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– Good evening from the National Stadium in Warsaw Poland, where it is crunch time for Euro 2012 favourites Germany who face Italy in the last semfinal tonight. |
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– The three time champions Germany have yet to beat 1968 winners Italy in seven competitive games. Is today the day the Mannschaft end their heartbreaking run against Azzurri? stay tuned... |
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– German coach Joachim Low has decided to start Mario Gomez who wa on the bench against Greece in the quarterfinals. |
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– Gomez is the remaining top scorer on three goals, one more than Spains Cesc Fabregas who has a chance to catch up with the defending champions already secured their place in Sundays final awaiting the winner of tonights game in Warsaw. |
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– Italy are unchanged in attack with Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotteli prominent in attack while in midfielder Andrea Pirlo is fit. |
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– The teams walk out of the tunnel and on to the pitch.... |
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– Italy national anthem.. |
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– And now.. the Germany national anthem.. |
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1’ – start of first half |
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2’ – Germany win a throw in, Gomez collects shoots..shot is harmless and rolls across face of goa. comes to nothing and Buffon collects. |
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3’ – Montelivo pass to Balotelli, the latter fails to connect after slipping germany defence. Manuel Neuer collects the ball. |
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5’ – Germany win corner |
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5’ – Italy survive! Hummels connects with ball Pirlo clears off the line with Buffon beaten! |
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7’ – De Rossi wins free kick in centre quickly taken. |
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8’ – Italy pressuring Germany, Cassano and Pirlo in the thick of the action here. |
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9’ – Kroos takes long range shot, Buffon collects. |
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12’ – Italy survive the prospect of an own goal after Andrea Barzagli almost deflects Jermoe Boateng shot but buffon was quick off the lines. Ozil too has a chance but cleared. |
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15’ – Germany heating up for this one after a slow start it seems. |
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16’ – Italy get first shot on goal through Riccardo Montolivo but his well taken shot saved by Manuel Neuer |
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18’ – Cassano too tests Neuer but the German keeper is outstanding. |
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20’ – Mario Balotelli (Italy) scores! |
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20’ – Balotelli bullet header off a Antonio Cassano cross puts Italy ahead. This is the Italy and Manchester City players second of the tournament. |
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23’ – Germany are coming forward but Italy looking composed ..Boateng cross for Gomez ..ball flies wide and out of play. |
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25’ – Frustrating minutes for Germany now.. Gomez again fails to utilize a Boateng delivery. heads it wide and out for touch. |
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26’ – Ozil takes shot pass from heavily marshalled Gomez, shoots, Buffon saves. |
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28’ – Gomez again fails to make good use of a good ball this time from Tomi Kroos, ball sails past the Bayen Munich striker inside the box. |
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29’ – Kroos takes a long range short ball goes widfe.. |
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32’ – Italy enjoy some good possession Pirlo showing so serious class in midfield. |
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33’ – Podolski fails to connect with Boateng cross, Federico Barzaretti clears the dangers. |
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34’ – Montelivo on the other end too casual with his advances into Germanys penalty area cleared. |
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35’ – Buffon Sami Khedira sohot saved. |
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36’ – Mario Balotelli (Italy) scores! |
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36’ – Mario Balotelli (Italy) is cautioned. |
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42’ – Germany are stunned and Joachim Low can't wait for the halftime whistle as memories of Dortmund 2006 come rushing back.. |
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45’ – Match official add one extra minute. |
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45 + 1’ – The referee brings the first half to an end. |
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46’ – Germany Substitution: Marco Reus replaces Lukas Podolski |
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46’ – Germany Substitution: Miroslav Klose replaces Mario Gomez |
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– Germany are preparing to make a change with number 21 Marco Reus preparing to come on. |
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46’ – Germany make a double sub for the final 45 minutes hoping for a change of fortunes after a forgettable first half in which one Mario Balotelli' eclipsed Gomez and Podolski on the other end. |
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47’ – Reus gets a first taste of the Italian goal with a shot that Buffon collects from the near post. |
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48’ – Germanys villian during Italy's second goal Philipp Lahm finds space between the Italy defenders after being put through by Reus but shoot high and over for touch. |
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50’ – Germany are camped inside Italy's half but Azzurri are looking very composed thanks to the two goal cushion. |
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53’ – Reus and Klose finding Italy hard to breakdown now...Khedira tries tio find space just six yard infront of Italys goalmouth but Giorgio Chiellini clears. |
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55’ – Leonardo Bonucci makes fine tackle inside the box from advancing Klose! corner but Italy deal with it and clear. |
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56’ – Italy Substitution: Alessandro Diamanti replaces Antonio Cassano |
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58’ – Boateng cross comes to nothing..Italians let it roll out for touch. |
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59’ – Balotelli' twists and turns ..finds an opening.. shoots.. oh low shot goes wide. |
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60’ – Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) is cautioned. |
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61’ – Kroos wins germany free kick off B Bonucci foul. |
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61’ – Oh, Reus takes it Buffon parries for corner subperb clearence! |
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63’ – Italy Substitution: Thiago Motta replaces Riccardo Montolivo |
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66’ – Italy almost get a thid through Claudio Marchisio, whose volley goes wide. |
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67’ – Italy looking pretty comfortable but Balotelli is on teh floor...looks like cramps. |
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69’ – Italy Substitution: Antonio Di Natale replaces Mario Balotelli |
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70’ – Balotelli' limps off with cramps as Ceasare Prandelli take the cautious route to save the manchester City man for the final. |
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71’ – Germany Substitution: Thomas Muller replaces Jerome Boateng |
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72’ – Muller comes on to add more fire power with reus and Klose already on and firing up against a resolute Italian defence and Gigi Buffon in goals. |
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73’ – Lahm crosses into Italys boxes in serach of Klose repealed with ease. |
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74’ – Claudio Marchisio again has another fine chance twisting and turning but shot goes wide! |
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76’ – Muller wins corner for Germany.. |
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76’ – Ozil takes it Hummels heads high and over |
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77’ – Alessandro Diamanti bares down on Neurer in goal slips Germany regroups at the back, Italy still have teh ball, De Rossi takes a shot saved! |
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78’ – Kroos on the other end blast shot high and over..things are not looking good for Germany.. |
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81’ – Antonio Di Natale beats Germany's defence! one on one with Neuer oh oh he is shot hits the side netting |
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82’ – Federico Barzaretti too has a chance but his effort goes flash across the face of goal. |
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83’ – Chiellini on the other end heads Bastian Scweinsteiger out a floated in cross for corner Buffon deals with, De Natalie on teh counter is offside. |
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85’ – Kroos takes another shot from longrange..it comes to nothing and out for touch. |
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87’ – Muller takes another long range shot for Germany but again Buffon is steady and colllects..three minutes remaining |
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88’ – Thiago Motta (Italy) is cautioned. |
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89’ – Klose takes a shot after beating Leonardo Bonucci but Buffon makes brave cloes range save!! |
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90’ – The 90 minutes are up; four minutes of added time. |
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90 + 1’ – Germahy win penalty after Federico Barzaretti handles ball. |
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90 + 2’ – Mesut Ozil (Germany) scores! |
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90 + 3’ – Mats Hummels (Germany) is cautioned. |
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90 + 3’ – Italy under the cosh after that penalty! as they try to hold on! |
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90 + 4’ – The referee blows the whistle for Full Time. |
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– Italy shock Germany ended their World record winning run! |
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– Italy head to Ukraine on Sunday to face Spain! |
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– Germany's heartache continues against Italy and are now eight games without a win with now four defeats and four draws and on Thursday Mario Balotelli made sure of Azzurri's good run against Mannschaft stays intact with a brace |
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– Good night. |
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