Jonas Hector slotted the winning penalty in an epic shoot-out as Germany overcame Italy for the first time in major tournaments to win a compelling UEFA EURO 2016 quarter-final.
It was the first time these two teams had played a tie that had gone the full distance and after 18 penalties, seven of which were missed, Hector struck the clincher following Matteo Darmian’s failed attempt.
Earlier, Mesut Ozil had broken the deadlock in the 65th minute only for Leonardo Bonucci to reply from the spot and help a stubborn Azzurri side take Germany into extra time at the Stade de Bordeaux.
Penalties followed with each team ceding advantage back and forth: Simone Zaza, Graziano Pelle and Bonucci missed for Italy, Thomas Muller, Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger for Germany.
Germany had enjoyed the majority of possession but Italy also carried a threat, and once they equalised, they managed to neutralise the Mannschaft’s attacking potency – even so, it is Germany who will face France or Iceland in Marseille on Thursday with a place in the final the prize on the line.
Eyes were fixed firmly on how Germany were going to set up after Joachim Low’s decision to replace Julian Draxler with Benedikt Höwedes.
They started in a 3-5-2 and had the early territorial supremacy and possession, with the 16th-minute loss of Sami Khedira not affecting their flow as the midfielder succumbed to injury and was replaced by Schweinsteiger.
With Italy seeking to hit on the break, a half-chance for Mario Gomez was all Germany could muster in the opening 40 minutes until the game opened up. First Gomez headed over, then Muller passed up the opportunity to open his EURO finals account as he could not quite sort out his feet after Toni Kroos found him well placed in front of goal.
However, Italy immediately went closer than either side when Emanuele Giaccherini ghosted into space down the left and his cross found Stefano Sturaro – only the outstretched foot of Jerome Boateng flicked the ball wide from the midfielder’s drive.
Muller had a shot acrobatically cleared by Alessandro Florenzi and Boateng drove over as Germany’s pressure first built, and then told. The breakthrough was easy on the eye as Gomez threaded in Hector, whose deflected cutback was clipped in at the near post by Ozil. Low’s men went looking for more and only a miraculous save from Gianluigi Buffon denied Gomez.
It was to prove absolutely key as Italy came forward and, after Pelle screwed a shot just wide, received their lifeline. Giorgio Chiellini’s flick-on struck Boateng’s raised arms and Bonucci calmly put away the spot kick. Extra time came, and Julian Draxler’s overhead narrowly cleared the bar, but it was to be penalties and – eventually – Germany’s night.
They have still never lost a shootout since the 1976 final of this competition when they lost to Czechoslovakia – some 40 years and 13 days ago.
“Being beaten by Germany on penalties is no shame, as we could’ve gone forward too. I am proud of what these lads did,” Italy boss, Antonio Conte, said after the game.
Germany will face the winners of Sunday’s quarter-final between Iceland and hosts France, in a last-four tie on July 7 in Marseille.
