Italy scored two late goals in extra-time to book their place in the World Cup final for the first time in 12 years with their 2-0 win crushing the dreams of host nation Germany in Dortmund on Tuesday.
Normal time had failed to produce a goal in the semi-final clash and it looked like penalties were on the cards deep into extra-time. But Italian defender Fabio Grosso scored deep into extra-time with a brilliant curling effort and substitute Alessandro del Piero added a second to break Germany's hearts.
Italy, who won the last of their three titles in 1982 beating West Germany 3-1, will face France in Sunday's final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. Germany had never lost in Dortmund but Italy produced their best display of the tournament to reach the final and give the football fans back home something to celebrate in the wake of Serie A's match-fixing scandal.
Germany manager Jürgen Klinsmann was forced to rejig his starting line-up after football's governing body FIFA suspended midfielder Torsten Frings for hitting Julio Cruz in the post match
melee that followed the quarter-final win over Argentina. Sebastian Kehl, playing on the ground where he plays for Borussia Dortmund, deputised for Frings.
On the quarter hour mark Italy had a great opening but Simone Perrotta's first touch failed to match the quality of Francesco Totti's pass and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann blocked his toe-poked shot. Germany had a good chance of their own in the 33rd minute after Italy lost possession in midfield but Bernd Schneider fired his shot over the crossbar.
A 0-0 stalemate meant extra-time - a first for Italy at these
finals, but not for Germany who needed 120 minutes and penalties to defeat Argentina.
The opening of extra-time saw Italy twice hit the woodwork with Alberto Gilardino hitting the post and Gianluca Zambrotta rattled the crossbar seconds later. It looked like penalties would decide the match but Grosso and del Piero struck to shellshock Klinsmann and the home fans.
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Italy scored two late goals in extra-time to book their place in the World Cup final for the first time in 12 years with their 2-0 win crushing the dreams of host nation Germany in Dortmund on Tuesday.
Normal time had failed to produce a goal in the semi-final clash and it looked like penalties were on the cards deep into extra-time. But Italian defender Fabio Grosso scored deep into extra-time with a brilliant curling effort and substitute Alessandro del Piero added a second to break Germany's hearts.
Italy, who won the last of their three titles in 1982 beating West Germany 3-1, will face France in Sunday's final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. Germany had never lost in Dortmund but Italy produced their best display of the tournament to reach the final and give the football fans back home something to celebrate in the wake of Serie A's match-fixing scandal.
Germany manager Jürgen Klinsmann was forced to rejig his starting line-up after football's governing body FIFA suspended midfielder Torsten Frings for hitting Julio Cruz in the post match
melee that followed the quarter-final win over Argentina. Sebastian Kehl, playing on the ground where he plays for Borussia Dortmund, deputised for Frings.
On the quarter hour mark Italy had a great opening but Simone Perrotta's first touch failed to match the quality of Francesco Totti's pass and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann blocked his toe-poked shot. Germany had a good chance of their own in the 33rd minute after Italy lost possession in midfield but Bernd Schneider fired his shot over the crossbar.
A 0-0 stalemate meant extra-time - a first for Italy at these
finals, but not for Germany who needed 120 minutes and penalties to defeat Argentina.
The opening of extra-time saw Italy twice hit the woodwork with Alberto Gilardino hitting the post and Gianluca Zambrotta rattled the crossbar seconds later. It looked like penalties would decide the match but Grosso and del Piero struck to shellshock Klinsmann and the home fans.
