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Germany v Italy Team news
04/07/2006: Michael Ballack will be fit to play for the hosts in the semi-final clash but Italy have major doubts over Alessandro Nesta and Mauro Camoranesi.
Ballack has been receiving treatment ever since the quarter final victory over Argentina, having suffered cramp during the game and been hampered with a foot injury ahead of Germany's penalties success.
Top scorer Miroslav Klose has also been passed fit to start after injuring his calf on Friday following a collision with Argentina goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.
Meanwhile, both Nesta and Camoranesi look set to miss out for the Azzurri.
Italy had hoped that centre-back Nesta, who has been missing since the final group game against Czech Republic with a groin injury, would be available if they reached the semi-final but the AC Milan man has been making slow progress in his recovery.
Italy have all but ruled him out, with a spokesman saying: "His chances of playing (against Germany) are very remote."
Marcello Lippi must now decide whether Marco Materazzi, who's back after suspension, or Andrea Barzagli should partner Fabio Cannavaro.
Juventus midfielder Camoranesi is undergoing intensive treatment on a leg injury picked up in the win over Ukraine, but he has been forced to sit out of the last two training sessions.
The Italians are now unbeaten in 23 matches dating back to October 2004 against Slovenia with 14 wins and nine draws, but perhaps the biggest of those victories was the 4-1 slamming of Germany in a friendly in March this year. Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino were both on the score-sheet that night in Florence.
This will be the fifth World Cup meeting between the countries, although all of the remaining matches came when the hosts played as West Germany. Italy are, as yet, unbeaten in those encounters with two wins and two draws, although the most recent is also the biggest, with Italy winning 3-1 in the 1982 final in Spain.
The overall rivalry is tight, with Italy winning five of 13 meetings since 1962 to Germany's three - there have also only been 28 goals scored in those matches.
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