Live from Germany
Italy smash Ukraine aside, set sights on Germany
Two goals from Luca Toni and an opener from Gianluca Zambrotta saw Italy sweep Ukraine out of the World Cup with a 3-0 quarter-finals win Friday night, setting up a tie with Germany for a place in the final itself.
Germany had overcome Argentina on penalties earlier in Berlin thanks to two shoot-out saves from Jens Lehmann after extra-time had ended 1-1.
But Germany have never beaten Italy in an official match.
Zambrotta, who flew to Italy this week to visit former team-mate Gianluca Pessotto after his suicide attempt at the scandal plagued club, scored Italy's first with a venomous strike after just six minutes as Italy totally dominated the first half.
The Juventus midfielder also set up Toni's second goal 20 minutes from the end, after which coach Marcello Lippi sent on two extra defenders to kill any chance of a comeback.
Toni had failed to score in Italy's last four games but had better luck when set up beautifully first by Totti on the hour and for another tap in ten minutes later.
"Those goals were really important for me and for the squad," said the 29-year-old Toni.
Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon celebrates after Italian forward Luca Toni (not pictured) scored the second goal for his team during the World Cup 2006 quarter final football game Italy vs. Ukraine, 30 June 2006 at Hamburg stadium. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS
"But it will now be a very tough game against the Germans as they are at home and they have knocked out Argentina.
"But we played very well today and are ready to take them on."
Ukraine had rotten luck on the night coming desperately close on three occasions, but on two of those, another man suffering from the Pessotto incident Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was on hand to show why pundits are calling him the world's best No1.
Lehmann the hero as Germany win penalty shoot-out
Jens Lehmann saved two spot-kicks as Germany beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties in their quarter-final in Berlin after the match finished 1-1 at 90 minutes and extra-time failed to produce another goal.
Lehmann, who beat out Oliver Kahn to be the Germany number 1 for the World Cup, saved the second and fourth penalties, both weak efforts from Argentina's goal hero from the opener Roberto Ayala and then from Esteban Cambiasso, a save which handed a semi-final spot to Germany and sent most of the 72,000 crowd wild with joy.
"The two best teams in the tournament met here and it is a pity that it had to be decided by a penalty shootout, said Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann after the match.
German head coach Juergen Klinsmann (R) celebrates with German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (L) during the quarter-final World Cup football match between Germany and Argentina at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, 30 June 2006. Germany won 4-2 on penalty kicks after the match finished in extra time 1-1. AFP PHOTO / OLIVER LANG
"That was a thriller worthy of Hitchcock, but we know that each round is a thriller that we have to survive."
First choice Argentina 'keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri was forced off injured after being clattered in the ribs and was replaced with Leo Franco after 71 minutes, and he failed to stop the spot-kicks of Oliver Neuville, Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski and Tim Borowski.
Ayala had headed home a corner after 49 minutes to give Argentina, who were then enjoying massive amounts of possession, a deserved lead.
However, Misroslav Klose headed home his fifth goal of the tournament to draw the host level on 80 minutes of a match in which they enjoyed a landslide perecentage of the refereeing decisions.