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World Cup: Italy face test in `fortress' Dortmund

Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta, right, jokes with teammate Gennaro Gattuso during a training session on Saturday in Duisburg. PHOTO: AFP

Italy will have to do what no other team has done before and beat Germany in Dortmund today if they are to reach the World Cup final.

Unbeaten Germany were not considered among the favorites before the tournament but the hosts have gone from strength to strength, winning four of their five games to set up the semi-final clash with Italy.

Overcoming Argentina, regarded as the best team in the tournament, 4-2 on penalties has given Juergen Klinsmann's young team a sizeable boost.

Germany, who like Italy have won the World Cup three times, were their usual confident selves in the shootout and would be comfortable with another draw and more spot kicks.

Italy will feel they have to win in 90 or 120 minutes and that is something no opponent has managed in 71 years of German international matches in Dortmund.

In that time, Germany have won 13 of the 14 matches they have played there, with a 1-1 draw against Wales in 1977 the only blot on the record.

"The Dortmund crowd is a phenomenon," Germany midfielder Tim Borowski said this week. "The spectators will be the 12th man for us."

Germany midfielder Tim Borowski arrives at a press conference at the ICC center in Berlin on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP

Klinsmann, who was part of the West Germany team that won the World Cup for the third time in 1990, has no injury problems and will be able to field the same team that overcame Argentina.

Miroslav Klose, whose equalizer against Argentina was his fifth goal at this tournament, suffered a slight calf injury in the game but has recovered, according to assistant coach Joachim Loew.

Italy are looking to keep up their record of appearing in the final every 12 years since their 1970 defeat to Brazil.

The last time the Azzurri faced the Germans in a World Cup was their 1982 final triumph over West Germany.

Marcello Lippi's side, who have had a relatively easy path to the last four with knockout stage wins over Australia and Ukraine, beat Germany 4-1 in a friendly in Florence on March 1 but know that gives little clue about today's task.

"It will be completely different to the 4-1," said Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta. "That was a friendly in Italy and this is the semi-final of the World Cup in Germany."

"They are doing very well, they have got to the semi-finals and I am sure they will want to go all the way. It is going to be a tough game for both sides" he added.

Lippi will almost certainly be without central defender Alessandro Nesta, who is continuing to struggle with a groin injury.

Marco Materazzi will return from suspension to replace Andrea Barzaghi alongside captain Fabio Cannavaro in the center of a defense which has conceded just one goal in five games in the tournament.

The final will be against Portugal or France on July 9 in Berlin.

However, countering Germany's enchanted past in Dortmund is Italy's history against their hosts.

Italy has never lost to Germany in six competitive matches, winning two and drawing four in 44 years.

It remains undefeated in their four World Cup matches with the Germans. The two countries last met in 1982 when Italy won the final 3-1 in Madrid, Spain.

Overall, the Italians lead the all-time series 13-7, with eight draws.

Granted, Italy is unfamiliar with the Dortmund turf, where they will play for the first time.

And they will not have the home advantage this time.

"It's going to be tough but we'll be giving it everything we've got to try and reach the final," Italian midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said. "Most of the stadium will be against us, but we're used to that from European club football. You don't notice the fans when you're on the pitch, they're not playing. Germany or Argentina wouldn't have made any difference. Is it or is it not a World Cup semifinal?"
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