Italy Ready to Take on German Team of 82 Million

Vociferous home crowds and improving performances through the knock-out rounds have driven the hosts to five straight wins, a World Cup record for Germany, and a place in the last four of the tournament.

"We're already highly focused," Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said. "We're really looking forward to playing in Dortmund. That'll really be an advantage for us, since the atmosphere should be unbelievable."

Germany have never lost in Dortmund, winning 13 of their 14 internationals played there.

But Italy can take heart from their excellent record against Germany in the World Cup with two wins and two draws in four meetings, including epic victories in the 1970 semi-final and the 1982 final.

Francesco Totti, whose performance in the 3-0 quarter-final win over Ukraine was his best of the tournament so far, wants Italy to emulate the great Azzurri teams of the past by adding another famous victory against their old foes.

Dortmund crowd a boost for Germans, challenge for Italians

"On Tuesday we want to write another chapter in the duel," said the Roma captain. "To beat Germany in their own country in front of a hostile crowd, well it couldn't get any better than that."

Despite some unconvincing performances on their way to the semis, Italy boast a 23-match unbeaten run -- their best streak since 1939 -- and defender Fabio Grosso believes they can break German hearts at the Westfalenstadion.

"We're taking on a great team that has the backing of the whole country, but we believe in ourselves," Grosso said. "We need to play like we know how and put them in difficulty."

Friendly defeat belongs in history books

Italy showed the Germans just how difficult they can be with a humiliating 4-1 drubbing in a friendly four months ago, leading much of the German press to call for coach Jürgen Klinsmann's head. But Italian trainer Marcello Lippi insisted that result will have no bearing on Tuesday's clash.

"We won't score four goals against Germany again," Lippi said. "They're not the same side we met in March. Now they are exploiting the enthusiasm of the whole nation and it has transformed them."

Bierhoff added that 4-1 loss was "no longer a reference point" for the German team.

"The defeat really scarred us, and we played absolutely awfully," he said. "Now we're on top form though, both mentally and physically, and there's no way that something like that could ever happen again."

Klinsmann, who stated winning the tournament on home soil is his only goal, added that his side is capable of beating the Azzurri.

"Italy are one of the best teams in the world, and that is why they are in the final four," said Klinsmann. "But we think if we play our own game we can beat them. I believe the confidence that we have built over the last six weeks is enough to win the next two games and become world champions."

Crucial players missing on both sides

Italy defender Alessandro Nesta is almost certain to miss his third straight match due to a groin strain, while Germany will be without midfielder Torsten Frings, who was suspended for the semi-final by FIFA, world soccer's governing body, for his role in a scuffle following Germany's match against Argentina.

The hosts will be able to keep captain Michael Ballack on the roster. A question mark remained next to his name after serious cramps during the team's quarter-final.

FIFA statistics show the Germans are the most offensively minded of the teams in the 2006 tournament with 88 shots on goal, while the Italians have proved to be nearly unbeatable in their own penalty area by giving up just one goal -- an own goal.

The winner of Tuesday's game will go on to face either Portugal or France in the final in Berlin on July 9. The losing team will play for third place a day earlier in Stuttgart.