Joachim Low’s high-flying Germany will take on Italy in the second semi-final of Euro 2012 on Thursday, June 28. The match will be played at the National Stadium in Warsaw and the winner will qualify for the final against either
Portugal or Spain.
The DFB Eleven will be looking to avenge their defeat at the same stage in the 2006 World Cup when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alessandro-Del-Piero-c4726 found the net in extra-time to give Azzurri the victory.
Germany
Die Mannschaft have arguably been the best team in the European championship thus far and have won every single game in the competition. The Germans topped the ‘Group of Death’ which included the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Netherlands-c753, Portugal
and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Denmark-c2884 and won the quarter-final clash against Greece last week with a 4-2 margin to progress to the last-four stage.
Germany have been cautious in their approach this time around and have not played with the same attacking flare in this competition, which is primarily due to some of their shortcomings in defence recently. However, the side has
all what it takes to win the European championship and the team, along with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011, is favourite to lift the trophy.
Italy
Cesare Prandelli’s men are coming from a hard fought 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 in the quarter-final. The game ended with a 0-0 scoreline at the end of extra-time and had to be decided on penalties.
The Italians have not performed at their full potential in Euro 2012 and were lucky to progress to the last-eight after a rather satisfactory group stage.
Team News
Joachim Low made a host of changes to the team that faced http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marco-Reus-c23733 were provided with their first starts
of the tournament. The trio performed exceedingly well and the manager will certainly have a selection headache ahead of the crucial clash against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926.
Marco Reus is likely to retain his place in the team in place of Thomas Muller, who has been below par in the three games he has played.
Expected line-up: Neuer, Boateng, Badstuber, Hummels, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Reus, Ozil, Podolski, Gomez
Cesare Prandelli made three changes to the team that faced the Three Lions on Sunday. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giorgio-Chiellini-c14963, who is most likely out of the competition after suffering a thigh injury, while Riccardo
Montolivo and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Di-Natale-c6306 respectively.
The former Fiorentina manager is likely to go with the same team against the Germans after the win against Roy Hodgson’s side.
Expected line-up: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Balzaretti, Pirlo, Marchisio, Montolivo, De Rossi, Cassano, Balotelli
Players to watch
Mario Gomez
The Bayern Munich striker has had a sensational tournament thus far, scoring three times in the four games played. The attacker silenced his critics after giving two match-winning performances against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 and Netherlands in
the two group games. He will be Germany’s main threat in the game.
Andrea Pirlo
The Italian has brought his stunning form from the previous season with Juventus to the national side and has been Azzurri’s best player. The midfielder has raked in one goal and two assists already in the competition and is expected
to give some tough time to the Germans in the semi-final.
Prediction
Die Nationalelf certainly have the quality to go all the way this time around and if they can stop Pirlo in the midfield, they have a great chance. Joachim Low’s side has also been strong defensively and the midfield duo of Schweinsteiger
and Khedira has had a brilliant campaign.
Verdict: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Germany-c2904 1-0 Italy
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