The first semifinal between Germany and Italy, which will be played in Dortmund on Tuesday, is a repeat of the 1982 final which the Italians won 3-1. Germany defeated Argentina 4-2 on penalties after their quarterfinal in Berlin ended 1-1 after extra-time.

Gianluca Zambrotta, who earlier this week flew back to Italy to visit his stricken former Juventus teammate Gianluca Pessotto after an apparent suicide attempt, gave the three-time champions an early lead with a left-footed shot.

Toni's close range header near the hour mark put the Azzurri firmly in the driving seat after a spell of heavy Ukraine pressure, and the giant Fiorentina marksman doubled his tally by tapping in Zambrotta's cross.

Italy's second goal came shortly after Gianluigi Buffon pulled off a superb save to deny Oleg Gusev, with Zambrotta blocking Anatoliy Tymoschuk's follow-up on the goalline.

Ukraine's Andriy Gusin's header hit the bar shortly after Toni had made it 2-0.

Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, who spent seven years playing in Italy for AC Milan before signing for English champions Chelsea last month, was superbly snuffed out by a well-drilled Azzurri defence.

Midfielder Mauro Camoranesi, recalled to Italy's starting line-up to provide extra width on the right, threatened first, firing wide after a robust run through the middle in the fourth minute.

Italy went ahead through an unlikely source in the sixth minute. Zambrotta played a one-two with Francesco Totti before firing a low drive past Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.

Ukraine came out fighting at the start of the second half and they might have levelled the score had it not been for Buffon's quick reflexes.

Gusin's downward header looked goalbound, but the Italy keeper managed to claw the ball away and picked up a bump on the head in the process after falling back onto the post. Buffon came to Italy's rescue again when he palmed away Gusev's angled shot, and although Tymoschuk was first to the loose ball, Zambrotta was on hand to keep out the rebound.

Toni eased Italy's jangling nerves in the 59th minute, meeting Totti's left-wing cross with a meaty header.

And Toni had the final word 10 minutes later when he nudged Zambrotta's cut-back over the line from a yard out.

The last time Italy reached the semifinals of the World Cup was in 1994 when they went on to the final only to lose to Brazil on penalties.

TEAMS
ITALY: Gianluigi Buffon; Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Barzagli, Fabio Grosso; Mauro Camoranesi (Massimo Oddo 68), Gennaro Gattuso (Cristian Zaccardo 77), Andrea Pirlo (Simone Barone 68), Simone Perrotta; Francesco Totti; Luca Toni.

UKRAINE: Oleksandr Shovkovskyi; Oleg Gusiev, Andriy Rusol (Vladislav Vashchuk 45+2), Vycheslav Sviderskyy (Andriy Vorobyey 20), Andriy Nesmachnyi; Andriy Gusin, Anatolii Tymoschuk, Oleg Shelayev, Maksym Kalynychenko; Artem Milevskyi (Oleksiy Belik 72), Andriy Shevchenko.

Yellow cards: Sviderskyy (16), Kalynychenko (21), Milevskyi (68)

Referee: Frank de Bleeckere (Belgium)

Attendance: 50,000