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Germany 0 Italy 0
04/07/2006: Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero's goals at the end of extra-time gave Italy a 2-0 win over Germany and a place in the World Cup final.
An exciting clash between two sides, who looked to go forward at every opportunity throughout, was destined for a penalty shoot-out in Dortmund after great goalkeeping and poor finishing kept the score goalless.
However Grosso broke the hosts Germany's hearts with a great strike with just a minute of extra-time left. Del Piero wrapped up the win on the counter-attack with the last kick of the match to send the Italians into Sunday's final in Berlin where they will meet France or Portugal.
A lively start to the game had Francesco Totti trying to catch out Jens Lehmann in the German goal with a rasping fourth minute free-kick from all of 35 yards out, but the Arsenal shot-stopper held the ball comfortably.
Italy enjoyed a decent spell of pressure following that, but Fabio Cannavaro had to be alert at the other end on 15 minutes to deny Lukas Podolski from getting on the end of his strike partner Miroslav Klose's great pass into the area.
The Italians responded well and almost went in front a minute later when Simone Perrotta beat the offside trap before racing into the area. However he knocked the ball slightly too far ahead of himself which allowed Lehmann to come and out and eventually save at his feet.
On 31 minutes Grosso made a surging run into the left side of the German area but Christoph Metzelder did well to divert his resultant cross out for a corner with Luca Toni lurking behind him for a certain tap-in.
Klose and Podolski then combined to set up Bernd Schneider for Germany's best chance on 34 minutes but he opted to go for power and lashed his effort from an angle well over Gianluigi Buffon's goal.
Germany started the second half well and Klose almost broke he deadlock when he raced into the Italy area only to be denied by the sprawling Buffon. The Italians counter-attacked and Lehmann pulled off a similar stop to prevent Grosso from scoring before the offside flag went up against the full-back.
On 62 minutes Schneider played the ball into Podolski inside the area. The German striker turned his marker well but his close range effort was punched clear by Buffon and Metzelder blasted the loose ball over the top.
As the game wore on the two sides saw their chances of scoring reduced to a minimum and it was no surprise when it went to extra-time.
Italy made a storming start to the extra 30 minutes of play and almost went ahead twice in the space of a minute. Alberto Gilardino made room inside the area and watched as his close range shot hit the post and rolled away to safety, before Gianluca Zambrotta smashed an effort off the crossbar from the edge of the area on 92 minutes.
There was a lull in opportunities until the game moved into the second period of extra-time as both sides, the Italians in particular, clearly did not fancy the prospect of a penalty shoot-out.
Philip Lahm cured an effort over the top of Buffon's goal on 108 minutes, before Lehmann denied Del Piero from close range at the other end three minutes later.
As the game swung from end-to-end Buffon did well to push Podolski's fierce drive over his own bar, while Del Piero flashed a shot across the face of Germany's goal and Lehmann did well to deny Andrea Pirlo on 188 minutes.
The two sides finally looked to be accepting the lottery of a penalty shoot-out when Italy finally broke the deadlock on 199 minutes. A corner was only cleared to Pirlo who played the ball to Grosso and the full-back curled an unstoppable strike past Lehmann.
The Germans frantically charged up field to try and grab an equaliser in the short time left and it was no surprise when Italy hit them on the break to put the result beyond doubt.
Gilardino did well to hold the ball up on the edge of the area before playing in Del Piero who raced into the area and hammered a shot high into the German net to secure 1982 winners Italy a first final appearance since they lost to Brazil on penalties in the United States 12 years ago.
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