------by FIFAworldcup.com
Source:
07-04-2006 10:31
Previous winners Germany and Italy are no strangers to the business end of the tournament, but one of them will fall by the wayside when they in Dortmund. The 1998 champions France will also be dreaming of glory after yet again ending Brazilian hopes, but must get past a Portugal side who are in the semi-finals for the first time since 1966.
Heading home, on the other hand, are three other teams that have conquered the world stage. Argentina and England will both be reflecting on their failures from the penalty spot, while Brazil must be wondering if France are not their bête noire. Brazil lost their crown to Les Bleus in 1998, and now the same fate has befallen them. Their run of 11 straight wins comes to a sorry end.
One explanation has to be that the Europeans love playing on their own continent. Looking back through the annals of FIFA World Cup history, European sides have found themselves among friends at this stage of the competition three times before: at Italy 1934 (Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria and winners Italy), at England 1966 (Germany, Portugal, USSR and winners England) and at Spain 1982 (Germany, France, Poland and winners Italy).
On two of those three occasions, the host nation lifted the Trophy, a fact that ought to bring a smile to Jurgen Klinsmann's face. As impressive as this year's line-up is, however, three former title-holders in last four falls short of the full house present in 1970 (Brazil, Italy, West Germany and Uruguay) and 1990 (West Germany, England, Italy and Argentina).
Six goals were netted during this year's emotionally-charged quarter-finals, with three of them coming from an Italy side so often lauded for their defensive prowess but on this occasion notably more ruthless in attack than Ukraine. That total is a slight improvement on the five registered in 2002, but lags a long way behind the 11 goals scored in 1998.
Déjà vu for losers
The quarter-finals proved to be a miserable experience for those teams hoping for a bit of revenge. For the third time in four FIFA World Cup meetings, Brazil came off second best to a France side inspired by a legendary No.10. Raymond Kopa may not have been able to prevent a 5-2 reverse in 1958, but Michel Platini led his team-mates to victory in 1986 and Zinedine Zidane did the damage in 1998 and 2006.
England's outgoing coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, meanwhile, must be sick of facing Luiz Felipe Scolari in the latter stages of major competitions. Prior to Saturday's defeat by Portugal, Eriksson's charges had lost to Scolari's Brazil team in the quarter-finals at Korea/Japan 2002 and to his Portugal side at the same stage of UEFA EURO 2004. The ebullient Brazilian has now won a record 12 consecutive FIFA World Cup matches with two different teams.
Hosts Germany have also written their name into the record books, winning their fourth FIFA World Cup penalty shoot-out in four attempts. The Nationalmannschaft will now be dreaming of taking the field in Berlin on 9 July for the eighth Final in their history, 32 years after lifting the Trophy in Munich.
First of all, though, they must see off an Italy team aiming for a similar outcome to their last meeting with Germany on the world stage. Brought together to contest the 1982 Final, the Azzurri emerged 3-1 victors and Marcello Lippi's men would be thrilled with a repeat performance this time out.
Editor:Ge
