Germany are on the verge of something big and an entire nation sits on the edge of its collective seat.
In Dortmund at 9pm on Tuesday, when the first semi-final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup kicks off, coach Jurgen Klinsmann's men will know that only 90 minutes stand between them and the Final. That and the not so small matter of an Italy team who beat the hosts 4-1 in a friendly in March, banishing at the time all talk of a home win at this tournament.
"We still have the scars from that game," admitted an honest Torsten Frings on Monday, albeit while simultaneously laying down a challenge with the more forthright comment: "We owe them one." The 29-year-old defensive midfielder has had an excellent tournament so far, but will be missing from the semi-final line-up.
Frings received a two-match ban from FIFA's Disciplinary Committee on Monday for the punch he aimed at Argentina's Julio Cruz at the end of the sides' quarter-final penalty shoot-out. Since he was provoked by his opponent, the ban for the second match is suspended for six months, though Frings also received a CHF5,000 fine. He will be replaced either by his Werder Bremen team-mate Tim Borowski or by 'local boy' Sebastian Kehl, who plays his club football with Borussia Dortmund.
It is somewhat ironic that the one team standing between Germany and their goal of reaching the FIFA World Cup Final are Italy, who were there when Klinsmann's outfit hit rock bottom back in March. In hindsight, the debacle in Florence could be seen as a crucial turning point, particularly by those who believe that the ups and downs of the journey do not matter, so long as you reach your destination. 国际足联纪律委员会今天通过了一项对德国球员托斯腾弗林斯的禁赛两场的处罚。基于他首先事受到对方球员的激怒的事实，第二场比赛的禁赛处罚将缓期6个月执行。根据2006年7约4日德国队在半决赛中的比赛成绩，弗林斯可以或者参加决赛，或者参加争夺第三名的比赛。纪律委员会还对弗林斯罚款5000瑞郎。这个决定是最终裁定。
