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Ballack eases the pressure
04/07/2006: Germany captain Michael Ballack has eased the pressure on his side by making Italy favourites for tonight's World Cup semi-final.
The host nation have exceeded all expectations to reach the last four but the fact remains they have never beaten the Azzurri in a World Cup match, and Ballack insists Marcello Lippi's men are odds-on to keep that record going in Dortmund.
Italy also thrashed Germany in a friendly only four months ago with the Germany skipper conceding that his side will have to upset the formbook to reach the final on July 9.
He said: "They are a very strong opponent with a long streak and they have beaten us comfortably not a long time ago. Not long ago we lost 4-1 with the national team."
Germany are set to replace the suspended Torsten Frings with Tim Borowski, while Italy are without Alessandro Nesta through injury but Marco Materazzi is back after a ban.
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