Italy will play hosts Germany in the World Cup semi-finals after a brace from Luca Toni gave them an easy 3-0 win over Ukraine in Hamburg.

Ukraine started brightly but it was Italy who created the first opening when Mauro Camoranesi's superb run ended with a shot wide of goal.

And they were in front after just six minutes when Gianluca Zambrotta was fed by Francesco Totti's flick in midfield before striding forward and firing a 25-yard drive past Olexandr Shovkovskiy, who got a hand to the ball but couldn't keep it out.

Totti, restored to the starting line-up for the last eight clash, tested Shovkovskiy with a 35-yard free-kick as Italy began to dominate, while at the other end a very defensive Ukraine side could only muster two first-half efforts from long distance through Anatoliy Tymoschuk and Oleg Shelayev.

Toni fired into the side netting at the start of the second period, while at the other end Gianluga Buffon was finally forced into action when he palmed Andriy Gusin's header wide.

Ukraine should have levelled in the 58th minute but Buffon pushed out Oleg Gusev's strike before Maxim Kalinichenko's follow up was cleared off the line.

And they were made to pay for those misses moments later when Italy doubled their lead after Totti's teasing cross from the left after a short corner was headed home from close range by Toni - his first goal of the tournament.

Oleg Blokhin's men were unfortunate not to pull a goal back in the 62nd minute when Gusin's header cannoned back off the bar.

And once again their luck was out as the Italians went straight up the other end and made it 3-0 when Toni tapped home Fabio Grosso's cross from close range - setting up a last four clash with Germany in Dortmund on Tuesday. Agencies