Stopping Pirlo the key for youthful Germany Cool Cesc is the difference
KRAKOW: Bastian Schweinsteiger is winning his battle to be fit for tonight’s Euro 2012 semifinal against Italy where the relentless midfielder will have to nullify the mercurial Andrea Pirlo if Germany are to end their hoodoo.
The Germans have never beaten Italy at a major championship, famously losing the 2006 World Cup semi-final on home soil to the eventual victors, but they are favourites to progress this time, having won all four matches so far in Poland and Ukraine.
However, they have yet to come up against a midfielder with the class of Pirlo, who has scored or set up all Italy’s goals here and produced a wonderful display in the quarter-final with England before scoring the cheekiest of penalties.
The dinked spot kick in the shoot-out showed that the 33-yearold is far from over the hill as some had wondered and instead is revelling in a confident spell of form that pundits already think could lead him to be named player of the tournament.
“Pirlo’s penalty even surprised me,” Italy coach Cesare Prandelli told reporters. “Then when he said that he took it like that to put pressure on the English, I realised that there is always something to learn from champions like him.”
If anyone can stop his raking passes in Warsaw, it is the dynamic Schweinsteiger, who seems to cover every blade of grass and epitomises Germany’s youthful yet experienced side of all-round talents.
Schweinsteiger suffered an ankle injury in February and it is still hampering his movement, but the team are hopeful that he can play after missing two days of training to rest.
“Bastian is a world-class player and… a leading player in our team,” said playmaker Mesut Oezil. “I hope he can be fit in time for the game.”
Otherwise Germany are fully fit and at full strength, with coach Joachim Loew expected to bring back at least two of the front three he rested in the 4-2 quarterfinal win over Greece.
Main striker Mario Gomez is likely to come back in for Miroslav Klose, given his extra bulk against a wily Italian defence, while Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller will also be hoping for recalls.
Italy centre half Giorgio Chiellini is back after missing the England game with a thigh problem and could feature while Prandelli has niggles to Daniele De Rossi and Ignazio Abate. Italy created reams of chances in the goalless 120 minutes against England and their lack of a finishing touch will haunt them if it continues in Warsaw. – Reuters DONETSK: For a perpetual substitute, Cesc Fabregas has a habit of making match-winning contributions when it counts most for Spain.
His winning penalty against Portugal in the Euro 2012 semi-final shootout last night added to a collection that includes setting up the winner in the 2010 World Cup final.
Italy, possible opponents in Sunday’s final, will also remember his winning spot-kick after coming off the bench in their quarter-final at the last European Championship.
“When I stepped up to take the penalty I said to the ball that we had to make history and it shouldn’t let me down. They told me initially to take the second one but I said no, give me the fifth, as I had this premonition.”
Fabregas’s faith proved better placed than Portugal’s in keeping Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo in reserve for the final spot-kick.
He had to stand and watch helplessly as the Barcelona man put an end to the contest. Portugal coach Paulo Bento knocked back criticism of his captain not being employed earlier in the shootout.
“Well we had this plan and if it would have been 4-4 and he would have taken the last penalty we would talk in a different way,” he said. – Reuters