Germany vs. Italy Euro 2012: 6 Players with a Point to Prove in the Semifinal

While watching Italy and England duke it out for 120 minutes plus penalties on Sunday, Germany must have been rubbing their hands with glee.

The Mannschaft enter Thursday's semifinal against the Italians fresher, sharper and deeper, and will have revenge on their side.

Few in Germany will have forgotten the loss to Italy on home soil at the 2006 World Cup. That was also a quarterfinal, and an experienced Italian side counter-attacked their way through the burgeoning Germans.

The tide may finally have turned for Germany, however. Few would be surprised if they emerge victorious. They have, after all, looked the strongest side during the European Championships to date.

Here's six players with a point to prove in the semifinal.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany

Schweinsteiger's performance against the Greeks last Friday is the perfect example of how stats can be immensely deceiving.

The Bayern midfielder completed more passes in the first half than the entire Greek team combined. But lost amid that rosy stat sheet are the number of misplaced passes Schweinsteiger was culpable of.

By his own lofty standards, he was nowhere near his best.

Schweinsteiger was on the pitch when the Italians swept past the Germans in the 2006 World Cup semifinal, and will not have forgotten that sting. Expect him to be at his best on Thursday.

Daniel Boateng, Germany

His late-night carousing has drawn the considerable ire of Joachim Low in the past, but Daniel Boateng might find himself on the bench Thursday because of his play on the pitch, which has been anything but reassuring during these European Championships.

The right-back has been caught out of position far too frequently, and he has committed a number of glaring fouls.

Should Low start him—and it's very likely that the manager might opt for Lars Bender instead—Boateng will need to be at his best to combat the menace of Italy striker Mario Balotelli's tendency to drift to the left flank.

Marco Reus, Germany

Reus has every reason to be smiling, after putting forth such a brilliant performance last Friday against the Greeks.

The newly-signed Borussia Dortmund man was a menace on the right flank, linking up brilliantly with Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira and looking hugely dangerous in his 1-on-1 duels.

Of the three changes Low made to his starting lineup against the Greeks, Reus is easily the most likely to start again against the Italians, who were hard-pressed to deal with the marauding runs of England right-back Glen Johnson early in Sunday's quarterfinal.

Reus is far more dangerous than Johnson, and should show once more why he's one of the Bundesliga's rising stars.

Mario Balotelli, Italy

Balotelli should begin realizing that until he shirks his maddening bouts of inconsistency on the pitch, people will always be asking the questions that made him publicly wonder, "Why always me?"

Against Germany, he should have the chance to prove himself yet again. Unless Cesare Prandelli opts for Antonio di Natale—the only man to have scored on Spain during these Euros—alongside Antonio Cassano up front.

Balotelli will likely see time on the pitch, however. He simply needs to do more.

Claudio Marchisio, Italy

After enjoying such a glittering 2011-12 campaign with club side Juventus, Claudio Marchisio has been strangely subdued during these European Championships.

His class is undeniable, exemplified by a number of brilliant touches and gests, but he will be called upon to do far more against a German back four that has been anything but reliable at times during these Euros.

Antonio Cassano, Italy

Extremely talented, but highly volatile.

That adage rings just as true for the man in the foreground of the picture as it does for the blurred figure to his left. Maybe it just runs in the family of Italian strikers these days.

Antonio Cassano is easily one of the more talented players on the Italy roster, and perhaps in the entire competition.

The AC Milan man combines an ability to drop deep and bring teammates into play along with a predatory finishing touch in front of goal.

Against Germany, who have been susceptible during this tournament, Cassano will need to do both.