Monday, July 3 2006 16:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Berlin: Germany was on Monday preparing for the biggest World Cup match on home soil since the 1974 final.

Jurgen Klinsmann's young side will take on Italy in the World Cup semi-final in Dortmund on Tuesday, knowing that a victory will see them return to the Berlin Olympic Stadium for an emotionally charged final on Sunday.

France meanwhile were suddenly dreaming of a repeat of their 1998 glory as they readied for Wednesday's semi-final against Portugal, who eliminated England in a tense penalty shootout.

It is the first time that the semi-final lineup has been all-European since the 1982 finals in Spain with three of the last four here the same, only Portugal replacing Poland of that quartet - Italy went on to win it.

France halted Brazil's bid to retain their title and win the World Cup for a sixth time. Inspirational French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who had already announced he will retire at the end of the tournament, said he did not want his career to end just yet.

"It is so wonderful that we want to carry on," he said after rolling back the years to supply the free kick for Thierry Henry to score the winner against the Brazilians.

As Brazil's dejected stars headed home, millions of Germans were preparing to roar on their team.

Klinsmann's side came into the tournament surrounded by doubts but has gained impetus with every game.

Now they face an Italian team which thrashed them 4-1 in a friendly in Florence in March.

"It was a catastrophic performance from us. But I am 100 percent convinced that it will not happen again," said German midfielder Torsten Frings.



"We have lost several times to Italy over the years and have a score to settle." Frings and his teammates are dreaming of emulating the 1974 victory when West Germany beat the Netherlands in the final in Munich.

The Italians' progress has been remarkable, given that a match-fixing trial is under way in Rome involving clubs which employ half the squad.

Adding to their problems, many of the players have been left distraught by an apparent suicide attempt by former Italy and Juventus player Gianluca Pessotto in Turin. But coach Marcello Lippi has urged his squad to focus on events in Germany, and the players said they were undaunted by the prospect of facing a crowd at the Westfalenstadion which is likely to be dominated by German fans.

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

Meanwhile, England's dejected players were back home, digesting another failure in major tournaments and facing up to the resignation of captain David Beckham.

The Real Madrid star said he was giving up the captaincy after six years following the exit at the hands of Portugal, although the 31-year-old added he wanted to continue playing for his country.

"I feel the time is right to pass on the armband as we enter a new era under Steve McClaren," a clearly emotional Beckham said before the squad left their Baden-Baden base.

Englishman McClaren has the job of lifting spirits in time for the Euro 2008 qualification campaign as he inherits the reins from Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Swede quitting after five years in charge with criticism from the media ringing in his ears.

There was a security scare for World Cup organisers on Sunday when up to 20 people suffered minor injuries after a car careered through the Fan Mile area set up in Berlin for supporters to watch matches on big screens.

A police spokesman said they were hurt when a Volkswagen Golf crashed through security barriers near the Brandenburg Gate.

Up to 750,000 people have packed the Berlin Fan Mile when Germany have played, but it was quieter on Sunday because there were no matches.