European rivals Germany and Italy will meet in the semifinals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup after earning quarterfinal victories Friday in Germany.
The Germans survived a battle with Argentina in Berlin, winning 4-2 on penalty kicks after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. It took the entire first half for the sides to settle into the game, with whistles from referee Lubos Michels outnumbering scoring chances. But, just four minutes after the break, Roberto Ayala put the Albiceleste in front, fighting off a challenge from Miroslav Klose to head home a Juan Riquelme corner kick.
The South Americans then seemed content to protect the lead. After a clash with Klose, Argentinean 'keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri had to be replaced by Leo Franco in the 71st minute, and Argentinean coach Jose Pekerman followed that substitution by replacing Riquelme with Esteban Cambiasso and Hernan Crespo with Julio Cruz.
With the sharpest parts of the Argentinean attack dulled, the hosts pressed for an equalizer, and it was Klose who got it in the 80th minute, heading home Tim Borowski's flick of a Michael Ballack cross. The goal was the tournament-leading fifth of the competition for Klose.
After two scoreless sessions of extra time, it was goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's time to shine for Germany in the penalty shootout. The Arsenal shot-stopper correctly guessed the direction of each of the four attempts he faced, stoning Ayala and Cambiasso. All four German participants - Oliver Neuville, Ballack, Lukas Podolski and Borowski - converted their efforts to send Der Mannschaft through.
In Hamburg, the Italians got an early goal from Gianluca Zambrotta, and after the Azzurri survived a few close calls in their defensive end, Luca Toni completed a 3-0 victory over the Ukraine with a second-half double.
Zambrotta gave Italy the eventual game-winner in the sixth minute, making an impressive individual effort to storm up the right flank, then cut to the box and fire a left-footed shot inside the near post.
Andriy Gusin nearly equalized for the Ukraine in the 50th minute, but Italian 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon dove to his right to slap away his powerful header. Oleg Gusev had another chance six minutes later that Buffon also stopped.
Three minutes later, Italy punished its opponents. Francesco Totti swung in a cross from the left that Toni stooped to head past Olexsandr Shovkovskyi, who was rooted to the ground. After Ukraine saw a Gusin header come back off the bar, Toni was on the spot again in the 69th minute to tap in a square ball from Zambrotta and provide the final margin.
Italy and Germany have not met in the World Cup since 1982, when the Italians defeated West Germany 3-1 in the final in Madrid. They'll face off in Dortmund on Tuesday.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
