World Cup 2006 hosts Germany have gone into half-time 0-0 against Italy’s Azzurri in the World Cup’s first semi-final in Dortmund on Tuesday evening after an exciting first-half with chances for both teams.

Both sides started brightly, with Italy pushing harder in the early period, despite the massive support in the stadium for the hosts.

Francesco Totti had the first chance at goal in the 3rd minute, with a shot on goal from a free-kick, but the German keeper Jens Lehmann saved the deflected shot easily.

Germany captain Michael Ballack had a shot way off-target, before Italy started to take control, with Simone Perrotta and Marco Materazzi both having shots at goal before Germany began to throw their weight around for the first real time after Philip Lahm made a nice run to connect with Bernd Schneider, who’s shot was blocked.

The pressure was still mainly on the hosts, with the Azzurri forcing a number of corners in the first-half, but with nothing to test Lehmann in the German goal.

Germany had their best chance of the half when Miroslav Klose found Bernd Schneider, but his shot went over Gianluca Buffon in the Azzuri goal.

The game was even as the game went into half-time 0-0, with Italy slightly ahead on chances at goal, but with a good tempo to the match and with both side's looking likely to score.

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