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Match Day 22 > Tuesday 4Jul06

SEMI-FINALS WEEK

Match 61: GERMANY v. ITALY

Booking: CRAP? (I’d be surprised if we see a ‘CLAP!’ in the last four matches)

1^st Half >> Should have expected this – Edgy and tense match from the opening whistle with so much on the line .. .. Both sides were dodgy with the ball but ITA took more chances and tried to spring their attackers .. .. ITA had more clear chances but GER markers deflected clear at the last moment .. .. GER didn’t fire their first shot until BALLACK fired from the Dortmundplatz almost 8 minutes in .. .. GER’s best chance and first shot inside the box came in the 34^th minute when SCHNEIDER’s drive just cleared the bar .. .. You would have thought ITA should be leading at the break .. .. Amazing when you consider that the four clubs involved in the Serie A Match-Fixing Scandal are all going to be relegated a Serie, or two .. ..

2^nd Half >> More of the same in the second half – Safe, physical play .. .. ITA tried to spring long when they could but the patient GER attack got better clear chances in the box .. .. Why did ITA sub out TONI in the 74^th minute .. ..

Extra-Time >> ITA almost put themselves on top just :45 into ET when GALARDINO goalmouth shot caromed off the near post and then ZAMBROTTA’s bomb rang the bar just a minute later .. .. GER ODONKOR supersub almost won it when he sent in a perfect short cross to an unmarked PODOLSKI who headed his shot far wide .. .. PODOLSKI had another chance to win it when his left-footed bomb in the box was pushed away by BUFFON .. .. ITA then got their deserved winner when PIRLO dropped a sweet pass to GROSSO who curled his unmarked left-footer into the lower-left past a diving LEHMANN .. ..

GER MoM: None

ITA MoM: #3 FABIO GROSSO came on as a sub but came off the hero when his curling left-footer won the match for ITA .. ..