Germany primed for sprint finish

Germany are hoping their ability to keep on running for 120 minutes can help them earn a first FIFA World Cup finals victory against Italy.

'Two more hurdles'
After winning their quarter-final against Argentina on penalties, Italy stand between the hosts and a place in the final in Berlin. "We have two more hurdles and we are at the summit," said coach Jürgen Klinsmann. "We are still hungry and we will not be happy until we win the World Cup on Sunday." The coach may be feeling buoyant, but Germany have never beaten Italy at the finals. West Germany lost a classic 4-3 in 1970 and went down 3-1 against the Azzurri in the 1982 final, while two other meetings - in 1962 and 1978 - ended goalless.

Endurance test
As they get ready to take on Marcello Lippi's side in Dortmund, Germany know they are ready for a footballing endurance test. Having survived 120 minutes against Argentina and come out on top, the efforts of their 41-year-old American fitness coach Mark Verstegen is paying off. "His work is extremely good," said Klinsmann. "We did not choose him just because he is American - we would have taken him on regardless of where he came from. Football as a team sport is focusing on individuals more and more especially in the daily training work."

Freidrich determined
The result of the tailored programmes for Klinsmann's players is a side capable of saving their very best until last. "We can go into extra time against Italy and again if it has to be that way in the final," said defender Arne Friedrich. Should 120 minutes of football fail to separate the two teams, a penalty shoot-out should hold far fewer fears for Germany than for Italy, who like England have lost all three of their shoot-outs in World Cup finals.

Analysis
Scouting chief Urs Siegenthaler's work in analysing penalty takers paid dividends as Jens Lehmann saved two of Argentina's spot-kicks. "You collect as much information as you can on how scorers have shot in the last couple of years," said Klinsmann. "If it comes down to penalties, we are very optimistic." With captain Michael Ballack recovered from the muscle strains that dogged the latter part of his performance against Argentina, Klinsmann is feeling optimistic. "Italy are one of the best teams of the world and we respect them, but we are looking less at our opponent and more to ourselves," he said.

Humiliating defeat
Klinsmann will not have forgotten the 4-1 defeat Italy inflicted upon his side in a friendly game back in March and reiterated his footballing philosophy. "We believe in our way of playing and we want to take the game to our opponents no matter who they are," he said. "We belong to the crème de la crème now and hardly let our opponents have any chances." Words worthy of the best Italian coach.