Germany reached the Euro 2016 semi-final after winning a thrilling penalty shootout against Italy in Bordeaux.
Joachim Low's World Cup holders looked on course for victory in normal time - against a country they had never beaten at a major tournament - when Mesut Ozil rounded off a slick build-up with Mario Gomez and Jonas Hector to score at the near post in the 65th minute.
Italy did not flinch but were grateful for a moment of madness from Germany defender Jerome Boateng when he needlessly handled, allowing Leonardo Bonucci to score the first penalty of his career with 12 minutes left.
Germany missed more penalties in one shootout than in their history - three - but were once again the winners on penalties.
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.
It was settled when Hector drove low under Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon after Manchester United's Matteo Darmian saw his side's ninth penalty saved by Manuel Neuer.
Germany will now play either hosts France or England's conquerors Iceland in the last four.
Germany on course for glory
This was a meeting between two of European football's superpowers - a last-eight match-up that would have graced the final itself in Paris next weekend.
Instead it was a fight for a place in the last four and Low's Germany did what they do best. They found a way to win however it was achieved.
Ozil's goal crowned a spell of second-half pressure which meant their lead was deserved, but they then creaked as two of the staples of Germany's football psyche folded under pressure.
With Italy struggling to get back on terms, they were guilty of desperate defending when Jerome Boateng's 'hands-up star jump' conceded the penalty that Bonucci put away with such assurance.
And then in the shootout itself, a team renowned for cool heads in this situation suddenly seemed to find itself gripped by nerves.
When Thomas Muller saw his spot-kick saved by Buffon, it was the first time they had missed a spot-kick since Uli Stielike at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and Ozil also hit the post.
Indeed, Germany had only missed two penalties - Uli Hoeness the other culprit in that 1976 final with Czechoslovakia - but it was catching, Bastian Schweinsteiger firing wildly over with a chance to clinch it.
However, this was all forgotten in the celebrations as Germany close in on another major title.
Joachim Low's World Cup holders looked on course for victory in normal time - against a country they had never beaten at a major tournament - when Mesut Ozil rounded off a slick build-up with Mario Gomez and Jonas Hector to score at the near post in the 65th minute.
Italy did not flinch but were grateful for a moment of madness from Germany defender Jerome Boateng when he needlessly handled, allowing Leonardo Bonucci to score the first penalty of his career with 12 minutes left.
Germany missed more penalties in one shootout than in their history - three - but were once again the winners on penalties.
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.
Germany will now play either hosts France or England's conquerors Iceland in the last four.
Germany on course for glory
This was a meeting between two of European football's superpowers - a last-eight match-up that would have graced the final itself in Paris next weekend.
Instead it was a fight for a place in the last four and Low's Germany did what they do best. They found a way to win however it was achieved.
Ozil's goal crowned a spell of second-half pressure which meant their lead was deserved, but they then creaked as two of the staples of Germany's football psyche folded under pressure.
With Italy struggling to get back on terms, they were guilty of desperate defending when Jerome Boateng's 'hands-up star jump' conceded the penalty that Bonucci put away with such assurance.
And then in the shootout itself, a team renowned for cool heads in this situation suddenly seemed to find itself gripped by nerves.
When Thomas Muller saw his spot-kick saved by Buffon, it was the first time they had missed a spot-kick since Uli Stielike at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and Ozil also hit the post.
Indeed, Germany had only missed two penalties - Uli Hoeness the other culprit in that 1976 final with Czechoslovakia - but it was catching, Bastian Schweinsteiger firing wildly over with a chance to clinch it.
However, this was all forgotten in the celebrations as Germany close in on another major title.
No comments:
Post a Comment