Vociferous home crowds have driven Germany to five straight wins and a place in the last four of the tournament.

But Italy can take heart from their excellent record against Germany in the World Cup with two wins and two draws in four meetings, including epic victories in the 1970 semifinal and the 1982 final.

Francesco Totti, whose performance in the 3-0 quarterfinal win over Ukraine was his best of the tournament so far, wants Italy to emulate the great Azzurri teams of the past by chalking up another famous victory against their old foes.

"On Tuesday we want to write another chapter in the duel," said the Roma captain.

"Those games left their mark, but we want to make our own piece of history, if possible a more memorable piece.

"To beat Germany in their own country in front of a hostile crowd, well it couldn't get any better than that."

Despite some unconvincing performances on their way to the semis, Italy boast a 23-match unbeaten run -- their best run of results since 1939 -- and defender Fabio Grosso believes they can break German hearts at the Westfalenstadion.

"We're taking on a great team that has the backing of the whole country, but we believe in ourselves," said the Palermo leftback.

"We need to play like we know how and put them in difficulty. They've got the wind in their sails at the moment, but we are more than capable of giving them problems."

Italy humiliated Germany 4-1 in a friendly four months ago, but coach Marcello Lippi insisted that result will have no bearing on Tuesday's clash.

"We won't score four goals against Germany again," Lippi said.

"They're not the same side we met in March. Now they are exploiting the enthusiasm of the whole nation and it has transformed them."

Christoph Metzelder said Germany would not be resting on their laurels after their quarterfinal win against Argentina.

"We are happy with what we have achieved but it is not enough for us," stressed the 25-year-old defender.

"As hosts we have a great chance of becoming world champions. We have used the atmosphere and developed as a team."

Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann is wary of the steadily-improving Italians.

"Italy are dark horses for the title," said the German coach who played in Italy's Serie A with Inter Milan.

"They are tactically very good and have been effective rather than spectacular. They take their chances and it will be difficult for us."

Italy defender Alessandro Nesta is almost certain to miss his third straight match due to a groin strain.

Marco Materazzi will replace the AC Milan centre-back after serving a one-match ban.

Three-time champions Germany could be hit by a late blow if FIFA decide to punish influential midfielder Torsten Frings for apparently punching Julio Cruz in the Argentina match.

World football's governing body are reviewing television footage of the incident.

At the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, Italy beat a Germany side led by Franz Beckenbauer 4-3 after extra-time in one of the greatest games in World Cup history.

In Spain 12 years later, Italy defeated the Germans 3-1 in the final to become world champions for the third time.

In total, Italy have played Germany 28 times, with 13 wins, eight draws and seven defeats.

Germany have never lost in Dortmund, winning 13 of their 14 internationals played there.

Teams

Italy (4-3-2-1)
1-Gianluigi Buffon; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 23-Marco Materazzi, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 3-Fabio Grosso; 20-Simone Perrotta, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 8-Gennaro Gattuso; 10-Francesco Totti; 9-Luca Toni, 11-Alberto Gilardino

Head To Head

Italy lead 13-7 with eight draws: Goals for 42, goals against 33

Tactics

GERMANY
Defence: Germany's tall centre backs, Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder, have improved beyond all recognition since their nervous start in a 4-2 win over Costa Rica.

The hosts kept clean sheets against Poland, Ecuador and Sweden and conceded just once from a corner against Argentina in the quarterfinal, which ended 1-1 after 90 and 120 minutes before Germany won 4-2 on penalties.

Fullback Philipp Lahm, who scored the first goal of the tournament against Costa Rica, takes every opportunity to get forward on the left. Arne Friedrich is less active on the right, usually relying on passes to Bernd Schneider as his outlet.

Midfield: Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings form an aggressive partnership in the centre of an orthodox four-man midfield.

Ballack gets forward more often, leaving Frings to scurry around in a defensive role. Ballack is an excellent header of the ball and will be the dangerman at setpieces. Both central midfielders will try their luck with long shots if given space.

Left winger Bastian Schweinsteiger has not been in his best form at this World Cup but can be a big threat, particularly when combining with his Bayern Munich team mate Lahm.

Attack: Striker Miroslav Klose has scored five times for the second World Cup in succession. His all-round play has been excellent, too. He acts as a target man and will try to chest the ball down and control it rather than head it on to striker partner Lukas Podolski, who has scored three goals himself.

Oliver Neuville, a skilful ball player, is the super-sub and came off the bench to get a last-gasp winner against Poland.

Klinsmann also tends bring on midfielder Tim Borowski, an elegant passer, and the terrifyingly quick winger David Odonkor if Germany need a goal.

ITALY
Defence: With Alessandro Nesta almost certain to miss out again due to a groin injury, Marco Materazzi, who was suspended for the quarterfinal win over Ukraine, is expected to return in place of the relatively inexperienced Andrea Barzagli.

Captain Fabio Cannavaro has been in outstanding form at the heart of an Azzurri defence that has conceded just one goal in five matches and will win his 99th cap against Germany.

Fullbacks Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso like to get forward and have done so to good effect in the knockout stage.

Grosso's run in the last minute against Australia secured the penalty that won the game. Against Ukraine, Zambrotta opened the scoring with a fine solo goal and then set up Luca Toni's second strike to make it 3-0.

Midfield: The most stable part of Lippi's team.

Andrea Pirlo operates in a deep, playmaker's role in front of the defence with Gennaro Gattuso and Simone Perrotta covering plenty of ground in their harrying roles ahead of him.

If Lippi plays with two out-and-out strikers then Francesco Totti, showing signs of returning to full form after his three-month injury lay off, will be expected to play as an attacking midfielder.

A lone striker system would mean Argentine-born winger Mauro Camoranesi getting another chance in his free role on the right flank.

Forwards: With a single striker, Totti would be free to play close to the front line but if Lippi opts for a more offensive lineup, with Gilardino and Toni operating as a pair, then Totti will drift deeper.

Italy's nine goals have come from eight different players -- Toni scored twice against Ukraine while Gilardino, Totti, Filippo Inzaghi and Vincenzo Iaquinta have all found the target once.

Inzaghi is likely to start on the bench but is an option if the Italians need a goal in the second half, while Iaquinta could offer fresh legs if Toni tires.