Germany manager Joachim Low admits the plan is to “disarm” Andrea Pirlo and “dictate the tempo” against Italy.
The Euro 2012 semi-final is in Warsaw on Thursday evening, while Spain-Portugal is tonight.
“We're here where we wanted to be. I think the best four teams are here,” he said in a Press conference.
Germany manager Joachim Low admits the plan is to “disarm” Andrea Pirlo and “dictate the tempo” against Italy.
The Euro 2012 semi-final is in Warsaw on Thursday evening, while Spain-Portugal is tonight.
“We're here where we wanted to be. I think the best four teams are here,” he said in a Press conference.
“These four teams have played the best football. It will be very tight, the teams will be playing at the top level, there's no doubt about this. As it's a semi-final, you do need a little bit of luck to get to the final. We are in a strong position.
“Italy are very good coming from the back with Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli they have really classy players and especially Pirlo. He's the one who gives the tactics, the ideas, and directs the game.
“We have to disturb these players and think of a way how we can do better than them in midfield and must dictate the tempo ourselves. We have a plan to ‘disarm’ the Pirlo weapon.
“We have to be cheeky, confident, but work very hard as well. We won't concentrate on them, we will work on our own game.
“We know how Cassano and Balotelli play but I am convinced my central defenders will cope. We are prepared for that. Mats Hummels and Holger Badstuber have the support of the midfielders and they are both very tactically astute.”
Germany won every game in qualifying and also in the tournament proper so far, stretching their unbeaten run to 15 matches.
“You have to form a team that play well together, and work well in all their various positions,” concluded Low.
“We want to show other nations we're at the same level in the actual way we play football. We have been successful. We are a team that don't have to react to the opponents, and play our own game. We're at a level where we don't need to hide from anyone.”