World Cup 2006 hosts Germany face Italy’s Azzurri in the World Cup’s first semi-final in Dortmund on Tuesday evening.

The sides have met 28 times before with Italy holding a 13 -7 advantage in wins, and with Germany not having beaten Italy since a friendly in Zurich in 1995 when they won 2-0 and Italy having been the most recent victors in a 4-1 drubbing in March.

The semi final in the World Cup in Mexico in 1970 between the two nations is regarded as one of the greatest games ever played in the World Cup finals.

The game saw Italy win 4-3, with an extra time winner from Gianni Rivera sealing the win. But Italy team manager Gigi Riva says fans shouldn't get their hopes up about a similar goal-fest.

“It won't be anything like Mexico in 1970," said Riva, who also was a goal-scorer on that day.

“There's so much at stake and I expect it to be much, much tighter.”

Riva believes a victory against Germany on Tuesday will have a special significance due to the controversy surrounding the match fixing allegations that are currently rocking the Italian football world.

“This game is more important than the one at the Azteca (stadium in Mexico) because it comes at a time when our football has taken a real bashing,” he said.

“From the first day that we got the squad together, it seemed as if we were on a boat that was being pounded by missiles and torpedoes every day.

“But we regrouped, and (Italy head coach Marcello) Lippi has unified the players.”

However, the scandals back in Italy are a strange omen as the last time the side lifted the trophy there were similar problems with the domestic league.

The 1982 tournament saw the Azzuri prevail and it was the Germans whom they defeated 3-1 in the final.

Superstitious Italians may believe they are meeting them one match too early.

The hosts, who are now enjoying massive support from their fans, will see it as a far call from the recent battering that Germany took after being destroyed by Italy 4-1 in a friendly World Cup warm-up match in Florence in March.

The press were calling for the resignation of head coach Jürgen Klinsmann after the match, but since that defeat Germany have been on excellent form with five consecutive wins - a new record for Germany at an individual final - and the team will be out to erase the memory of that defeat.

“We have lost several times to Italy over the years and have a score to settle,” said midfielder Torsten Frings - who is suspended for the match following a brawl after the penalty shoot-out with Argentina.

“Of course we all remember the 4-1, but I do not think we need to get too worried about that.

"It was a catastrophic performance from us. But I am 100 percent convinced that it will not happen again."

Klinsmann think that now is the time for his team to excel, saying: ‘The team has grown over the last six weeks and it is a team which is saying they can be world champions.

“We have taken a giant step but there are two more to take to reach our target.”

The Germans have no injury worries after captain Michael Ballack and top scorer Miroslav Klose are now fit after shrugging off minor injuries, but will be without Frings through his suspension.

Italy are likely to be without defender Alessandro Nesta, who also missed the last match, after failing to recover from a groin strain.

Italy are likely to start with three strikers, with AS Roma captain Francesco Totti, AC Milan’s Alberto Gilardino and Fiorentina’s Luca Toni featuring in a three-pronged attack.

Probable teams for Germany v Italy:

Germany (probable) - Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Schneider, Borowski, Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Klose

Italy (probable) - Buffon, Zambrotta, Materazzi, Cannavaro, Grosso, Perrotta, Gattuso, Pirlo, Totti, Toni, Gilardino