Euro 2012 semi-final: Germany v Italy

Who'll meet Spain in the final on Sunday night? Join us for all the action from the second semi

So who will join Spain in Sunday’s Euro 2012 final? Italy and Germany have a long history with each other, having met seven times in major tournaments but Germany have yet to win one of those, with the Azzurri winning three and the remaining four were draws.

The Germans, however, have had two days more rest as well as Italy being forced to penalties against England on Sunday and that makes the three times winners favourites to progress to the big showdown with the holders.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:17:13 PM
Italy: Buffon, Balzaretti, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pirlo, Marchisio, Montolivo, De Rossi, Balotelli, Cassano.
Subs: Sirigu, Ogbonna, Thiago Motta, Abate, Di Natale, Giaccherini, Borini, Giovinco, Diamanti, Nocerino, De Sanctis.

Germany: Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Kroos, Ozil, Podolski, Gomez.
Subs: Wiese, Gundogan, Schmelzer, Howedes, Schurrle, Klose, Muller, Bender, Mertesacker, Gotze, Reus, Zieler.

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France).

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:18:59 PM
One change for Italy then, with Girogio Chiellini coming back in for the injured Ignazio Abate. Germany, meanwhile, recall Lukas Podolski, Mario Gomez and Toni Kroos

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:20:15 PM
Just heard Angela Merkel is playing for Germany Tonight. Come on Germany.

by algalway 6/28/2012 6:23:26 PM
she plays for ireland

by podge 6/28/2012 6:30:30 PM
Ten minutes to go now before we kick-off. To be honest, I just want to see a goal.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:36:18 PM
Two of the best national anthems around being belted out now in Warsaw.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:41:03 PM
And now for some more respect blabberings from the skippers before we can finally get some football going.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:43:21 PM
1' - And we're off...Italy, in their usual blue strip, get the action underway against Germany in their white shirt and black shorts who are playing from left to right in the opening half.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:48:18 PM
3' - Pretty uneventful start, though the Polish fans inside the ground are making incredible noise for the co-hosts concluding game of the tournament.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:50:50 PM
5' - Corner for Germany and Hummels edges it goalwards. Buffon misreads it and it bounces of Pirlo before falling back into the hands of the keeper.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:52:51 PM
6' - Another Germany corner and Ozil takes only for it to be cleared out for a throw-in.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:53:51 PM
8' - Very measured start here from Italy but just as I type that De Rossi plays a nice flick to Pirlo who tries his luck from 35 yards. It's blocked, though.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 6:56:36 PM
12' - Glorious chance for Germany as the ball comes in from the right and Buffon spills. He's thankful that Andrea Barzagli is on hand to clear for a corner. Ozil takes once again but the pressure is kept up and Buffon parries a ball back into the box.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:00:33 PM
17' - Montolivo has a crack for the Italians but Manuel Neuer saves well.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:04:47 PM
GOAL Germany 0-1 Italy

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:07:01 PM
20' - Mario Balotelli does it for Italy with a fantastic header following a cross from Antonio Cassano on the left flank.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:07:28 PM
If Italy go through to meet Spain, does that make Ireland's failure less embarrassing?

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:10:34 PM
23' - Germany doing their best to respond now as Mario Gomez heads wide.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:11:52 PM
28' - Mario Balotelli may have scored the goal but it's Cassano who is performing brilliantly for Italy at the moment. Holding up and linking up brilliantly.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:15:41 PM
29' - Toni Kroos tries to find Gomez but the ball trickles past the outstretched leg of the Germany attacker.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:16:50 PM
33' - Balzaretti defends a Jerome Boateng cross from the right excellently. He was under severe pressure from Lukas Podolski, Germany have a corner but it's cleared by Marchisio before Balotelli wins a free near halfway.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:21:15 PM
35' - Sami Khedira forces Buffon into a steady save. Another corner from Schweinsteiger is punched away by the Italy keeper.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:22:58 PM
GOAL Germany 0-2 Italy

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:23:11 PM
36' - And from Buffon's clearance, Balotelli latches on to a long ball forward and finishes powerfully to the top right corner. Fantastic goal and the Man City man goes wild.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:24:04 PM
37' - He's booked for taking his shirt off in the celebrations, by the way.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:24:34 PM
42' - Italy are bossing it now. Passing around in Spain-fashion.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:29:11 PM
45' - Philip Lahm crosses from the left but Buffon takes it with ease.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:32:18 PM
HALF-TIME Germany 0-2 Italy

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:33:40 PM
Balotelli has stolen the show but what has happened to Germany? They look very poor going forward and Italy are dominant.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:34:28 PM
If Germany are to stand any chance, they'll need an early goal. Completely lost their shape after going two down too.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:39:35 PM
46' - Back underway again.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:50:02 PM
46' - Germany have made two subs at the break, Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus on for Lukas Podolski and Mario Gomez.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:50:40 PM
47' - Reus wriggles his way past the Italian defenders but scuffs his shot and Buffon saves easily.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:52:00 PM
49' - Phillip Lahm is afforded a great chance to bring Germany back into it but he shoots over.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:53:58 PM
55' - Brilliant from Ozil as he worms his way in from the right and plays towards Khedira but Giorgio Chiellini intercepts and the two-goal lead remains intact for Italy.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 7:59:43 PM
58' - Italy sub as a tired Antonio Cassano is taken off for Alessandro Diamanti, who had a stormer when he was introduced against Italy.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 8:01:58 PM
60' - Balotelli drills one across goal and wide after getting the better of Badstuber.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 8:04:08 PM
62' - Reus takes a free-kick with the inside of his right boot but Buffon tips over for a corner.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 8:06:11 PM
63' - Second Italy sub as Riccardo Montolivo is taken off for Thiago Motta.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 8:07:45 PM
65' - Italy are still dangerous in attack here as Marchisio shoots wide.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 8:11:33 PM
67' - Mario Balotelli is down now with what looks to be cramp. Already.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 8:12:36 PM
70' - Germany still trying their best here but getting little reward

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 8:14:58 PM
70' - And now Balotelli is taken off with Antonio Di Natale coming on.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 8:15:24 PM
74' - Loads of German possession but Italy are defending like they've always done: staunchly.

by AlanSmith 6/28/2012 8:18:43 PM

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Euro 2012 semi-final: Germany v Italy

Who'll meet Spain in the final on Sunday night? Join us for all the action from the second semi