2006 FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals: Germany vs. Italy, Portugal vs. France

The final four teams of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Germany, Italy, Portugal and France collide in what will be the Semi-Finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Germany vs. Italy Preview.

Germany and Italy are two of the biggest football nations in the history of the sport.

Germany comes in to the game winners of five straight, including a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Argentina.

The host country has the support of an entire nation, hoping that their team can deliver a fourth World Cup title.

Italy is also on a roll after an impressive win against Ukraine in the quarter-finals.

The Azzurri have met Germany four times in the World Cup, winning twice and playing two scoreless draws. This one has all the makings of a classic.

The starting lineups might look like this when Germany and Italy collide at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals on Tuesday in Dortmund.

Germany
(Managed by head coach Juergen Klinsmann)

Jens Lehmann (1)
Arne Friedrich (3)
Christoph Metzelder (21)
Per Mertesacker (17)
Philipp Lahm (16)
Bernd Schneider (19)
Torsten Frings (8)
Michael Ballack (13)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (7)
Lukas Podolski (20)
Miroslav Klose (11)

Italy
(Managed by head coach Marcello Lippi)

Gianluigi Buffon (1)
Gianluca Zambrotta (19)
Marco Materazzi (23)
Fabio Cannavaro (5)
Fabio Grosso (3)
Simone Perrotta (20)
Andrea Pirlo (21)
Gennaro Gattuso (8)
Francesco Totti (10)
Luca Toni (9)
Alberto Gilardino (11)

Portugal vs. France Preview.

Who knew Portugal and France will play for a chance to be at the 2006 FIFA World Cup championship game?

Portugal has won all five of its matches, surviving a dramatic penalty shoot out against England in the quarterfinals. They will see the return of midfielders Deco and Costinha, who both sat out that game with card suspensions.

France has gained momentum as the tournament has progressed. They put on an impressive display in the quarterfinals against Brazil with the old guard looking like they did in their prime.

The starting lineups might look like this when Portugal and France collide at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals on Wednesday in Munich.

Portugal
(Managed by head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari)

Ricardo (1)
Miguel (13)
Ricardo Carvalho (16)
Fernando Meira (5)
Nuno Valente (14)
Costinha (6)
Maniche (18)
Deco (20)
Luis Figo (7)
Cristiano Ronaldo (17)
Pauleta (9)

France
(Managed by head coach Raymond Domenech)

Fabien Barthez (16)
Willy Sagnol (19)
Lilian Thuram (15)
William Gallas (5)
Eric Abidal (3)
Patrick Vieira (4)
Claude Makelele (6)
Franck Ribery (22)
Zinedine Zidane (10)
Florent Malouda (7)
Thierry Henry (12)

Will Germany beat Italy? Will France dispose Portugal? Bodog has all the odds on these two huge matches at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Here are some more odds coming to these two huge matches.

Germany vs. Italy

Germany -0.5 (+120)
Italy +0.5 (-150)

Portugal vs. France (Final Score)

Portugal 1-0 15/2
Portugal 16/1

France 1-0 5/1
France 2-0 7/1

Draw 0-0 6/1