After weeks of criticism, Italy's media finally got behind their team after the quarter-final victory over Ukraine on Friday set up a semi-final against host nation Germany. The newspapers had a warning for Jurgen Klinsmann's side.

"Germany, we're going to beat you!" sang the Corriere dello Sport headline on Saturday.

The paper responded forcefully to anti-Italian comment in the German press, and in particular the weekly Der Spiegel which labelled the Italians as "parasites" and "mummy's boys".

"They told us we would pay for the match-fixing scandal on the pitch. They launched continuous and gratuitous accusations at us.

"The Azzurri did well to suffer all this in silence, while they prepared for their biggest challenge yet - to beat them in their own backyard. This side has everything it needs to achieve that."

Italy have been playing against the backdrop of a Serie A match-fixing scandal with a tribunal due to deliver its verdicts on July 10 after charges against four leading clubs.

LIPPI PRAISE

Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi - criticised after the previous game against Australia - was praised by Corriere dello Sport for his tactics against Ukraine.

"Lippi put the team on the pitch with intelligence, care, and with that ferocious fighting spirit that had not been seen so far."

Tuttosport also praised Lippi's willingness "to correct himself", while La Repubblica said Italy had played "a perfect match".

"Now it's the Germans' turn to be scared of Italy," it added.

La Gazzetta dello Sport said the attack - spearheaded by two goals from striker Luca Toni - finally matched the defence which has only conceded once, an own goal, in the whole tournament.

"Italy has shown it is a complete side, capable of holding out in defence, but also of imposing its own game."