World Cup - Semi-final

drunken_master · World Cup - Semi-final

Two tantalising all-European semi-finals are set for the next two days, the first of which will see hosts Germany take on the impressive Italians in Dortmund.

It may have taken a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, but Germany finally broke their winless streak against major footballing nations when they overcame the impressive Albiceleste in their engrossing quarter-final.

Italy, on the other hand, had a much easier time of it, needing just the regulation 90 minutes to dismiss Ukraine with a comprehensive 3-0 scoreline that ominously saw Luca Toni finally live up to his pre-tournament hype.

Germany have never gotten the better of their Mediterranean opponents in the World Cup; four meetings have seen the Azzurri triumph twice while the other matches ended deadlocked. Their last clash in the World Cup saw Italy emerge as 3-1 victors, in the final of Spain '82, and in the most recent meetings of the teams, Italy handed out a 4-1 thrashing to the Nationalmannschaft in a friendly played earlier this year.

Captain Michael Ballack and leading scorer Miroslav Klose are both expected to be fit for the semi-final, allowing Jurgen Klinsmann a full squad of players to choose from.

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Frings Banned For Semi-Final

Fifa have suspended Germany's influential midfielder Torsten Frings for Tuesday's crucial World Cup semi-final against Italy.

TV footage showed that Frings, 29, was involved in the brawl that followed Germany's penalty shoot-out victory over Argentina in Friday's dramatic World Cup quarter-final. He is understood to have landed a punch on Argentina's Julio Cruz.

The ban is a big blow to the host country's hopes because Frings, of werder Bremen, has been oner of the outstanding players of the tournament.

However, although Frings has been given a two-match suspension suspension, the second match is suspended, meaning that he will be available for the World Cup final should Germany overcome the Azzurri. However, that task has become significantly harder without Frings.

Argentina's Leandro Cufre was given a red card after the final whistle for his part in the fracas, while Maxi Rodriguez is also under investigation for his involvement.