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THE WORLD CUP 2006 SEMI FINALS World Cup 2006 home page _________________________________________________________________________
GERMANY 0 ITALY 2
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The German team was Lehmann, Freidrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Borowski (Schweinsteiger 72), Ballack, Kehl., Schneider (Odonkor 82), Podolski, Klose (Neuville 110) Italy's team was: Buffon, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Grosso, Perrotta (Del Piero 103), Camoranesi (Iaquinta 90), Gattuso, Pirlo, Totti, Toni (Gilardino 74) Germany's Torsten Frings missed this match after he was given a one match ban for his part in the brawl at the end of the game against Argentina. Michael Ballack did recover from injury in time to play in this match although he was not back to his best. Perotta could have given Italy an early lead after he broke free but Jens Lehmann saved well. Schneider then put a good chance for Germany over the bar and Miroslav Klose had a good run into the box to force a save from Italy's excellent goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Germany should really have had a penalty in the first half after a handball by Andrea Pirlo but the game was still 0-0 after 90 minutes. Early on in extra time Italy hit the woodwork twice - firstly Alberto Gilardinho ran into the box from the right wing to strike his shot against the near post and then Gianluca Zambrotta hit the crossbar from a long way out. Podolski could have scored for Germany in extra time when he headed wide when unmarked and then in the second period of extra time he forced Buffon into yet another save. Just as the game looked to be heading for penalties Italy scored with less than two minutes of extra time remaining. From an Alessandro Del Piero corner the ball was only cleared as far as Pirlo on the edge of the box - he fed an unmarked Fabio Grosso unmarked to his right inside the penalty area - with a left footed strike Grosso beat Lehmann at the far post. With Germany now pushing up Italy scored the second goal on the counter attack at the end of the match - Del Piero ran into the box to receive a pass from Gilardinho and he then lifted the ball over Lehmann and into the net to send Italy through to the final. ____________________________________________________________________________
FRANCE 1
PORTUGAL 0 France had a tough route through to the semi finals as they only came second in their group behind Switzerland. They then beat Spain 3-1 and Brazil 1-0 to qualify for this semi final on Wednesday 5 July 2006. Portugal reached the semi final after knocking out England on penalties in the quarter final. The French team was Barthez, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal, Makelele, Malouda (Wiltord 70), Ribery (Govou 71), Viera, Zidane, Henry (Saha 86) Portugal's team was Ricardo, Nuno Valente, Miguel (Ferreira 63), Carvalho, Meira, Costinha (Postiga 74), Maniche, Figo, Deco, Ronaldo, Pauleta (Simao 68) The French team rolled back the years to reach the final again after winning this semi final match 1-0. France won the World Cup in 1998 but make a shock exit in the group stages of the World Cup 2002. This game had a lively start and Malouda and Deco had early chances for France and Portugal before Maniche fired a shot over the bar from distance. Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to be booed every time he got the ball after his antics against England. After 32 minutes, Thierry Henry was tripped inside the penalty box by Ricardo Carvalho and a penalty was given - Zinedine Zidane scored it with a shot to Ricardo's right but Ricardo almost managed to keep it out. In the second half France were generally in control but Pauletta did hit the side netting and Portugal also had good opportunities to equalise at the end of the match. The best of these fell to Figo after Barthez fumbled a Ronaldo free kick but he headed over from close range. France held on and will face Italy in the final of the World Cup 2006 in Berlin on 9 July 2006.
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