Italy stun hosts Germany

Two goals in within the space of two minutes during extra time to Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero were enough for Italy to clinch a 2-0 victory over host nation Germany, at the Westfalenstadion in the first semi-final.

With 90 seconds of extra time remaining, the scores were locked at 0-0, and the game looked set to be heading for a penalty shootout, before defender Grosso launched a scathing strike beyond the reach of Jens Lehmann to take the lead.

Several seconds later, Italy were in again, as Germany flooded forward which allowed Italy once in possession of the ball to make a counter-attack, as Del Piero struck a beautiful curling ball over the head of Lehmann to put the result beyond doubt, and to double the lead of the Italians.

The first half proved to be a stalemate, although it was not without it’s chances, as Simone Perrotta as well as Lukas Podolski and Bernd Schneider failed to capitalise on their opportunities for their respective sides.

Only five minutes after the break, Italian goalkeeper Gianlugi Buffon brilliantly saved a shot on goal from Miroslav Klose.

Not to be outdone, Lehmann up the other end managed to thwart a Grosso strike, which looked destined for the back of the net.

Podolski launched another powerful strike on goal just after the hour, but the highest paid goalkeeper in the world, Buffon, managed to keep it out.

With both sides having kept clean sheets at the conclusion of normal time, extra time was to be played.

The Italians started this period more confident than their opponents, and had two genuine opportunities to go ahead early on, through Alberto Gilardino and Gianluca Zambrotta, as both players hit the woodwork.

With penalties looming, the Italians stepped it up a notch. The Azzuri had been having difficulties with their corners, but this particular one fell to Pirlo who delvered back to Grosso who smashed home a tantalising shot.

The Germans tried to pull the deficit back in desperation from the kick-off, and poured numbers forward, but a Cannavaro clearance found it’s way to Del Piero off the back of a Gilardino heel, and the striker elegantly chipped the ball over the head of Lehmann to seal the win, and set up a world cup final clash with France on the 10th of July, while the Germans will play off for third place against Portugal on the 9th of July.

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