KRAKOW, Poland, June 27 (Reuters) – Bastian Schweinsteiger
is winning his battle to be fit for Thursday’s Euro 2012
semi-final against Italy where the relentless midfielder will
have to nullify the mercurial Andrea Pirlo if Germany are to end
their hoodoo.

The Germans have never beaten Italy at a major championship,
famously losing the 2006 World Cup semi-final on home soil to
the eventual victors, but they are favourites to progress this
time having won all four matches so far in Poland and Ukraine.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Andrea Pirlo, exalted by the football world for his exploits at Euro 2012, does not believe he should win the FIFA Ballon d’Or this year because he does not score enough goals.

The 33-year-old, whose Italy side face Germany in Thursday’s semi-final, has never been a regular scorer from his deep-lying midfield role but wowed the tournament with his chipped penalty in the last-eight shootout win over England.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Andrea Pirlo, exalted by the football world for his exploits at Euro 2012, does not believe he should win the FIFA Ballon d’Or this year because he does not score enough goals.

The 33-year-old, whose Italy side face Germany in Thursday’s semi-final, has never been a regular scorer from his deep-lying midfield role but wowed the tournament with his chipped penalty in the last-eight shootout win over England.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 26 (Reuters) – Andrea Pirlo, exalted by
the football world for his exploits at Euro 2012, does not
believe he should win the FIFA Ballon d’Or this year because he
does not score enough goals.

The 33-year-old, whose Italy side face Germany in Thursday’s
semi-final, has never been a regular scorer from his deep-lying
midfield role but wowed the tournament with his chipped penalty
in the last-eight shootout win over England.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Italy midfielder Alessandro Diamanti, who came back to haunt doubting English fans with the winning penalty in their Euro 2012 quarter-final, is unlikely to have done enough to grab a starting spot in the last four.

The former West Ham United player, who spent one season in England in 2009-10 before asking to go back to Italy, also hit the post during a sparkling substitute appearance in the 0-0 draw with England in Kiev which preceded the shootout.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 25 (Reuters) – Italy midfielder
Alessandro Diamanti, who came back to haunt doubting English
fans with the winning penalty in their Euro 2012 quarter-final,
is unlikely to have done enough to grab a starting spot in the
last four.

The former West Ham United player, who spent one season in
England in 2009-10 before asking to go back to Italy, also hit
the post during a sparkling substitute appearance in the 0-0
draw with England in Kiev which preceded the shootout.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Italy’s coach Cesare Prandelli is unhappy that an already physically strong Germany have had two extra days to prepare for Thursday’s Euro 2012 semi-final.

The Azzurri dominated Sunday’s 0-0 draw with England in Kiev – the first game to go to extra time at the finals – before prevailing on penalties while the Germans defeated Greece 4-2 in regulation time on Friday.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 25 (Reuters) – Italy’s coach Cesare
Prandelli is unhappy that an already physically strong Germany
have had two extra days to prepare for Thursday’s Euro 2012
semi-final.

The Azzurri dominated Sunday’s 0-0 draw with England in Kiev
- the first game to go to extra time at the finals – before
prevailing on penalties while the Germans defeated Greece 4-2 in
regulation time on Friday.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – England captain Steven Gerrard is committed to leading his side towards the 2014 World Cup despite being devastated by yet another major tournament heartache at the European Championship.

There had been some speculation the 32-year-old might quit internationals but he believes an improved performance in Ukraine and Poland bodes well even if England have to learn to keep the ball better.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 25 (Reuters) – England captain Steven
Gerrard is committed to leading his side towards the 2014 World
Cup despite being devastated by yet another major tournament
heartache at the European Championship.

There had been some speculation the 32-year-old might quit
internationals but he believes an improved performance in
Ukraine and Poland bodes well even if England have to learn to
keep the ball better.