Azzurri set up German semi-final
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Italy have set-up a semi-final clash with hosts Germany after they moved into the last four of the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Ukraine in Hamburg.
The Italians were rarely troubled in the early stages against a woeful Ukraine, who were shell-shocked following Gianluca Zambrotta's opening strike just six minutes in.
Ukraine responded wonderfully in the second half and had more than once chance to level before Italy broke and grabbed a second through Luca Toni on the hour mark.
Zambrotta was then on hand to set-up Toni for his second and Italy's third, as Marcello Lippi's men marched into the semis.
Aided by their early strike, Italy dominated the first half without ever needing to get out of first gear.
The opening chance came after just four minutes when Italy's Argentine-born winger Mauro German Camoranesi broke unmarked from deep until he reached the edge of the area and then he pulled his shot wide.
Just moments later and the deadlock was broken. A beautiful flick from Francesco Totti sent Zambrotta clear - Ukraine again failed to close down and the Juventus man unleashed a left-footed effort into the bottom corner, although goalkeeper Alexander Shovkovsky may well think he could have done better.
Instead of responding to going behind, Ukraine showed a distinct lack of ideas, as Italy just sat-back in archetypal Azzurri style and invited them to break down the formidable defensive machine.
And long-range efforts from Anatolii Tymoschuk, Oleg Shaliev and a subdued Andrei Shevchenko was all they could muster in the opening 45 minutes.
Italy were more than happy to defend in numbers and break when required and they did that on a number of occasions led by the irrepressible Totti - although the likes of Simone Perrotta and Andrea Pirlo were too lax with possession in the last third.
Coach Oleg Blokhin did not make any changes at the interval, but that was not surprising, as both Vladislav Vaschuk and Andrei Vorobei had both been introduced in the opening half.
There was some improvement from Ukraine early in the second period and Maxim Kalinichenko caused some consternation in the Italy defence, as Andrea Barzagli was forced to slice clear.
The resulting corner kick then saw Gianluigi Buffon called upon for the first time, as he was at full stretch to tip Andrei Gusin's goal-bound header around the post.
Ukraine had finally woken up from their malaise of the first half and captain Fabio Cannavaro was at his best to clear from Vorobei's dangerous cross, with Shevchenko poised to pounce.
Italy were now on the back foot, but Totti responded with a deflected shot from 30 yards before winning a free kick on the edge of the box. The Roman talisman allowed Pirlo to try his luck - but to no avail.
Buffon was then on hand to deny Ukraine an equaliser that the Eastern Europeans deserved for their second half response.
A neat move saw Artem Milevski hold up the ball on the edge of the area before delaying his pass for Oleg Gusev's run and with only Buffon to beat, the Dynamo Kiev man could not find a way pass.
The ball then for Tymoschuk and he beat Buffon - but Zambrotta was there to clear off the line.
Zambrotta's clearance proved crucial - as within 60 seconds Italy broke and doubled their advantage - very much against the run of play.
Totti was the creator, as he swung a great ball into the box and Toni was there in between Ukraine's static defence to head home past Shovkovsky and grab his first goal at the finals.
Ukraine, to their credit, did not let their heads drop and almost responded immediately as Gusin again got free in the box, but his header slammed across the bar and Italy cleared.
Again almost from nothing Italy put the game well and truely beyond doubt, as Toni added a third.
Fabio Grosso played a lovely ball over the Ukraine defence for Man of the Match Zambrotta, he broke into the box and showed wonderful commitment to slide in and find an unmarked Toni, who scored his second from close range.
Shevchenko was determined not to bow-out on such a huge low and he headed wide before testing Buffon with a 35-yard free kick - but it was all in vein, as Italy claimed the clean sheet.
Italy are now just one match away from the World Cup final, and a mouthwatering clash now awaits, as they play Germany in Dortmund on Tuesday.
The Italians were rarely troubled in the early stages against a woeful Ukraine, who were shell-shocked following Gianluca Zambrotta's opening strike just six minutes in.
Ukraine responded wonderfully in the second half and had more than once chance to level before Italy broke and grabbed a second through Luca Toni on the hour mark.
Zambrotta was then on hand to set-up Toni for his second and Italy's third, as Marcello Lippi's men marched into the semis.
Aided by their early strike, Italy dominated the first half without ever needing to get out of first gear.
The opening chance came after just four minutes when Italy's Argentine-born winger Mauro German Camoranesi broke unmarked from deep until he reached the edge of the area and then he pulled his shot wide.
Just moments later and the deadlock was broken. A beautiful flick from Francesco Totti sent Zambrotta clear - Ukraine again failed to close down and the Juventus man unleashed a left-footed effort into the bottom corner, although goalkeeper Alexander Shovkovsky may well think he could have done better.
Instead of responding to going behind, Ukraine showed a distinct lack of ideas, as Italy just sat-back in archetypal Azzurri style and invited them to break down the formidable defensive machine.
And long-range efforts from Anatolii Tymoschuk, Oleg Shaliev and a subdued Andrei Shevchenko was all they could muster in the opening 45 minutes.
Italy were more than happy to defend in numbers and break when required and they did that on a number of occasions led by the irrepressible Totti - although the likes of Simone Perrotta and Andrea Pirlo were too lax with possession in the last third.
Coach Oleg Blokhin did not make any changes at the interval, but that was not surprising, as both Vladislav Vaschuk and Andrei Vorobei had both been introduced in the opening half.
There was some improvement from Ukraine early in the second period and Maxim Kalinichenko caused some consternation in the Italy defence, as Andrea Barzagli was forced to slice clear.
The resulting corner kick then saw Gianluigi Buffon called upon for the first time, as he was at full stretch to tip Andrei Gusin's goal-bound header around the post.
Ukraine had finally woken up from their malaise of the first half and captain Fabio Cannavaro was at his best to clear from Vorobei's dangerous cross, with Shevchenko poised to pounce.
Italy were now on the back foot, but Totti responded with a deflected shot from 30 yards before winning a free kick on the edge of the box. The Roman talisman allowed Pirlo to try his luck - but to no avail.
Buffon was then on hand to deny Ukraine an equaliser that the Eastern Europeans deserved for their second half response.
A neat move saw Artem Milevski hold up the ball on the edge of the area before delaying his pass for Oleg Gusev's run and with only Buffon to beat, the Dynamo Kiev man could not find a way pass.
The ball then for Tymoschuk and he beat Buffon - but Zambrotta was there to clear off the line.
Zambrotta's clearance proved crucial - as within 60 seconds Italy broke and doubled their advantage - very much against the run of play.
Totti was the creator, as he swung a great ball into the box and Toni was there in between Ukraine's static defence to head home past Shovkovsky and grab his first goal at the finals.
Ukraine, to their credit, did not let their heads drop and almost responded immediately as Gusin again got free in the box, but his header slammed across the bar and Italy cleared.
Again almost from nothing Italy put the game well and truely beyond doubt, as Toni added a third.
Fabio Grosso played a lovely ball over the Ukraine defence for Man of the Match Zambrotta, he broke into the box and showed wonderful commitment to slide in and find an unmarked Toni, who scored his second from close range.
Shevchenko was determined not to bow-out on such a huge low and he headed wide before testing Buffon with a 35-yard free kick - but it was all in vein, as Italy claimed the clean sheet.
Italy are now just one match away from the World Cup final, and a mouthwatering clash now awaits, as they play Germany in Dortmund on Tuesday.
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