Italy through to World Cup final

Australia’s conquerors Italy are through to the final of the 2006 World Cup™ final after defeating host nation Germany 2-0 in a gripping semi-final in Dortmund earlier this morning.

Australia-s conquerors Italy are through to the final of the 2006 World Cup™ final after defeating host nation Germany 2-0 in a gripping semi-final in Dortmund earlier this morning.

The match went into extra time after neither side could score in normal time, with Italy, like they did against Australia, leaving it to the dying minutes to seal victory.

Australia-s nemesis Fabio Grosso, who won a controversial last minute penalty that ultimately led to their win over the Socceroos, proved once again to be the man of the moment for Italy. This time though he did the scoring himself with an excellently taken shot that curled beyond German keeper Jens Lehmann and inside the far post.

That was with less than a minute to go on the clock and like they did against Australia, when they scored with the last kick of the game, Alessandro Del Piero capitalising on a quick break and neatly finishing past a badly exposed Lehmann.

They will play the winner of Thursday morning-s (AEST) match between 1998 World Champions France and first time semi-finalists Portugal, next Sunday.

Germany will play the loser of that match in the 3rd/4th place play-off in Stuttgart on Saturday.