Before Semi-Final

Before Semi-Final matchs of FIFA Worldcup,opinions of each team is attractive. we gathered some of this opinions.
Klinsmann seeks home advantage
Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann believes his side's record at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion will give them the edge in Tuesday's semi-final meeting with Italy.
Italy wary of Klose threat
Italy striker Luca Toni has highlighted the threat posed by Germany striker Miroslav Klose as the man to watch when the two countries meet in Tuesday's semi-final.
Ronaldo plays down Rooney rift
Cristiano Ronaldo has played down reports claiming that there is bad blood between himself and Wayne Rooney.
Media exalt magic France and imperious Zidane
The French press on Sunday rose as one to hail the team's stunning dismissal of favourites and holders Brazil in the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals the night before.

Klinsmann seeks home advantage

Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann believes his side's record at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion will give them the edge in Tuesday's semi-final meeting with Italy.The World Cup hosts face Italy at a ground where they have won 13 and drawn one in 14 matches.

"It's good to know we'll be playing there," said Eriksson. "There is nothing like the atmosphere in Dortmund. It is like a volcano which will hopefully erupt."

Italy routed Germany 4-1 in a friendly game in May, but assistant coach Joachim Low believes that performance will act as an incentive for Germany. "Not a single second we have thought about it," he said. That view was repeated by defender Christoph Metzelder, who said: "We know there is a different kind of team on the pitch these days.

"The Italians are aware of that, too, and I think they have a lot of respect for us. "Our motivation must not be to avenge a loss in March but to reach the final. But all four teams in the semi-finals have the same chance now."

Italy wary of Klose threat

Italy striker Luca Toni has highlighted the threat posed by Germany striker Miroslav Klose as the man to watch when the two countries meet in Tuesday's semi-final."Klose has proved how great he is as a striker - not just here but in previous tournaments," said Toni.

"I think our defenders will have to be extremely careful with him because if he gets a chance he will punish you." Klose currently the leading scorer at the finals with five goals, while he also scored five times in Japan and South Korea in 2002. "He has scored so many goals and he is very strong physically and mentally," Toni added.

"In some games he may go unnoticed for much of the game and then suddenly he finds the target as we saw against Argentina." However, the striker remains upbeat about Italy's chances of reaching the final.

"This is the semi-final of the World Cup," he said. "If Germany are in the last four it is for a reason. "They are difficult side to beat, they have the advantage of playing at home. "We'll have to play at our best to knock them out, but we know what to expect and what we have to do."

Ronaldo plays down Rooney rift

Cristiano Ronaldo has played down reports claiming that there is bad blood between himself and Wayne Rooney.Rooney was upset with Ronaldo after being sent off during England's World Cup quarter final defeat to Portugal on Saturday. The Manhcester United striker was seen shoving Ronaldo after the Portugal winger appeared to urge the referee to discipline the England forward following his stamp on Ricardo Carvalho.

"The things that have been said regarding me and my team-mate and friend Rooney are incredible," said Ronaldo told gestifute website. "Between me and Rooney, there is absolutely no problem. "I reiterate, no problem.

"At the end of the game, we sent each other some text messages and also today. Between the two of us everything has been cleared. "He wished me the best of luck in the World Cup. He told me we had a great team and that if we continued to play like this, we would go far.

"He wasn't angry with me and moreover, he told me to completely ignore what the English press has said, that all they wanted was to create confusion but we are already used to that. "I am not a referee and I don't have the power to send off a player," added Ronaldo. "I had nothing to do with the fact that the referee showed the red card.

" The flying winger also played down reports claiming he would leave United for Real Madrid this summer. "There have been comments published in which I reportedly said that I didn't want to go back to Manchester United," noted Ronaldo. "That is completely false, of course I want to go back.

"It's just typical of the English press but I don't lose any sleep." Ronaldo also revealed that he asked Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari if he could take the final penalty in the shoot-out against England. "When the decision was going to be taken on who will take the penalties, I asked Scolari if I could take the last one," Ronaldo said. "I like to take penalties and to score them. "Why did I ask to be last? Because I like to take responsibility and because I had a strong feeling that I was going to be the one to resolve the game."

Media exalt magic France and imperious Zidane

The French press on Sunday rose as one to hail the team's stunning dismissal of favourites and holders Brazil in the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals the night before.
Thierry Henry's second half volley from a Zinedine Zidane free-kick was enough to see France through in the battle between the teams that have dominated the FIFA World Cup since 1994.
"Magic!" screamed L'Equipe on its front page - a line mirrored in Lyon's Le Progres newspaper - "It was like a dream," continued L'Equipe on the inside.
"Monumental!" was the headline in Marseille's La Provence with a picture of Henry swamped by jubilant team-mates.
"Fantastic!" exclaimed Grenoble newspaper Dauphine Libere, "France is better than Brazil."
In the west of the country Dimanche Ouest-France proclaimed: "Brilliant, into the semi-finals."
Under a picture of a grinning Henry on the front page, it continued: "They've done it! Les Blues eliminated Brazil last night (Saturday). A historic victory.
"A generation that refuses to give back their jerseys. They will not be stopped. The museum awaits."
And in a reference to the stars worn on the shirts of teams that have previously won the FIFA World Cup, it added: "(Zinedine) Zidane, (Fabian) Barthez and (Lillian) Thuram can continue to dream of a second star."
Nice Matin for their part revelled in the performance of the French team, claiming: "The samba (Brazil's national dance) is blue."
And for everyone the real hero was Zidane, much maligned and criticised before the tournament began and even more so after the first two matches, in which he was ineffectual and booked twice, missing France's crucial third and final group game.
Deemed too old, past his peak and no longer a match-winning force, Zidane returned in the knock-out stages a reinvigorated character and France's footballing icon is back where he belongs, revered by one and all.
"Zidane is in seventh heaven," said the Dauphine Libere, while Nice Matin drooled over the captain's every movement.
"Zidane played his greatest match in blue. A festival of technique, extraordinary control, omnipresence and decisive passes."
For La Provence, it was all about Zidane, who outshone the samba stars Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Kaka.
"A master without equal," it said. "In aggressiveness, in work-rate, in action or in beautiful gestures. He was more Brazilian than the Brazilians."
L'Equipe remembered Zidane's last masterclass against Brazil, eight years ago when he scored two goals against the Selecao in the FIFA World Cup final.
"The match of his life," it said, before continuing: "Eight years after his triumph of July 12, 1998, Zinedine Zidane reached a new summit against the Brazilians."
It dedicates two whole articles to gush over the national star.
"The master splattered the match with his class and genius with irreplacable persistence."
As expected, politicians jumped on the celebratory bandwagon.
President Jacques Chirac said: "I feel immense joy. The French team played admirably."
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin applauded coach Raymond Domenech in a message sent Saturday night.
"You have achieved something formidable," said de Villepin.