Italy Hope Win in Germany Eases Scandal at Home

Post-victory celebrations were muted in Italy after the team moved out of the World Cup group stage and even after their win over Australia in the round of 16. It wasn't until a 3-0 win against Ukraine and a spot in the semi-finals that honking, flag-waving cars hit the Italian streets.

While celebrations are normal occurrences at any point in an international tournament in other countries, a serious match-fixing scandal has had Italians restrained about honoring their soccer stars.

Until now.

Even after Juventus coach Fabio Capello stepped down from his position after testifying at a match-fixing hearing on Tuesday, many in Italy expect a win over Germany in the semi-finals would make Rome erupt in a party atmosphere that would make the previous celebrations look like Matchbox motorcades and could even bring back a sense of pride to a soccer-crazed people.

Extra attention being paid to Italians

The Azzurri are desperate to put in a solid showing and prove to their fans that even while a match-fixing trial is underway back home, not all of Italian soccer deserves to be condemned. The Italians are paying close attention to their behavior at the same time an investigation involving four top clubs that employ half the national team continues.

"They're going to have to be attentive to their behavior," Italian players' association president Sergio Campana said when the team arrived in Germany. "With all that's going on in our sport, this team is going to be kept under the microscope even more than usual."

Whenever they return home, the Italians will likely be seen as in a light similar to the stage's other tragic heroes -- and not for their theatrical dives and acting on the field -- after trudging through an opera set with everything from fixing team rosters to wiretaps and betting on matches.

Italian soccer federation prosecutor Stefano Palazzi called for the relegation of AC Milan, Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina on the third day of a trial in Rome where 25 people are also suspected of sporting fraud.

After a short period of being embarrassed and humiliated by their players' presence in Germany during such a scandal, many Italians have come to believe in their national team again.

"The (Italian) players here are playing for the game's conscience and the game's future back home," a Corriere della Sera reporter told the BBC.

Returning to the team

Initially divided on whether to support the national team, Italy's advancement has made it harder for Italy's soccer-loving public not to support the team.

"Germany, we're going to beat you!" read a Corriere dello Sport headline.

The daily Il Corriere della Sera also played up support for Marcello Lippi's side. "Germany against Italy: We are making history."

Fans outside of Italy have also proved willing to spur on the Azzurri.

"Germany won the 1990 World Cup in Italy, now Italy have to become world champions in Germany," said Rinaldo Luongo, the Italian owner of a Dortmund pizzeria. "That would be fair."

Looking back at the history of 1982 Cup victory

Italian commentators have become more and more willing to examine, without over hyping, the similarities between the 2006 tournament and the last time Italy claimed the World Cup title in 1982.

Though the Italians also entered that tournament in Spain embroiled in a match fixing scandal, it was two years old and long forgotten history as the team took the field and won the final match against Germany with Paolo Rossi, who had earlier served a suspension for his role, claiming the Cup's Golden Boot.

Two of the four Italian clubs accused of corruption, Milan and Lazio, where relegated in 1980.

In 2006, it's Juventus coach Capello who made the first step by resigning after the club was set to be relegated at least two divisions. Palazzi recommended the other three teams be relegated to the second division.

The jury is still out on what will exactly will happen to all four teams -- and the Italian national team.