Good afternoon, Canada!
We have a thrilling match in prospect this afternoon as Germany takes on Italy in the National Stadium in Poland.
Germany has never beaten Italy in a major tournament.
The Germans won their group by pulling out a victory in all three games before bashing the Greeks into submission in the quarter-finals. Italy, on the other hand, finished second in the group stages behind Spain before narrowly edging out England in penalty kicks.
On paper, it seems as though the gulf in class is vast. The Germans are strong in every position and have a good amount of depth on the bench. The Italians however, have the Andrea Pirlo.
Here is how the two teams will line up this afternoon in Warsaw.
Germany: Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm; Khedira, Schweinsteiger; Kroos, Ozil, Podolski; Gomez.
Italy: Buffon; Balzaretti, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Marchisio, Pirlo, De Rossi; Montolivo; Cassano, Balotelli.
Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France, NOT pictured below)
Fun stat (if stats are your thing)
Here are the top three players from each side according to the Official Euro 2012 Castrol player rating…
Italy: Marchisio 9.54; Buffon 8.90; Balotelli 8.61
Germany: Khedira 8.99; Shweinsteiger 8.96; Badstuber 8.69
PREDICTION: Germany to win 2-1. Klose & Podolski. #euro2012
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Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 28, 2012I thought I’d share an early email to get things started. It reads:
Email: Dear Mike, please let me know what you are eating while liveblogging. Also, do you want to eat with me tomorrow morning in my basement?
Response: Dear reader, tell me more about this basement you speak of…
Should anyone else want to contact me, hit me up on Twitter @theonald.
Hey Germany fans – looking for a healthy snack to chow down on while watching the match? Want not try making your own Bratwursts? They’re tasty, cheap, and fun for the whole family.
KICK OFF
Th Italians deserve to win solely based on the conviction with which they sing their anthem. #Euro2012 #GERvITA
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Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) June 28, 2012Oh man, the soccer is starting! Let’s do this thang, Canada!
Hey @theonald, stop watching soccer and get back to work writing about soccer.
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Dan Lytwyn (@danlytwyn) June 28, 20121 min Italy is starting strong. They’re holding possession rather nicely. Oh wait, I spoke too soon. The ball is kicked out of bounds needlessly. Germany now has possession.
3 min Balotelli narrowly misses being sent in alone on Neuer. Italy certainly isn’t lacking for confidence early on in this match.
4 min Both teams have been attacking down the flanks rather nicely. A corner to Germany is taken with some pace. The ball is cleared off the line by the Italians (Pirlo) . Little Italy in Toronto most likely breathes a collective sigh of relief.
7 min Pirlo is pretty much the Italian Paul Scholes, right? We can all agree on that much. The way he controls the pace of the game in the midfield has been second to none in this tournament.
They will man mark Pirlo mark my words, he will be shackled. If you stop Pirlo, you as good as stop Italy.
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Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) June 28, 20128 min Another corner for the Germans. Nothing really of interest results.
11 min A very innocuous ball is crossed into the box. Buffon, uncharacteristically so, makes a dogs dinner out of it. Kroos now has a crack from some distance. Buffon makes a straightforward save. The Germans are now pressing and showing some serious signs of intent. They can smell fear.
13 min Balotelli is brought down for a free kick. Rather than Pirlo trying his trying his luck from distance, the Italians opt to build an attack.
16 min The Germans are turning the old screw. However, just as I type that, Montolivo gets a shot on net, albeit from some distance, the Italians first.
GOAL Cassanno turns Hummels inside out (not literally, of course) before crosses the ball into the box. Mario Balotelli manages to escape the clutches Badstuber and hits an absolute bullet of a header past Neuer.
Germany 0 Italy 1 (Balotelli)
20 min This is going to be a tall order for the Germans. The crowd, as you’d expect, is clearly behind the Italians at the moment.
24 min Boateng puts in a mouth-watering cross for Gomez. Unfortunately for the Germans, nothing happens.
28 min Kroos hits a weak shot into the arms of Buffon. Despite his feeble attempt on net, it must be said, this match is fairly entertaining. Both teams are playing to win and both sides appear to be technically sound.
This is a WAY bettter game than Spain/Portugal! Germany & Italy are playing brave football. Hoping Germany pulls through here. #EURO2012
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jack mooring (@jackmooring) June 28, 201230 min Here’s a fun little stat - Germany has scored in every one of their last 20 games. Given this trinket of information, you’d have to think that Italy can’t afford to sit back and defend just yet.
35 min Khedira takes a lovely volley that forces Buffon to make an outstanding save.
GOAL Balotelli hits a wonder strike from distance which beats Neuer. You never know what you’re going to get from this guy. In celebrating his goal, he takes off his shirt and instantly picks up a yellow card. Foolish?
Germany 0 Italy 2 (Balotelli)
A thought also for the scumbag 'fans' who used to tell Mario "there are no black Italians". How'd you like them apples?
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Paolo Bandini (@Paolo_Bandini) June 28, 201238 min This should be a very interesting match from this point forward. Germany is going to have to toss everything and the kitchen sink at the Italians.
NOTE: I have been told that a co-worker is liveblogging my liveblogging efforts. Pretty meta, right?
3:14pm - @theonald looks behind him, thinking he's heard a recognizable voice. He turns back around and continues typing. #MikeBlogging
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Dan Lytwyn (@danlytwyn) June 28, 2012Quote from my co-worker and fellow soccer pundit, Jesse Ferreras: “Oh my God! What is going on with Germany. They are getting the crap kicked out of them.”
Here’s a photo from the liveblog about my liveblog. Thanks, Dan.
41 min Germany are giving the ball up far too often in the midfield. They’ll have to come up with a new plan of attack during the half. They simply are being outclassed by Balotelli & Co.
German manager should bring on Klose now - if he'd read my tweets, he'd have done it from the start.
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Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 28, 2012Anyone in Little Italy (Toronto) right now? If so, send me your pictures. That place must be erupting at the moment. On a side - Roberto Roberto Luongo’s twitter account is going crazy at the moment.
3:27pm - @jesseferreras discovers I am live blogging @theonald live blogging. This live blog is over. #MikeBlogging
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Dan Lytwyn (@danlytwyn) June 28, 2012Mario Balotelli, right? Even though he can’t dress himself properly (see below), he sure can score goals.
HALF TIME
Okay then, the second half has started, but not without a few changes in personnel first for the Germans. Reus and Klose on for Podolski and Gomez.
47 min Reus lightly taps the ball into the open arms of the Italian keeper. Germany will have to do a lot better than that if they’re to put one past Buffon.
48 min Lahm blows an absolute amazing opportunity in the box courtesy of Kroos. He sends a shot sailing over the net, giving Italy a chance to re-group and adjust at the back.
Just seen one or two High Fives from members of the Italian media. In a great position but not sure we are in High Five territory just yet.
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Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) June 28, 201251 min German fans are not looking very pleased at the moment. Very few bratwursts can be seen being consumed at the moment…
54 min The ball is scrambled to safety as the Germans toy with the Italians in the box. Solid defence, though the Italians won’t like having to be tested at the back.
55 min Bonucci makes an absolutely amazing tackle at the back. Had it not been for his last-ditch effort, you’d have to think Klose would’ve netted one. Nothing comes of the resulting corner.
The Germans are showing some fight here....if they score before 80mins they could go on + win this....
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Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 28, 201259 min Balotelli cuts his way through the German defence and nearly strikes in a hatrick. He’s got the taste for blood, I wouldn’t be surprised if Balotelli did pick up his third.
62 min Bonucci is booked for sticking his leg out and catching Schweinsteiger late. Reus free-kick is touched on to the bar by Buffon. An excellent save from an excellent keeper.
64 min Montolivo, who’s been sensational, is coming off. Thiago Motta his replacement.
66 min Germany is really getting opened up by the Italians at the moment. You can’t help but to think that they’ll concede if they continue to be so woeful at the back.
69 min Balotelli is being replaced with Di Natale. In case you missed it, here’s his celebration after the second goal.
Balotelli off. Smart to protect him for final, but I'm still deeply anxious we're not there yet. No subs left now. #euro2012
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Paolo Bandini (@Paolo_Bandini) June 28, 2012
70 min Boateng comes on for Mueller. A fullback for a striker = aggressive change. I like it. The Germans need to score sooner rather than later if they are to pull this one out from the jaws of defeat (To be honest, they don’t exactly deserve to do so).
74 min Marchisio has all the time in the world and a man wide open with no defence in front of him. He smashes the ball wide of the German net #ballhog
Spain will beat whoever they get in the final.
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Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 28, 201278 min Germany is currently playing without any defence. It’s open season on Neuer.
81 min Italy continues to keep their foot on the pedal. It’s clear that the debtor is going to shank it’s creditor. Unless Italy collapse, they will face Spain in Euro 2012 final.
82 minThe longest breakaway in the history of soccer is currently happening. Di Natale has a good country-mile lead on the Germans but dumps the ball into the side-netting.
86 min The Germans just can’t hit the net. They’ve been founding wanting since kick-off. Their poor efforts on net are giving way to some pretty long German faces, such as this one:
89 min It really is Italy’s night. Klose hits the ball from point blank range only for it to hit Buffon square in the chest. A corner is to follow.
90 min Four minutes are to be added.
91 min HANDBALL - Balzaretti handles in the box.
Germany to get a penalty kick/ consolation goal
GOAL Ozil gives Germany some hope as he finds the net from the spot.
Germany 1 Italy 2 (Ozil)
Germany is pressing extremely hard but they have left it too late.
FULL TIME
Just asked @J_Klinsmann if they have a word in German for bogey team. He said they don't. I think they need to find one
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Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 28, 2012Germany 1 Italy 2
What can you say? The better team won.
Think this makes Englands performance nowhere near as bad as certain media types made out. England would of beaten Germany on this showing.
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Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) June 28, 2012Thanks for following along today. Italy will go to the finals of the European Championship for the first time in 12 years. Be sure to catch all of the action on Sunday, right here, on canada.com.
As for me, I’m out.
