Semi-final/Germany v Italy: The news that German midfielder Torsten Frings will miss tonight's semi-final against Italy having being banned by Fifa is a massive blow to German hopes.

Frings was found guilty yesterday of throwing a punch at Argentina's Julio Cruz during the schemozzle which followed Friday's quarter-final in Berlin.

Having played his best game of the tournament, Frings was sucked into the post-match scuffle after Germany won the penalty shoot-out. Frings's response to Fifa yesterday was that he was merely defending himself by raising his hands. For his part, Cruz says he wasn't struck at all.

It is expected the lanky Tim Borowski will deputise for Frings. Borowski has come on several times as a substitute in this World Cup and done well. Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose, both of whom needed fitness tests before being passed to play against Argentina, are expected to be fit.

For the Italians Alessandro Nesta, who limped out of their group match with the Czech Republic, is expected to remain on the sick list. Marco Materazzi is available after a ban, but Mauro Camoranesi is struggling with a knee injury. If he is unfit, Alberto Gilardino will play up front with Luca Toni, and Francesco Totti behind, in a 4-3-1-2 line-up.

There is so much to take in as you assess the sides. Italy are unbeaten in 23 matches. Their nine goals here have been scored by eight players, and the only one conceded was an own-goal by Cristin Zaccardo.

Pitted against a German side whose central defence has a reputation for being brittle and whose attack struggled against the Argentinians, Italy would be entitled to regard themselves as favourites.

Factor in the trivia nugget that Italy have reached the World Cup final every 12th year since 1970 and their odds shorten. They lost in 1970, won in 1982 and lost in 1994. They are playing against a backdrop of emotion and scandal, and this could be their time.

For Germany there is the venue factor. The Germans are hugely confident about playing in Dortmund. They have a massively impressive record there - winning 13 and drawing one of 14 games played. In Dortmund, they have scored 59 goals and conceded only seven.

For tonight to live up to its billing, one suspects it will require Germany to score first, preferably in the first half. Klinsmann's philosophy has been to throw the kitchen sink into attack, but tonight will be the first time Germany will have encountered players of the quality of Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta. If the game wears on and the Italians control the tempo it will be only a matter of time before the Germans are opened up. An early German goal though would force the Italians to stretch themselves. Different game.

The last time these teams met, Italy hammered Germany 4-1 in a friendly in Florence. Gilardino, Luca Toni, Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Del Piero netted, before Robert Huth produced a late consolation goal for the visitors.

It is worth noting the Germans have never lost a World Cup penalty shoot-out, while the Italians have never won one. Germany took part in the first shoot out in a major competition, in the 1976 European championships, losing to Czechoslovakia. Since then they have won four World Cup shoot-outs and one European Championship shoot-out (versus England in 1996). They have missed just two kicks from 28 attempts. The Italians have lost four our of their five shoot-outs at major tournaments - beating only Holland in Euro 2000 - and scored 19 out of 28 attempts.

Germany (4-4-2)

Lehmann; Friedrich, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Lahm; Schneider, Borowski, Ballack, Schweinsteiger; Podolski, Klose.

Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

Italy (4-3-1-2).

Buffon; Zambrotta, Materazzi, Cannavaro, Grosso; Perrotta,

Pirlo, Gattuso; Totti; Toni,

Gilardino.

Coach: Marcello Lippi