Warsaw, Poland

Italy is doing everything it can to get three injured key players back in action when it takes on Germany in the semifinal round of the European Championship.

Midfielder Daniele De Rossi and defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Ignazio Abate are currently undergoing treatment for injuries and hoping to return against Germany.

"All three are making progress and we will do everything possible, right down to the last minute, to make them available," team doctor Enrico Castellacci said.

De Rossi left Italy's penalty shootout win over England in the 80th minute due to problem with his sciatic nerve. Abate has a muscle problem in his left leg while Chiellini has a left hamstring problem.

Abate's replacement Christian Maggio was ruled out of the semifinal match after picking up a yellow card.

Italy beat England, 4-2, in penalty shootout Sunday while the Germans advanced to the semifinals two days earlier with a 2-0 win over France.

"There is a general state of fatigue in the squad," Castellacci said. "That's to be expected after the stress and emotion of the last few matches. We're doing everything possible to recuperate our energy."

Meanwhile, Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo is confident that Italy can overcome the heavily favored Germans in the semifinal, claiming that Joachim Loew's players are scared of them.

"They are afraid of us. They know that we can create some problems. There is the same desire as 2006. We are at the level of Spain," Pirlo told goal.com.

"Germany is a very strong team, but we know we can beat them. We have studied them today and we'll do so again in these next two days," he added.

Pirlo added that his team can improve its performance against Germany simply by scoring goals.

"We can score a goal," he said. "Compared to England, Germany is a team that plays, and Mesut Ozil, who I'll find beside me, will be the fulcrum. But we have come here to win."

GDANSK (AFP)

German coach Joachim Loew is wary of Italy's progress over the past two years and expects a tough game when the two sides clash in their Euro 2012 semi-final in Warsaw

Slideshow of Euro 2012 on June 26, 2012 in Ukraine and Poland, including press conferences of members of German, Portugal and Spain teams, and training sessions of Italy, Portugal and Spain teams.

Slideshow of Euro 2012 on June 25, 2012 in Poland and Ukraine including a press conference of members of England's national team after their defeat, training sessions of German and Portuguese teams, a press conference of Spanish players, combination pictures of next semifinal matches and a feature in Germany about Nelly the elephant.

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