QUARTER-FINAL 3: Germany Beat Italy In A Dramatic Shootout To Reach The Semis

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The third quarter-final of Euro 2016 was played between Germany and Italy, which the Germans won 6-5 on penalties.

Following a goalless first half, Mesut Ozil scored the opener for Germany in the 65th minute with a near-post finish. However, the Italians equalized from the spot in the 78th minute, when Jerome Boateng conceded a penalty by handling the ball in the box, which Leonardo Bonucci converted.

The match remained tied at 1-1 after 120 minutes of open football, taking the game to penalty shootouts, which the German side won 6-5.

For the Italian side, Insigne, Barzagli, Giaccherini, Parolo and De Sciglio scored their spot kicks, but Zaza, Pelle, Bonucci and Darmian missed theirs.

And for the reigning World Champions, Kroos, Draxler, Hummels, Kimmich, Boateng and Hector netted their penalties, whereas Muller, Ozil and Schweinsteiger failed to convert theirs, thereby missing more penalties in this shootout (3) than Germany had in all their previous major finals shootouts combined (2).

Following Italy’s elimination from the tournament, outgoing manager Antonio Conte had the following to say in the post-match interview: “I want to thank the boys. They were extraordinary for two years for me. They topped it off with this special experience. I’m sorry because they deserved to go through. We made the fans proud of us. And we made the players truly aware that it’s a privilege to wear the shirt.”

Germany boss Joachim Low said: “It was a drama – extra time and with two sides on the highest tactical level. The penalties missed were even more dramatic. The experienced players missed and the young players scored. We were lucky. There is nothing I could blame the team for. We were the better team in the 120 minutes. We’ll recover now and on Thursday we’ll continue.”

Germany are now through to the semi-finals, where they will face either the hosts France, or Iceland, on Thursday, July 7.

 

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