With 31 goals in 69 games, Ballack is Germany's leading scorer among the current squad.

Ballack is trying to reach his first World Cup final. Four years ago, he led Germany into the semifinals, got a yellow card before scoring the winning goal against South Korea and had to sit out the final against Brazil because of a suspension. Brazil won 2-0.

Ballack gave three grounds he thought were enough for Germany to win _ the team is in form, its confidence is great and the support of home fans.

"We've played very consistently. It's impressive how we've applied what we wanted to do and we have to do the same against Italy. They have class, we have the home advantage," Ballack said.

Then he looked at some recent games between Italy and Germany and drew a conclusion.

"We really stand no chance," he said. "They beat us clearly and dominated us. Everything speaks against Germany, it's a wonderful feeling."

Ballack was joking but he could have been serious.

Italy thrashed Germany 4-1 in a friendly in March that nearly cost Klinsmann his job. And AC Milan routed Ballack's Bayern Munich 4-1 in the Champions League.

Germany hasn't lost since that March game, a run of nine matches, including a five-game winning streak at the World Cup, its best ever start. Italy, however, is unbeaten in 23 games, its second-longest streak.

Germany has never beaten Italy in four World Cup matches, including two draws. At the 1970 semifinal in Mexico, Italy won 4-3 in extra time in one of the World Cup's most dramatic games. They also met in a final, in 1982, when Italy won 3-1, their most recent World Cup match. Both teams have three titles.

Italy also leads the all-time series 13-7, with eight draws.

Germany, however, has never lost at Dortmund's noisy stadium and has only one draw in 14 games.