Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will be looking for his side to extend their proud record of never losing to Germany in a major finals when they meet in tonight’s Euro 2012 semi-final in Warsaw.
Germany – who are seeking their first trophy since lifting the Euro ‘96 title – will be by contrast hoping to end Italy’s run in what is their eighth meeting at either a World Cup or a European Championship.
“There is no such thing as an invincible side,” Cesare Prandelli said.
“Germany has that sense of knowing what they need to do.
“They are also physically strong and have players who have tasted international success at club level, so they are a side with the ingredients to go all the way. But we will study them closely and work on the few weak points they have.”
Italy needed a penalty shoot-out to beat England 4-2 in Sunday’s quarter-final in Kiev with the Azzurri failing to hit the net in normal play despite 68 per cent ball possession and 35 shots compared to England’s nine.
Prandelli has said the Italians will have to be daring in order to beat Germany, who are on a 15-match winning run in competitive matches.
“We have to take risks and not defend in our penalty area,” he said.
“I’d prefer it if they (Germany) scored on the counter-attack than have us defend constantly for 20 minutes.”
Germany’s forwards shone in Friday’s 4-2 quarter-final win over Greece and Prandelli is mindful of the risk of pushing too far forward against a German side with the pace to punish on the counter-attack.
Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli is one player the Germans have admitted they will pay close attention to after he spearheaded an Italian attack which had periods of impressive form against the Three Lions.
With only a three-day turn-around between the quarter and semi, Prandelli has injury concerns over midfielder Daniele De Rossi and right-back Ignazio Abate, while Italy’s other wing-back Christian Maggio has to serve suspension.
Aside from a 1-1 draw in a friendly in February 2011, the last time the teams met in competition was the 2006 World Cup semi-final when the Italians won 2-0 after extra-time as they went on to win the title.
Germany coach Joachim Loew has developed a habit for pulling surprises at this tournament highlighted by changing three of Germany’s six-man attack against Greece in axing striker Mario Gomez, plus forwards Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller.
It means competition is fierce for places in the starting line-up and Borussia Dortmund-bound Marco Reus looked sharp against the Greeks on his tournament debut before scoring Germany’s fourth goal.
Loew has only concerns over pivotal midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger who is still feeling the effects of tearing ankle ligaments in February.
The 27-year-old may have been doing himself a disservice in saying he put in a below-par performance in the win over Greece, but statistics show he made an impressive 109 passes with a completion rate of 92 per cent.
Having won the so-called “Group of Death” en route to the knock-out phase, the Germans have made no secret of their desire to lift the Henri Delaunay Cup.
“We knew before the tournament that we have a strong team,” Mesut Ozil said.
“We believe in ourselves and the goal is to return to Germany with the title. We are confident we can beat anybody.
“If we play as we know we can, I am convinced we will beat Italy.”
Head-to-head
Germany: W7 D9 L14
Italy: W14 D9 L7
| 09 February 2011 | Germany vs Italy | 1-1 | (F) |
| 04 July 2006 | Germany vs Italy | 0-2 | (WC) |
| 01 March 2006 | Italy vs Germany | 4-1 | (F) |
| 20 August 2003 | Germany vs Italy | 0-1 | (F) |
| 19 June 1996 | Italy vs Germany | 0-0 | (EC) |
| 21 June 1995 | Germany vs Italy | 2-0 | (F) |
| 23 March 1994 | Germany vs Italy | 2-1 | (F) |
| 25 March 1992 | Italy vs Germany | 1-0 | (F) |
| 10 June 1988 | West Germany vs Italy | 1-1 | (EC) |
| 18 April 1987 | West Germany vs Italy | 0-0 | (F) |
| 05 February 1986 | Italy vs West Germany | 1-2 | (F) |
| 22 May 1984 | Italy vs West Germany | 0-1 | (F) |
| 11 July 1982 | Italy vs West Germany | 3-1 | (WC) |
| 14 June 1978 | West Germany vs Italy | 0-0 | (WC) |
| 08 October 1977 | West Germany vs Italy | 2-1 | (F) |
| 26 February 1974 | Italy vs West Germany | 0-0 | (F) |
| 17 June 1970 | West Germany vs Italy | 3-4 | (WC) |
| 13 March 1965 | West Germany vs Italy | 1-1 | (F) |
| 31 May 1962 | West Germany vs Italy | 0-0 | (WC) |
| 18 December 1955 | Italy vs West Germany | 2-1 | (F) |
| 30 March 1955 | West Germany vs Italy | 1-2 | (F) |
| 05 May 1940 | Italy vs Germany | 3-2 | (F) |
| 26 November 1939 | Germany vs Italy | 5-2 | (F) |
| 26 March 1939 | Italy vs Germany | 3-2 | (F) |
| 15 November 1936 | Germany vs Italy | 2-2 | (F) |
| 01 January 1933 | Italy vs Germany | 3-1 | (F) |
| 02 March 1930 | Germany vs Italy | 0-2 | (F) |
| 28 April 1929 | Italy vs Germany | 1-2 | (F) |
| 23 November 1924 | Germany vs Italy | 0-1 | (F) |
| 01 January 1923 | Italy vs Germany | 3-1 | (F) |
Last two competitive clashes
July 4, 2006 – Germany 0 - Italy 2
(2006 World Cup semi-final)
• The abrupt end to Germany’s summer fairytale came in Dortmund for Jurgen Klinsmann’s team when their run to the final was halted by the Azzurri, who were the better team but could not break the German defence in normal time of the semi-final.
With penalties looming in extra-time, Andrea Pirlo produced a superb pass and Fabio Grosso fired home past Jens Lehmann in the 119th minute.
Veteran Alessandro Del Piero then scored a second goal just a minute later to finally break German hearts while Italy went on to win the World Cup five days later as Germany’s 3-1 victory over Portugal saw them finish third.
June 19, 1996 – Germany 0 - Italy 0
(European Championship group stage)
• Germany’s goalkeeper (and current coaching staff member) Andreas Kopke was the hero as he saved a penalty from Gianfranco Zola after only nine minutes in Manchester as the Germans went on to win the group and Euro 96, while Italy crashed out.
It was their final group game and after Italy’s 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic – who were to go on to the final – they had to beat Germany to qualify while Berti Vogts’s team had already beaten Russia and the Czechs.
Germany returned to Old Trafford to beat Croatia and then England at Wembley in the semi-final win over the Three Lions when Gareth Southgate’s fateful miss in the penalty shoot-out helped put the Germans in the final.
Results and fixtures
Quarter-finals
Quarter-final 1: Czech Republic vs Portugal - 0-1
Quarter-final 2: Germany vs Greece - 4-2
Quarter-final 3: Spain vs France - 2-0
Quarter-final 4: England vs Italy - 0-0 (2-4 after penalties)
Semi-finals and final
| Semi-final 1 | Portugal vs Spain | 0-0 (2-4 after penalties) | |
| Semi-final 2 | Today | Germany vs Italy | 20.45 |
| Final | July 1 | Spain vs Winner semi-final 2 | 20.45 |