WARSAW, June 27: It seems like 2006 all over again. Just like in the World Cup semi-finals six years ago, Germany are the favourites entering Thursday’s semi-final against a surprising Italy squad that is building momentum and maintaining focus despite a match-fixing scandal.
Both teams like to attack constantly, setting up a tantalising game in Warsaw.
“At this point, the squads that win are the ones that advance their defensive lines and that have the courage to attack,” Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. “Some of these guys are just starting to realise the extraordinary things they’re capable of.”
Adding to the lustre is that Italy-Germany matches have often produced the extraordinary — and Italy has always come out on top at major tournaments.
“There is no such thing as an invincible side,” said Prandelli. “Germany has that sense of knowing what they need to do.”
The 4-3 Italy win in the 1970 semi-finals in Mexico City is still remembered as one of the greatest World Cup matches, and Italy’s 2-0 win in extra-time six years ago is also part of Azzurri lore.
In 2006, Italy were also involved in a match-fixing scandal much like the betting problems affecting the squad today, and beating hosts Germany in the cauldron that is the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund seemed like an impossible task.
This time around, Germany — who are seeking their first trophy since lifting the Euro ’96 title — will be hoping to end their hoodoo of having never beaten Italy in what is their eighth meeting at either a World Cup or a European championship finals.
But Germany coach Joachim Loew was defiant when asked about the lack of German success against the Azzurri over the years.
“We can’t turn back time, forget about about it, the past doesn’t play a role in our planning,” said the 52-year-old. “Another stat is that Germany has never won against Italy in a major tournament, but so what?
“The situation is entirely different now and this is not an issue for us.”
Of the four semi-finalists, Germany are the only squad with a perfect record, having cruised through a group featuring the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark, then pushing aside Greece 4-2 in the quarter-finals and they have made no secret of their desire to lift the Henri Delaunay Cup.
“We knew before the tournament that we have a strong team,” said Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil. “If we play as we know we can, I am convinced we will beat Italy.”
Bastian Schweinsteiger is winning his battle to be fit against Italy where the relentless midfielder will have to nullify the mercurial Andrea Pirlo.
However, they have yet to come up against a midfielder with the class of Pirlo, who has scored or set up all Italy’s goals here and produced a wonderful display in the quarter-final with England before scoring the cheekiest of penalties in their shootout victory.
And Pirlo, who was in the team that beat Germany in 2006, believes the Germans are running scared and the 33-year-old believes that history will give Italy the edge.
“Germany are definitely scared of us, they know we can create difficulties for them given what’s happened in the past and they will have to be careful to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2006,” said the Juventus midfielder.
“Our approach to the game is the same because this Italian team can only play like this. We have to take advantage of our quality and technique.”
Italy centre-half Giorgio Chiellini is back in training after missing the England game with a thigh problem and could feature while Prandelli has niggles to Daniele De Rossi and Ignazio Abate to worry about and right back Christian Maggio’s suspension. —Agencies