World Cup 2006: The Semi-finals

Semi-final #1 saw hosts Germany take on Italy, two sides with immense World Cup pedigree. Germany brought in midfielder Tim Borowski to replace Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sebastian Kehl to replace the suspended Torsten Frings. Italy restored Marco Materazzi to the central defence but retained Mauro Camoranesi in midfield, after he impressed against Ukraine. Italy started the stronger of the two sides, and Luca Toni was a constant threat up front. Jens Lehmann in the German goal was called upon to make saves from Toni and Gianluca Zambrotta as the Italians created some chances. At the other end, Lukas Podolski was lively up front for the hosts, but the Italian defence protected goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon impressively. It was 0-0 at the half, although the match was entertaining to watch. The Germans took more control of the midfield in the second half and dominated play more as the Italians seemed to fade down the stretch. However, their approach play was rather dull and they were unable to break down the strong Italian defence. Klinsmann resorted to his usual substitutes Odonkor and Neuville in an attempt to rejuvenate his side. Italy also brought on fresh legs, Gilardino for Toni, and Iaquinta for Camoranesi. After the substitutions were made, the game got more open as both sides pressed for the winning goal with time running out. However, neither side were able to break through, and the game went into extra-time. The first period of extra-time was also cagey stuff, but Italy coach Marcello Lippi made a bold substitution by bringing on Alessandro Del Piero for Simone Perrotta towards the end of the first period of extra-time. The second extra-time period started feverishly, with Gilardino striking the post after a terrific run through the German penalty area and Zambrotta smashing the woodwork soon after from outside the box. It was the Germans who were fading now as they struggled to get their wing players involved. The signs were pointing to a penalty shoot-out despite all the efforts of both sides. However, the never-say-die Italians had other ideas! Off a poor corner kick clearance, Andrea Pirlo collected the ball at the edge of the area, but instead of shooting on goal, slipped through a delightful ball to Fabio Grosso who curled home a superb first-time left footed shot to put Italy ahead in the 119th minute!!!! Fantastic strike from the left-back that left Lehmann with no chance of saving it whatsoever! The Germans were distraught, but poured forward in the dying minutes of the game in search of the vital equaliser. However, Italy broke on the counterattack in the 121st minute and Del Piero sealed the result for the Italians with a clinical finish from 12 yards after being played through brilliantly by Iaquinta! 2-0 Italy with the last kick of the game! Germany was ousted and the jubilant Italians celebrated a fine team performance!

The second semi-final saw Portugal v France. The Portuguese were hoping to beat France for the first time in 30 years and reach their first-ever World Cup final. France were hoping to give a fitting farewell to their great superstar Zinedine Zidane by competing in the final as well. Both sides played with their usual lineups, and the game started with France as the aggressor. Malouda had an early chance on goal but missed it after being played through by Zidane. Portugal took a while to find their rhythm but came back into the game as the half wore on. Deco pulling the strings from midfield and Cristiano Ronaldo taking on the French defenders with pace and skill. Maniche had a couple of long range efforts well saved by French keeper Fabien Barthez. Then on 35 minutes, Zidane played a ball into Thierry Henry inside the box, and the French striker was tripped by Ricardo Carvalho as he tried to turn on goal. PENALTY! Zidane stepped up to take the kick and buried it into the left corner despite the best efforts of Portuguese keeper Ricardo. 1-0 France! That's how they went into the halftime break. Portugal were remarkably subdued at the start of the second half as they struggled to get any offense going against the strong French defence. Instead, France's Franck Ribery looked lively as he tried to put the game beyond Portugal's reach. Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scolari brought on Simao, Helder Postiga and Paulo Ferreira in an attempt to find the equaliser. Fernando Meira went close in the dying minutes of the game after the knockdown from Postiga, but he blazed his shot high and wide. Barthez fumbled Cristiano Ronaldo's long range free-kick as well, but Luis Figo could not direct his header on target from the rebound. Portuguese keeper Ricardo came up in the final minute as they won a corner kick, but France held on to their slender lead to reach their second World Cup final in 3 attempts!!! Zidane will now play the final with a chance to bow out of football with the greatest prize in the sport!! Truly fairy-tale stuff from a side that was written off by many experts before the tournament began.

So, Germany will play Portugal in the meaningless third place match in Stuttgart on Saturday, and Italy will take on France on Sunday for the 2006 World Cup trophy! A wonderful tournament comes to a close with the greatest player of the last two decades captaining his side in their quest for the ultimate prize in football! And they will play against one of the most impressive and consistent teams in the tournament, Italy. A fitting finale, indeed, for the world's greatest tournament!