Midfielder |
| 15 | Lars Bender | Midfielder |
| 19 | Mario Götze | Midfielder |
| 9 | Andre Schürrle | Midfielder |
| - | Miroslav Klose | |
| 13 | Thomas Müller | Midfielder |
| 21 | Marco Reus | Midfielder |
| 1 | Gianluigi Buffon | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Giorgio Chiellini | Defender |
| - | Federico Balzaretti | |
| 15 | Andrea Barzagli | Defender |
| 19 | Leonardo Bonucci | Defender |
| 8 | Claudio Marchisio | Midfielder |
| 16 | Daniele De Rossi | Midfielder |
| 18 | Riccardo Montolivo | Midfielder |
| 21 | Andrea Pirlo | Midfielder |
| 9 | Mario Balotelli | Striker |
| - | Antonio Cassano | |
| 14 | Salvatore Sirigu | Goalkeeper |
| 12 | Morgan De Sanctis | Goalkeeper |
| - | Angelo Obinze Ogbonna | |
| - | Ignazio Abate | Defender |
| - | Thiago Motta | |
| 13 | Emanuele Giaccherini | Midfielder |
| - | Antonio Nocerino | |
| - | Antonio Di Natale | |
| - | Fabio Borini | |
| 10 | Sebastian Giovinco | Striker |
| 22 | Alessandro Diamanti | Midfielder |
Results
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fernando Torres Striker Chelsea |
3 | 0 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
3 | 0 |
|
Mario Gomez Striker FC Bayern München |
3 | 0 |
|
Mario Balotelli Striker Milan |
3 | 0 |
|
Mario Mandzukic Striker FC Bayern München |
3 | 0 |