Kroos starts for Germany, Italy switch Balzaretti

Germany coach Joachim Loew pulled another selection surprise for Thursday's Euro 2012 semi-final against Italy by handing Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos his first start of the tournament. Having dropped three of the forwards he'd used in the group stage in last Friday's 4-2 quarter-final win over Greece, Loew made two changes to his starting line-up against Italy. The 22-year-old Kroos comes in on the right wing as part of Germany's attacking midfield keeping both his Bayern team-mate Thomas Mueller and Borussia Dortmund-bound Marco Reus on the bench. Lukas Podolski comes back into the starting line-up on the left wing to win his 101st win at the expense of Bayer Leverkusen's Andre Schuerrle. Having scored three goals so far at Euro 2012, Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez starts up front with veteran Lazio striker Miroslav Klose on the bench. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli sprang a surprise of his own by switching Palermo left-back Federico Balzaretti to right-back in place of Ignazio Abate, who has been struggling with a muscle problem. It means that centre-back Giorgio Chiellini comes in at left-back having recovered from the hamstring problem that saw him miss Sunday's quarter-final win over England. Starting line-ups for the Euro 2012 semi-final between Germany and Italy here at the National Stadium on Thursday: Germany (4-2-3-1) Manuel Neuer; Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Holger Badstuber, Philipp Lahm (capt); Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos; Mario Gomez Coach: Joachim Loew Italy (4-3-1-2) Gianluigi Buffon (capt); Federico Balzaretti, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini; Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, Daniele De Rossi; Riccardo Montolivo; Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano Coach: Cesare Prandelli Referee: Stephane Lannoy (FRA)