Germany Thrashed by Italy

On Sunday, Germany left Turin, Italy as the most decorated country in the Winter Olympics. On Wednesday, the German national soccer team hoped to latch onto that success, but instead they received a thrashing at the hands of Italy, losing 4-1 in Florence.

The first half was one any German supporter would like to forget. After just six minutes, Klinsmann’s boys were down 2-0 after goals by Alberto Gilardino and hometown boy Luca Toni. Two goals that could be blamed on a defense that didn’t take the Azurra strikers seriously.

A shocking start for Germany after such an impressive match against France in their last friendly in November.

"We received a lesson in the first half," coach Jürgen Klinsmann said afterwards. "There was a lot that we can learn from that. Of course that is frustrating and the mood in the locker room matches that. Everybody’s heads are down."

The first-half tutorial ended in the 39th minute when the considerably shorter Mauro Camoranesi won an aerial challenge in the penalty box. His header ended on the head of midfielder Daniele De Rossi and the AS Roma player headed it past a helpless Jens Lehmann. The Arsenal keeper was not to blame on any of the three strikes and the squads went into the locker room with Italy leading 3-0.

In the second half, it took 12 minutes for the fourth goal to be scored. Alessandro Del Piero was the benefactor this time of a headball returned to him and the Juve striker, only a substitute at the moment on Italy’s top team, used his head and the Italians could relax the final half hour.

Only Robert Huth’s solid volley on a corner kick in the 82nd minute gave some relief from the pain known as Italian soccer.

But just as quickly as the German press will attack Klinsmann for the debacle in Florence, he was quick to express his confidence in the team in its current form.

"We have the core of our team. We believe in these boys and we believe in them even more when they play badly. And today was bad, really bad," the 41-year old coach said.

Next challenge in three weeks

But while most players blamed the early deficit for the disaster, defender Christoph Metzelder was already looking ahead.

"That was truly a shot over our ship’s bow. The team has to respond properly. Thank goodness the next chance comes soon."

That opportunity comes in three weeks against the USA, who beat one of Germany’s World Cup opponents, Poland, 1-0 on Wednesday. The other two group A foes, Ecuador and Costa Rica also lost in friendlies, but that will provide little comfort for Germany after the 4-1 loss to Italy.