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Web Exclusive | The World Cup | Semi-Final | Germany v Italy Italy Ignore All The Omens Klinsmann's team seemed to have everything going for them on home ground. But then, it seems, no-one told the Azzuri that By BRUCE CRUMLEY subscribe to TIME Printable Version email this story Preview: How France Can Eliminate Scolari's Survivors

Posted Tuesday, July 4, 2006; 7.23BST
The setting couldn't have more advantageous to German hopes of navigating a perilous semi-final with Italy to qualify for the World Cup final. It's World Cup final, next Sunday in Berlin. Put aside the German's record, drive, and solid-looking play up to this point. Forget all the factors that players and coaches worked hard to perfect, and which give teams a competitive edge when crunch time rolls around. Leave aside the deft coaching and strategic smarts coach Juergen Klismann has shown since Germany opened Cup play up in its scoring-bloated match against Costa Rica. Instead, what had to be looming largest in the minds of German players coming into this match — and quite literally, in walking on to the pitch — was the massive human wave of home-crowd enthusiasm that came crashing down upon them in from the 65,000, sold-out seats in Dortmund's Westfalentadion.

But that deafening fervor wasn't the only moral support German players enjoyed; even the pitch seemed to nurture confidence. In the 14 matches the Nationalmannschaft has played in Westfalenstadion since 1935, its worst result was a 1997 draw with the Netherlands. What better place to take on the historic Italian bete noir than in an electrified arena that has never let you lose?

You'd think none — but then, you might not have expected the Italians thinking it was a pretty keen joint, too. And though it took them 120-plus minutes and plenty of wasted scoring chances by both sides, the Italians pulled out a stunning win over the favored Germans, by pumping two sensational goals in the dying moments of the game: a spinning shot by Fabio Grosso from the far side of the penalty area into the other corner of the net; the second a picture-perfect fast break splitting defenders, and delivering a beautiful pass to the eternal Italian goat, Alessandro del Piero for the score.

And despite the last-second theatrics, it would be impossible to content the Italians stole this one. Though the Germans played and looked like they really, really wanted this game badly, it was the clearly weary and sagging Italians who ultimately stepped up at the end, and simply took what the Germans wouldn't give them.

No matter how sad it is to see the hosts exit this World Cup, this semi-final featured — for the most part — such impassioned, hard-fought football that no real fan of the game should come away from it too sad. In fact, the Squadra looked so good you'd have sworn they actually came from the same nation that produced the sterling teams headed by the Rossis, Baggios, Maldinis (both of them) of the glory years. This Italy pressed hard and high, dominated possession of the ball, forced its opponents into fouling, and created heart-stopping opportunities with sudden bursts of collective speed allowing multiple Italians to come streaking into the German penalty area together.

The Germans, meanwhile, responded to the suffocating Italian press by punching through converging defenders with fast, short, hard passes up and down field, until someone found himself with enough room to bring it close to the box himself, pass around a bit more, and set up one of the several combinations Germany could have scored on — but never quite did.

As the second half, and then two extra periods pushed on, both sides pushed hard towards the opposite end — neither, quite clearly, wanting to go to the terrible test of a shoot out. The German determination to end it early was most obvious, with passer getting the ball down field, and setting up wingers who could lob centers in from the wings.

Though their fast-breaking style differed, the Italians weren't to be denied in the desire category, and matched the Germans drive for drive. By the end, play was shooting from one end to the other in lightning fast, energy-depleting surges. Along with France-Brazil, it was probably the most rewarding game of this cup to witness.

So hats off to an Italy that has returned to form. Many of us would have liked to have seen Klinsmann and his men around till the final; the Italians — and wonderful footballing — decided otherwise. Who could argue with that?

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