Michael Regan/Getty Images Euro 2012—Semifinal, National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland.
GERMANY 0-2 ITALY (HT)
Goals: Balotelli (Italy) 20', 36'
Lineups
Germany: Neuer, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm, Boateng, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Kroos, Podolski, Gomez
Italy: Buffon, Chiellini, Balzaretti, Barzagli, Bonucci, Marchisio, De Rossi, Montolivo, Pirlo, Balotelli, Cassano
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Michael Regan/Getty Images 45+1'—HALFTIME! The referee blows and Italy go into the break with an advantage few expected before kick-off. They lead 2-0 through a Mario Balotelli double and Germany have thus far found no answers. If the final ends up being Italy v Spain, am I allowed to say "I told you so"?
43'—Badstuber with a firm challenge on Cassano and he leaves the Italy striker writhing on the deck. Cassano looks like he'll be ok to continue.
39'—Pictures come in of a Germany fan already in tears. This is not the way they expected this game to go, that's for sure. Italy have been superb. Germany need to reinvent themselves for the second half to stand any chance of coming back into it.
Joern Pollex/Getty Images 36'—SUPER MARIO DOES IT AGAIN!!!! Montolivo's raking long-range pass releases Balotelli clean on goal. He composes himself and smashes a brilliant finish into the top corner to make it ITALY 2-0 GERMANY!!!!
35'—CHANCE FOR ITALY! Cassano does well to control the ball on Italy's left. He holds it up and eventually plays in Montolivo for a shot on goal, but the midfielder hesitates and gets caught in the box. At the other end Buffon denies Khedira's fizzing effort.
34'—Boateng skips over a tackle and whips over a fine cross from the right. Podolski looks destined to make it 1-1, but Balzaretti gets there first to deny him with an excellent block.
32'—STATS: Germany have had 51 percent of the possession so far, according to UEFA. They've also had five attempts to Italy's three. We all know the one number that counts of course.
29'—Ozil to Kroos, who tries to play in Gomez for a run on goal. But the striker isn't alert to the chance and gets caught wrong-footed. All a little bit rusty from Germany so far.
27'—Gomez finds Ozil on the edge of the box. The Real Madrid man tries to shape a shot past Buffon, but his effort is tame and Buffon gathers with ease.
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images 25'—Boateng's cross finds Gomez, but the Bayern striker's glancing header drifts well wide.
23'—Italy deserve to be ahead. They've been the more threatening side going forward and made the better chances. Germany aren't quite firing yet.
20'—GOAL MARIO!!!!!! Italy lead and it's Mario Balotelli, who else, with the goal. Cassano wriggles to find space on the left and picks out Balotelli with a superb cross. The Manchester City man is up early and heads confidently past Neuer to put Italy 1-0 up!
18'—Cassano's turn to strike one. His curling effort from 30 yards is headed for the corner, but not traveling fast enough to unduly trouble Neuer. Good spell for Italy.
17'—Good play from Italy, who patiently build to the edge of Germany's box. Montolivo takes the chance to shoot and draws a low save from Neuer, away to his right.
15'—Pirlo very deep so far for Italy and it's Germany who appear to be having the better of midfield. Balotelli is a little isolated up front for the Italians too.
12'—BOTH SIDES OF BUFFON! Just seconds after unconvincingly palming away a cross, Buffon is forced into action to dive full stretch and push away a rasping shot from Kroos. Italy looking a touch shaky at the back here.
12'—De Rossi's long ball finds Balotelli superbly, but the striker is immediately wrapped up by two German defenders. Very tight so far. Both teams are feeling each other out.
Michael Steele/Getty Images 9'—Pirlo takes on Badstuber at the edge of the box, but he can't get a shot away.
9'—Podolski tries to send Gomez away down the left, but his pass is too strong. Neither side has found a decent final ball yet.
5'—BUFFON MISTAKE! The veteran Italian 'keeper misreads a corner and Hummels has a chance to score from close-range. His effort is cleared off the line and Italy escape.
Alex Grimm/Getty Images 4'—Montolivo tries to play in Balotelli, but Neuer is sharp to react and comes out to claim the ball before Super Mario can get close to it. Even start so far.
2'—Balzaretti gives away possession cheaply and Germany have a chance to cross from the left. Schweinsteiger's ball is too high for Gomez in the box.
1'—And we're away. Both sides are in their iconic colors—Italy in blue shirts and white shorts, Germany in white shirts with black shorts. Tremendous atmosphere inside the National Stadium.
A lot of talk tonight about Italy's record against Germany. The Italians have NEVER lost to Germany in a competitive match. With that thought, out come to the players to a rapturous reception in Warsaw.
Here's where the action will unfold tonight...
Here's how both sides reached the semis:
GERMANY
Group B: Germany 1-0 Portugal
Group B: Netherlands 1-2 Germany
Group B: Denmark 1-2 Germany
Quarterfinal: Germany 4-2 Greece
ITALY
Group C: Spain 1-1 Italy
Group C: Italy 1-1 Croatia
Group C: Italy 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Quarterfinal: England 0-0 Italy (Italy won 4-2 on pens)
Claudio Villa/Getty Images Balotelli starts again for Italy, who make just one change from the starting XI that faced England. Giorgio Chiellini has recovered from his hamstring injury and will replace Ignazio Abate in defense.
Joern Pollex/Getty Images The teams are in. It's Mario Gomez who starts up front for Germany, with Miroslav Klose dropping back to the bench. Lukas Podolski is also back in the starting lineup. No Thomas Muller or Marco Reus though. It's Toni Kroos who gets the nod to play alongside Ozil and Podolski.
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