Azzurri late show stuns hosts
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Domestic trials and tribulations but on the verge of international triumph - Italy struck twice late in extra time to defeat hosts Germany 2-0 and book their place in the World Cup final.
With the match appearing destined for penalties, Fabio Grosso struck first, curling the ball magnificently first time into the bottom corner in the 119th minute, after a sumptuous reverse pass from Andrea Pirlo.
Alessandro Del Piero wrapped up the win with the last kick of the game, coolly beating Jens Lehmann after being played in by Alberto Gilardino and the Azzurri now await the winners of Wednesday's semi-final between France and Portugal in Berlin nezt Sunday.
For the hosts, defeat in Dortmund will be a bitter pill to swallow, although Italy edged an entertaining contest that cast away many of the inhibitions that have characterised the tournament's knockout stage.
Alert defending at both ends prevented either team taking an early lead - first Philipp Lahm cleared Luca Toni's cross, with Mauro Camoranesi lurking, before the Azzurri were indebted to Fabio Cannavaro.
Lukas Podolski turned but was thwarted by Cannavaro and the Juventus stopper - arguably the tournament's most accomplished defender - was there again to deny fine combination play from Podolski and Miroslav Klose.
Aided by refreshingly astute officiating, the match was ebbing and flowing but it was Italy who carried the greater threat, with Francesco Totti and Pirlo pulling the strings in midfield to exploit the space generated by the tireless running of Camoranesi and Simone Perrotta.
On 16 minutes, Totti's pass carved open the hosts' defence but Perrotta, who had run in from his left hand post, was scuppered by a poor touch and Lehmann gathered.
Progressive in attack, Italy's pace from midfield was worrying the hosts, while Pirlo's expert delivery from set-pieces almost established a first half lead. Neither Toni nor Marco Materazzi could connect with Pirlo's flighted free kick from the right, while the Milan midfielder's ingenuity from the same position picked out Totti but his shot was blocked.
Per Mertesacker then denied Toni after Grosso had crossed low and hard to the near post as Germany continued to plug holes in defence.
Jurgen Klinsmann's side threatened, too - Podolski and Klose again linked up effectively to create an opening for Bernd Schneider but he shot wildly over the bar.
The second half began with attacking intentions undimmed - Sebastian Kehl shot wide before Klose ran at the heart of the Italian defence and only a last-ditch challenge from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon prevented the World Cup's top goalscorer from adding to his tally of five goals.
It is rare that full backs catch the eye - particularly in a World Cup semi-final - but the positive play of Lahm, Gianluca Zambrotta and company optimised their sides' performances, doubling up on opposite numbers to maximise their own side's threat.
The wide positions were proving profitable avenues for either side - just after the hour mark, after neat interchange play on the right touchline, Podolski turned and shot but, unfortunately for the vast majority inside the Signal Iduna Park, only straight at Buffon.
A rare mistake from Pirlo handed Germany an opportunity to exploit a man over in attack but Tim Borowski could not beat Zambrotta and lay on a pass for the unmarked Klose.
A slight lull in the high-calibre action prompted both Klinsmann and Marcello Lippi to shuffle their pack, with Bastian Schweinsteiger replacing Borowski for the hosts and Alberto Gilardino taking over from Toni as Italy's spearhead.
The dynamic Zambrotta continued to surge forward but Kehl cleared as the stakes raised with each passing minute.
Ten minutes from time, Germany sensed an opportunity when a dubious foul given against Cannavaro for leaning on Podolski presented Ballack with the chance to shoot from 20 yards but the Chelsea midfielder prodded wide.
Klinsmann called on the pacey David Odonkor from the substitutes' bench to capitalise on tiring legs although both rearguards held their concentration to ensure the engaging match would enter an additional 30 minutes.
Italy were inches away from claiming the lead inside the first minute of extra time as Gilardino wriggled away from Ballack on the goalline and struck the inside of the near post, with Lehmann beaten.
Sixty seconds later, the goalframe again came to the hosts' rescue. A corner only half-cleared fell to Zambrotta on the edge of the area, who rattled a shot against the crossbar.
Germany sought to hit back but could not muster a genuine opening until seconds before the change around - Odonkor crossed and Podolski was left with his head in his hands after directing a free header well wide of the target from just eight yards.
Minds may have already begun to wander with the prospect of a penalty shoot-out just 15 minutes away but chances continued to come and go at both ends.
Substitute Del Piero threatened to squeeze a shot past Lehmann before Podolski replied in kind for his side with a shot that tested Buffon's agility.
Del Piero chanced his arm in front of goal once more but dragged his shot well wide and Odonkor did likewise for the hosts.
But just as the match appeared to be heading towards penalties, with neither side willing to concede the initiative, Italy struck in the most dramatic style possible to book their final place and crush the hosts' hopes.
With the match appearing destined for penalties, Fabio Grosso struck first, curling the ball magnificently first time into the bottom corner in the 119th minute, after a sumptuous reverse pass from Andrea Pirlo.
Alessandro Del Piero wrapped up the win with the last kick of the game, coolly beating Jens Lehmann after being played in by Alberto Gilardino and the Azzurri now await the winners of Wednesday's semi-final between France and Portugal in Berlin nezt Sunday.
For the hosts, defeat in Dortmund will be a bitter pill to swallow, although Italy edged an entertaining contest that cast away many of the inhibitions that have characterised the tournament's knockout stage.
Alert defending at both ends prevented either team taking an early lead - first Philipp Lahm cleared Luca Toni's cross, with Mauro Camoranesi lurking, before the Azzurri were indebted to Fabio Cannavaro.
Lukas Podolski turned but was thwarted by Cannavaro and the Juventus stopper - arguably the tournament's most accomplished defender - was there again to deny fine combination play from Podolski and Miroslav Klose.
Aided by refreshingly astute officiating, the match was ebbing and flowing but it was Italy who carried the greater threat, with Francesco Totti and Pirlo pulling the strings in midfield to exploit the space generated by the tireless running of Camoranesi and Simone Perrotta.
On 16 minutes, Totti's pass carved open the hosts' defence but Perrotta, who had run in from his left hand post, was scuppered by a poor touch and Lehmann gathered.
Progressive in attack, Italy's pace from midfield was worrying the hosts, while Pirlo's expert delivery from set-pieces almost established a first half lead. Neither Toni nor Marco Materazzi could connect with Pirlo's flighted free kick from the right, while the Milan midfielder's ingenuity from the same position picked out Totti but his shot was blocked.
Per Mertesacker then denied Toni after Grosso had crossed low and hard to the near post as Germany continued to plug holes in defence.
Jurgen Klinsmann's side threatened, too - Podolski and Klose again linked up effectively to create an opening for Bernd Schneider but he shot wildly over the bar.
The second half began with attacking intentions undimmed - Sebastian Kehl shot wide before Klose ran at the heart of the Italian defence and only a last-ditch challenge from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon prevented the World Cup's top goalscorer from adding to his tally of five goals.
It is rare that full backs catch the eye - particularly in a World Cup semi-final - but the positive play of Lahm, Gianluca Zambrotta and company optimised their sides' performances, doubling up on opposite numbers to maximise their own side's threat.
The wide positions were proving profitable avenues for either side - just after the hour mark, after neat interchange play on the right touchline, Podolski turned and shot but, unfortunately for the vast majority inside the Signal Iduna Park, only straight at Buffon.
A rare mistake from Pirlo handed Germany an opportunity to exploit a man over in attack but Tim Borowski could not beat Zambrotta and lay on a pass for the unmarked Klose.
A slight lull in the high-calibre action prompted both Klinsmann and Marcello Lippi to shuffle their pack, with Bastian Schweinsteiger replacing Borowski for the hosts and Alberto Gilardino taking over from Toni as Italy's spearhead.
The dynamic Zambrotta continued to surge forward but Kehl cleared as the stakes raised with each passing minute.
Ten minutes from time, Germany sensed an opportunity when a dubious foul given against Cannavaro for leaning on Podolski presented Ballack with the chance to shoot from 20 yards but the Chelsea midfielder prodded wide.
Klinsmann called on the pacey David Odonkor from the substitutes' bench to capitalise on tiring legs although both rearguards held their concentration to ensure the engaging match would enter an additional 30 minutes.
Italy were inches away from claiming the lead inside the first minute of extra time as Gilardino wriggled away from Ballack on the goalline and struck the inside of the near post, with Lehmann beaten.
Sixty seconds later, the goalframe again came to the hosts' rescue. A corner only half-cleared fell to Zambrotta on the edge of the area, who rattled a shot against the crossbar.
Germany sought to hit back but could not muster a genuine opening until seconds before the change around - Odonkor crossed and Podolski was left with his head in his hands after directing a free header well wide of the target from just eight yards.
Minds may have already begun to wander with the prospect of a penalty shoot-out just 15 minutes away but chances continued to come and go at both ends.
Substitute Del Piero threatened to squeeze a shot past Lehmann before Podolski replied in kind for his side with a shot that tested Buffon's agility.
Del Piero chanced his arm in front of goal once more but dragged his shot well wide and Odonkor did likewise for the hosts.
But just as the match appeared to be heading towards penalties, with neither side willing to concede the initiative, Italy struck in the most dramatic style possible to book their final place and crush the hosts' hopes.
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