The Hindu : Sport / Football : Can Italy make it this time?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 02, 2006

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Sport - Football

Can Italy make it this time?

HAMBURG: When Italy faces Germany in the semifinals, it will mark the third straight World Cup the Azzurri have played the host country.

Italy lost to France on penalties in 1998 and went out on a golden goal in South Korea four years ago.

``France we faced in the quarterfinals, Korea in the Round of 16, this is the semifinals, so it's a little different,'' Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. ``It will be tough, but it will be tough for Germany too.''

Lippi spoke moments after Italy thoroughly dominated Ukraine in a 3-0 win on Friday. He was more concerned about celebrating the quarterfinal victory than looking ahead to the semifinals already.

``Now we can say we're among the top four teams in the world, reaching the semifinals of the World Cup is a great satisfaction and an enormous source of pride. This team has incredible character and knows how to overcome absences and confront difficulty in the best possible manner,'' Lippi added.

Besides a massive corruption scandal back home and the specter of a former teammate — Gianluca Pessotto — fighting for his life in a Turin hospital, Italy played without two suspended players and injured defender Alessandro Nesta against Ukraine.

Italy will evaluate the condition of Nesta's right thigh over the next few days. Andrea Barzagli filled in admirably Friday in his first World Cup start and only 10th appearance overall for Italy.

Marco Materazzi, Nesta's initial replacement, will return for the semifinals after sitting out against Ukraine with a red card. Midfielder Daniele De Rossi has one more game to serve in a four-match ban for elbowing the face of United States forward Brian McBride in the first round. He can return for the final or third-place game.

Totti in good form

Defender Gianluca Zambrotta scored Italy's first goal six minutes in and striker Luca Toni added two second-half goals, his first of the tournament. Standout playmaker Francesco Totti set up two goals and showed his best form since undergoing left leg surgery in February. — AP

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