Ciao Deutschland (but good to see that your national pride is back...)

Klinsmann is furious that Materazzi & Italy didn't stick to the script. Or maybe he's just trying to keep his players from punching anyone.

They didn't get the memo. They didn't stick to the script. In the last minute of a match that was destined to finish nil-nil, followed by another German victory and Italian collapse in those damn penalty shoot-outs, and endless shots of thousands of Deutschlanders waving their flags and making everyone uneasy with their renewed sense of nationalism, the unthinkable happened: Italy scored. And just when you weren't sure if it had really happened, if the ref was going to disallow the goal for some half-baked offsides or mystical foul on the keeper, Italy scored again. And then it was over. Italy wins. Germany loses. No scoreless draw. No penalty kicks. No German cool under pressure playing better from the spot than they do in the games. No Klinsmann prancing around like a fairy on the sidelines. No explosion of unbridled joy and pride from the thousands of fans in Dortmund. No shots of Munich and Berlin going berserk. None of that. Nothing but Italy's players and coaches celebrating wildly on the pitch, almost as though they didn't believe it themselves. Did that really happen? Da vero?

As if it had been pre-ordained, the match had gone according to plan. Italy dominated possession, getting way more shots and corners, but Germany defended well and withstood the pressure, taking punches but not looking too fazed, seemingly content to keep it scoreless and hope to strike when the Italy defense became tired, vulnerable, or over-confident. Germany appeared to miss the suspended Frings (who absolutely deserved his one game ban, if not more - he punched an opponent on the pitch, no?), but Borowski and Kehl were working hard and reducing Totti to hopeful long balls. Toni was non-existent, just as Crespo had been. Most fans can't tell you the first thing about Mertesacker or Metzelder and dear ole Dave O'Brien can't even tell them apart, but they have shut down two world-class strikers in two games - no small feat that. And at the start of the second half, Germany began to take over the game. For the next 2o to 30 minutes, the Azzurri looked to be on the ropes. Ballack was directing play, Podolski looked capable of giving the Italians problems with his speed, and Italy's back four was starting to give the Germans some space to operate in. And that's when it started to become clear: Italy was not going to stand for a scoreless match that led to penalties. They know how that goes. Even if it meant leaving themselves vulnerable at the back, Lippi had instructed his men to attack. Confident in the knowledge that he has the best centerback (Cannavaro) and the best goalie (Buffon) in the world, Lippi sent his men forward. This was not the Italy of old. There would be no catenaccio today. And sure enough, on came Gilardino. And then Iaquinta. And Italy continued to surge forward: Gilardino hit the post, followed by Zambrotta rattling the crossbar. Even if it meant leaving space at the back for Podolski to blow a point-blank header, Italy was going for it. On came Del Piero. Four strikers, but the Germans withstood the Italian onslaught and fought back valiantly. This was not your normal Italy. This wasn't even your normal Germany, as ze Mannschaft threw men into attack themselves. This wasn't your normal World Cup overtime, with both teams looking to score rather than just defend. But still, after 119 scoreless but thrilling minutes, everything pointed to penalties. And that's exactly what would have happened, but no one told Andrea Pirlo that you don't make a no-look, back-heel pass past three defenders on the edge of Germany's box with a minute left in a World Cup semifinal. Gorgeous. Subtle. Brilliant. Smart. Genius. Words don't do it justice. Fabio Grosso received it, turned, and curled a beautiful bending shot around Lehmann's sprawling, helpless body, tucking the ball just inside the post. 65,000 German fans expecting to watch their team win on penalties yet again fell silent. Even Grosso himself didn't seem to know what to do. This wasn't meant to happen. It wasn't supposed to end like this. And while everyone stood in disbelief, the Azzurri blasted another one past Lehmann for good measure - Del Piero doing the honors. The unthinkable had happened.

There can be no doubt now that Italy deserves their place in the final. After a thoroughly unimpressive journey to the semifinals, with the only highlights being a 2-0 win over an undermanned Czech Republic and a 3-0 thumping of an out-of-place Ukraine, Italy has found an offensive, attacking drive to match its always uncompromising defense. Italy has only allowed one goal during six games in this Cup, an own goal no less, but we knew that Italy can defend better than anyone - Buffon, Cannavaro, Nesta, Zambrotta, and Gattuso are a defensive group that can only be matched by France's Barthez, Thuram, Gallas, Vieira, and Makelele (and guess what, they'll probably be playing them in Sunday's final). What we didn't know was if Italy's attackers would ever be able to reproduce the offensive fireworks that they display in Serie A, but not internationally. The blame for this offensive drought has to lie mostly with the players themselves, but Italy's coaches have historically curtailed any offensive-minded play with formations and game-plans that preach defense first. And so it would have been no surprise to see Italy yet again crash out on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw, especially against such a strong opponent, playing at home, with 65,000 fans roaring as one in one of the most intimidating stadiums in the world. And surely it would have come to be reality, had it not been for Lippi's attack-minded substitutions, Andrea Pirlo's moment of brilliance, and a new and improved Italy that the world has never seen before.

The Azzurri - scandal, suicide attempts, suspensions and all - are moving on to the final. Germany, with all of their fans and flags and fearless optimism, are out. It wasn't expected, it wasn't predictable, and it wasn't part of the script, but someone forgot to mention that to Lippi, Pirlo, and the Azzurri.