World Cup 2006 hosts Germany have been beaten by 2-0 by Italy’s Azzurri in the World Cup’s first semi-final in Dortmund on Tuesday evening after an exciting semi-final that saw two last minute extra-time goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero to give the Azzurri a place in the Final of the World Cup.

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, with Italy slightly ahead on chances at goal, but with a good tempo to the match and with either side looking likely to score.

Germany started the second-half with a few decent attacks, but with Buffon standing strong in the Azzuri goal, with Klose denied in a one-on-one with the Italian No1.

Italy were very dangerous on any break and were determined to press the German’s consistently, with the deadlock failing to be broken by the excellent defending from both sides.

Germany had a great chance to take the lead after a great piece of build-up play, which saw Lukas Podolski turning in the penalty-area, but despatching his shot straight at Buffon in the Italian goal, with Arne Friedrich shooting high of the bar on the rebound.

The game started to get a bit messy, with some needless tackles and fouls from both sides, and with neither side too keen on taking a risk in attack, but yet with both sides playing some quality football.

Bastian Schweinsteiger came on for Tim Borowski in the 73rd minute, with Klinsmann hoping that he would be able to utilise the wings and with Alberto Gilardino coming on for Luca Toni for Italy.

The Mexican referee, Benito Archundia was excellent throughout the match, letting advantage be played when necessary and giving an exemplary refereeing performance overall.

As full time came looming, both teams began to tire in the humidity of Dortmund, and the game seemed set for extra-time, yet neither team seemed content with that and continued to press.

With ten minutes to go, Germany were awarded a free-kick against Fabio Cannavaro just outside the Italian penalty-area, but the free-kick, taken by Chelsea new-boy Michael Ballack, went just high of the bar.

David Odonkor came on for Bernd Schneider with seven minutes to go for Germany, but still it was Italy who pressed harder, with the Arsenal keeper Lehmann making a last ditch tackle that denied Simone Perrotta.

There were three minutes of extra-time for both teams to contend with, but despite a few half-hearted attempts, neither side could find the breakthrough, and the game finished 0-0 in normal-time, with 30-minutes of extra-time.

Extra-time started as furiously as at any point in the match, with the Azzurri unfortunate to take the lead after Gilardino had an attempt that hit the post, with Zambrotta hitting the crossbar seconds later.

The end of the first-period of extra-time saw Germany having another golden chance with Odonkor crossing perfectly for Lukas Podolski, who had a free-header at the near-post, but guided the ball went well wide of Buffon in the Italian goal.

Germany were under the threat of a counter-attack, with Lehmann making some superb last ditch saves to deny the Azzurri.

Both sides were giving their all in the last minutes, but it was the Azzurri that took the win from Germany, just two minutes before from penalties.

Fabio Grosso latched onto a pass which he curled beautifully past Lehmann to give Italy the lead.

Just one minute later, Italy secured the win with a strike from Juventus’ Alessandro Del Piero to give the Azzurri a deserved place in the final.