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Germany v Italy
The Italians meet the Germans for an opportunity to reach the final, something the Germans are all too familiar with, having dispatched a woeful but brave Greece side in the previous game, Germany look to play a well oiled and disciplined Italy side full of endeavor and guile following a penalty shootout win over a woefully average England team.
Led by Prandelli, this Italy side with no stand out players a more refined unit capable of surgically dissecting a side with players like De Rossi and Nocerino escaping media note, whilst Pirlo has faux pundits purring.
The Germans, like a brilliantly designed machine boast talent in every inch of the pinch from the wing back Lahm, the level of technical ability in the Germany side is the key to the forwards like the evergreen Klose, players like Ozil, the silently effective Khedira and the hammer footed Bastien Schweinsteiger all lead probably the most talented midfield in any European national side.
The Italian side arrive on the back of more domestic scandal with some players being investigated for corruption. This, sadly isn't new to the Italian side.
Police had made 19 arrests, while the coach, Cesare Prandelli, said that if the national team had to leave the European Championship in order to clear the name of Italian football that would be "no problem". He has since distanced himself from remarks which were meant to be rhetorical but Domenico Criscito was withdrawn from the squad after he was questioned by police following a 6am raid on the training camp.
Whilst the Germans will have the lions share of the media focus, it will be dangerous to discount the Italians, who a the tournament lead the way with the most shots ( most against England ! )
STAT ATTACK!
These two sides have met 30 times in their history: Italy lead by 14 wins to seven, with nine draws completing the record.
Italy have never lost against the Germans in a competitive game: three wins and four draws (including two games played at the Euros, in 1988, 1-1 and 1996, 0-0).
The Azzurri are unbeaten in their last five games against Germany, winning three times and drawing twice.
Italy have failed to make it to the finals only in two of the 10 semi-final games they’ve played at major tournaments (a 0-2 loss v USSR at Euro 1988, and a 3-4 defeat on penalties v Argentina at the 1990 World Cup, after a 1-1 draw).
Germany have played in a semi-final in a major competition 17 times so far, making it to the final on 11 occasions.
Germany are the only side to have won each of their four games at Euro 2012. They have now won their last 15 competitive games – an all-time record in DFB history.
ZEE Germans have scored in each of their last 20 games (51 goals in total).
Germany boast the best attack at Euro 2012 (nine goals scored) while Italy have the second-best defence (two goals conceded).
Six of Italy’s last seven goals at the Euros have come from set-pieces, whereas 11 of Germany’s last 12 have come from open play.
In the quarter-final match against Greece, Miroslav Klose has score his 64th goal in his 120th cap for Germany and he is now just four strikes away from Gerd Mueller’s record of 68 goals for the Mannschaft.
Germany have conceded, on average, only nine fouls per game, fewer than any other side at Euro 2012, while Hummels and Khedira are the only outfield players to have played four full games without conceding a single foul.
So that's all folks, in summary expect a very tight game with a lot of midfield play, i can hand on heart say this will match will see the eventual winner, sadly looks like it will be Klose and Pirlo's last major tournament!
Prediction
Germany 2-1 Italy
Germany 2-1 Italy
