Germany Gears Up For Friendly Against Italy

Italy coach Marcello Lippi is relishing the opportunity to pit his wits against the tournament hosts. "They are a great team with a wonderful history, and as hosts of the World Cup they are very ambitious," he said. "For us it's one of the last real tests before we fly out to Germany, one that we hope will build our confidence."

Lippi added that he hoped the Italy fans would get behind his team at the Artemio Franchi stadium, home of Serie A side Fiorentina. "We are playing in Florence where the people are passionate about soccer and a lot will depend on their support."

Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann is playing down his side's chances of victory in Wednesday's match. "Italy have quality in every position, and Lippi's squad is more mature and more experienced than ours," said the 41-year-old, who took control of Germany in July 2004. "They have a team full of champions while we are a young side looking for its identity, one that plays aggressive, attacking soccer."

Restructuring Italian squad

Klinsmann expressed his sadness over the injury to Italy's talismanic number 10 Francesco Totti, whose chances of featuring in Germany are hanging in the balance after he broke a bone in his left leg.

"I'm sad to see him injured, he's an exceptional player," he said. "However, Alessandro Del Piero can replace him or Lippi can change his system. He has players who can adapt."

The last time Germany saw off one of the game's so-called soccer heavyweights was back in October 2000, when they beat England 1-0 in a 2002 World Cup qualifier, and Klinsmann is desperate to put that right. "We want to put an end to our negative run against big name opposition," he said.

Drawing on Klinsmann's experience

Klinsmann knows what it takes to unlock an Italian defense having played for Inter Milan from 1989 to 1992. He scored 36 goals and helped Inter win the UEFA Cup in 1991.

Germany's first-choice goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has been ruled out due to a thigh strain, so Arsenal's Jens Lehmann will deputize, while Stuttgart keeper Timo Hildebrand will act as Lehmann's understudy. With Italy's left-sided defender Gianluca Zambrotta unavailable, Fiorentina defender Manuel Pasqual could make his first appearance for Italy in front of his home crowd.

Wednesday's match revives memories of the classic 1982 World Cup final in Spain which Italy won 3-1. The most memorable image of the tournament was Marco Tardelli's uninhibited celebrations -- wild eyes and pumping fists -- after scoring Italy's second goal.