Clash of the Titans: Can Man City’s maverick extend Italy’s brilliant record against Germany?
Germany have never beaten Italy in an international tournament but, with Joachim Low’s golden generation sweeping all before them at Euro 2012, is it now time for Die Mannschaft to step up and battle Spain for the crown of European Champions?
From a certain Man City striker’s explosive talents to one of the best defenders in world football, talkSPORT brings you the lowdown on this mouth-watering contest between two European heavyweights.
Germany
Mesut Ozil
The diamond in the German crown, Ozil has not looked back since Real Madrid beat the likes of Arsenal, Man United and Barcelona to his services two years ago. Jose Mourinho gambled on Ozil transferring his devastating form to La Liga and it has paid dividends - he provided 25 assists as they wrestled the league title from Barcelona’s clutches and has missed only one game in Germany’s run of 14 straight competitive victories.
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Watch Mesut Ozil in action for Real Madrid
Mats Hummels
A man in demand, with Man United and Man City reportedly keen, Hummels has carried his domestic form with Borussia Dortmund into the national side, showing exactly why he has been an integral part of BVB’s two successive Bundesliga titles. Strong in the tackle, dominant in the air, good on the ball and he can take a penalty, too. The 23-year-old has not even conceded a foul in Euro 2012 according to Opta. He is the modern all-rounder.
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Find out why Hummels is rated as one of the top defenders at Euro 2012
Miroslav Klose/Mario Gomez
Klose is the man for the big stage. He is the joint second highest scorer ever in the World Cup and is only two short of Germany’s all-time record at the Euros. Germany have also won every match in which he has scored and he is favoured by the German public and press.
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Klose shows his big game pedigree with 14 World Cup goals
But Low also trusts Gomez, the new kid on the block and a man in form having scored three times in the group stages of Euro 2012. The 26-year-old has also just come off the back of one of his best domestic seasons ever having notched 41 times in 52 outings for Bayern Munich. Not a bad selection headache to have...
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Gomez perfects the trick of scoring with just one touch for Bayern Munich
Italy
Giorgio Chiellini
A no-nonsense old-school defender, Chiellini is expected to return to lead the Italian defence against Germany, and they will need him to be on top form if they are to silence the array of attacking talent their opponents offer. Nicknamed ‘The Wall’, the Germans will also do well to watch him at set-pieces – he has a habit of scoring headed goals.
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Find out how Giorgio Chiellini earned his nickname
Andrea Pirlo
The man responsible for ending England’s participation at Euro 2012 has been there and done it. Pirlo has won three Serie A titles, two Champions Leagues, various cups and, of course, the 2006 World Cup and now he is desperate to complete the collection with a European Championship winners’ medal. After AC Milan’s decision to release him, he moved to rivals Juventus where he orchestrated an unbeaten league season and pipped the Rossoneri to the league.
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Watch Andrea Pirlo show the form that won Juve the Scudetto
Mario Balotelli
No introduction is needed for Balotelli – a man capable of winning or losing a game on his own. At the tender age of 21 he has won league titles in two countries and tasted Champions League glory, as well as hogging headlines for an unerring ability to unsettle and disrupt. Pirlo provided Balotelli with enough chances to notch a double hat-trick against England in the quarter-finals and he showed a glimpse of what he is capable of when he scored against the Republic of Ireland in the group stages. If he brings his shooting boots to Warsaw then Italy could extend their unbeaten run against Germany.
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