Germany feels right at home

DUISBURG, Germany – A friendly game at home in March is one thing. Playing host Germany in the World Cup semifinals at a stadium where it’s never lost is another altogether.

Naturally, Italy isn’t expecting to repeat its 4-1 drubbing of Germany when they meet today in Dortmund.

“It will be a completely different game,” defender Gianluca Zambrotta said. “That was a friendly played in the middle of the league season. Now everyone’s focusing only on the World Cup.”

After the loss in Florence, Juergen Klinsmann’s days as Germany’s coach seemed numbered. Now his team is two wins away from what would be its fourth World Cup title.

Zambrotta echoed widespread criticism of the high number of yellow and red cards handed out this tournament.

“The officiating has been excessively harsh. Soccer is still a man’s game and you can’t try to remove the physical contact,” Zambrotta said. “If these are the parameters maybe it would be better to expel a player after three yellow cards instead of two.”

The Italians have focused on their play despite distractions including a match-fixing scandal back home. On Monday, a mini controversy swirled around allegations from Germans that the Italians had pushed FIFA to examine video evidence that led to the suspension of Germany midfielder Torsten Frings for punching an Argentina player in a post-match melee.