Reuters
Bordeaux (France), July 3: Germany, known as ‘Die Mannschaft’, won an epic shootout featuring 18 penalties by 6-5 to end their jinx against Italy in major tournaments and reach the Euro 2016 semifinals after the game finished 1-1 following extra time Saturday.
Jonas Hector was Germany’s hero when he fired home the winning penalty, after Matteo Darmian missed for Italy, and they will now face either hosts France or Iceland in the last four.
The shootout featured seven misses with some near-farcical spot kicks and was a complete contrast to the tense, tactical and highly-disciplined 120 minutes of football that preceded it.
The usually clinical Germans, who had not missed in a shootout since the 1982 World Cup, failed to convert three times but still progressed thanks to even more wayward shooting by Italy who sent two kicks wide and had two saved by Manuel Neuer.
Arsenal mid-fielder and former Real Madrid man Mesut Ozil had given Germany the lead midway through the second half before Leonardo Bonucci replied with a penalty following a bizarre handball by Jerome Boateng.
For Italy, the defeat was the end of the road in a campaign which has already taken them further than expected, with impressive wins over dark horses Belgium and holders Spain.
The first half was as tense, tactical and cagey as expected between teams who had conceded one goal between at these finals. Germany’s passing was slicker, though, and they went ahead the 65th minute when Hector’s pass into the area was deflected off Bonucci and fell perfectly for Ozil to guide into the net.
It seemed that might be enough to win the game but Italy equalised out of the blue 13 minutes later. Alessandro Florenzi curled the ball into the area, Boateng jumped to challenge Giorgio Chiellini with his arms raised like a basketball player and the ball hit the German’s arm. Bonucci then fired a superb penalty low into the bottom right hand corner, beyond Neuer’s reach.
Little happened in extra time but the shootout was one of the most eventful ever seen at a major tournament. Simone Zaza, who sent his kick high and wide after an unorthodox run-up, Pelle, Bonucci and Darmian missed for Italy, while Thomas Mueller, Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger fluffed their lines for Germany before Hector sealed the victory.
Penalties
Germany Italy
Toni Kroos (G) Lorenzo Insigne (G)
Thomas Mueller (M) Simone Zaza (M)
Mesut Ozil (M) Andrea Barzagli (G)
Julian Draxler (G) Graziano Pelle (M)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (M) Leonardo Bonucci (M)
Mats Hummels (G) Emanuele Giaccherini (G)
Joshua Kimmich (G) Marco Parolo (G)
Jerome Boateng (G) Mattia De Sciglio (G)
Jonas Hector (G) Matteo Darmian (M)
(G – Goal, M – Miss)
Stark Facts
Germany Italy
Goals 1 1
Shots on goal 3 3
Passes 815 511
Corners 7 5
Fouls 15 13
Yellow Cards 2 5
Key facts
- Germany reached their sixth successive semifinal in a major tournament
- Germany registered their first win over Italy in a major tournament finals since the 1962 World Cup
- Germany have now won their last six shootouts at major tournaments since losing to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 European Championship final
‘No regrets’ for Buffon over Azzurri Euro exit
Agence France-Presse
Bordeaux, July 3: Tears rolled down the cheeks of Gianluigi Buffon but the legendary Italy keeper said there were no regrets despite Azzurri missing a golden chance to beat Germany to a Euro 2016 semifinal spot.
“The tears are for my disappointment. It was a magical experience that revived something in all of us and our fans, but it’s come to an end,” an emotional Buffon told media after Germany’s 6-5 penalty shoot-out win here.
Italy spurned the chance to clinch their last four spot when Graziano Pelle hit a pitiful effort wide of the post as the Germans misfired. That, and other misses, proved costly for Italy later on, as the penalty shootout went to a total of 18 kicks.
After Matteo Darmian saw his shot saved by Manuel Neuer, Jonas Hector stepped up to beat Buffon and send World Cup holders Germany into a semifinal against France or Iceland, who play Sunday.
“It’s a shame. When a team (Germany) misses three penalties out of five and you still don’t manage to win it becomes complicated. Sometimes it goes your way, other times it doesn’t. But that’s all a big part of sport, and you have to accept it,” said Buffon.
But the 38-year-old indicated the defeat would not hasten his international retirement. “Personally, I’m fine. I feel that I’ve still got something to give to this squad,” said Buffon.
“I’m happy and proud to have worked alongside this squad. They (Germany) deserved victory more than us, but this game will serve the lads well.”
