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Tuesday 4 July 2006
Throughout the 2006 World Cup we'll be predicting each day's results - using Pro Evolution Soccer! We'll select the teams and let the game play out the action on its own, before posting a quick match report and the final, PES-predicted score.
2006 World Cup: Day 22
Germany vs Italy
Germany take the initiative early on denying the Italians space in midfield and breaking dangerously. Left back Lahm in particular causes the Italian's defence the most problems and it's the tiny defender's zipped cross that produces the game's first goal with Borowski finishing cooly from close range.
Italy come back strongly with Toni testing German keeper Lehmann with a looping shot, but Mad Jens is equal to it. The Arsenal keeper, however, can do little about the Italian's equaliser as Gilardino out-muscles his marker at the back post and meets a Perrotta cross beautifully to bury his header in the top corner
Above: Italy come back strongly with Toni testing German keeper Lehmann
Italy start the second half brightly and find more joy down the flanks, unfortunately they find the German centre backs in imperious form coping effectively with every ball that swings in. At the other end Klose gets close with a header from a Ballack set-piece and Podolski strikes the upright from five yards out when perhaps he should have done better.
Extra time starts without either team able to take charge of the game but, with the German defence tiring, Lehmann has to be at his best to turn away a snap shot from Totti and win a one-on-one confrontation with Del Piero.
The game eventually comes down to penalties with Germany showing the same ruthlessness as they did against Argentina. None of the German players miss a kick, but Toni fluffs his effort to send the home nation through to the final.
PES predicts: Germany 5, Italy 4
Previous matches
Day one,Day two,Day three,Day four,Day five,Day six,Day seven,Day eight,Day nine,Day 10,Day 11,Day 12,Day 13,Day 14,Day 15,Day 16,Day 17,Day 18,Day 19,Day 20,Day 21
