Die Mannschaft’s dream of winning EURO 2016 in France is still intact, after an historic victory in a dramatic penalty shootout. Joachim Löw’s team won 6-5 in Bordeaux against Italy in the spot-kick lottery, and celebrated their first win after eight defeats against the Squadra Azzura at major tournaments. The most recent was at EURO 2012, as well as a painful semi-final defeat against Italy at the home World Cup in 2006. Mesut Özil scored in the 65th minute on Saturday evening to make it 1-0, with Leonardo Bonucci equalising from the penalty spot in the 78th minute after a handball by Jerome Boateng. Jonas Hector scored the decisive penalty in the shootout to put the world champions into the last four of a European Championship for the third time in a row. That will take place on Thursday (21:00 CEST), against either hosts France or debutants Iceland. However, Mats Hummels will definitely miss the game after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament shortly before the end of regular time.
Up until Hector’s winner, the Germany squad had to overcome a seriously difficult task. Italy, who beat title-holders Spain on their way to the quarter-final, were as expected, a very difficult opposition. In the first half in particular, Germany had difficulty dealing with Antonio Conte’s strong Italy team, but in the second half, they upped their game and deservedly took the lead. Nobody saw Bonucci’s equaliser coming at the time, but the Juventus defender held his nerve in the dual with Manuel Neuer. The game went into extra time, which ended goalless, despite Germany taking control. Then Manuel Neuer came up with two saves, and Hector scored the final penalty, and the late match winner.
Löw brings in Höwedes for Draxler
38,764 fans in Bordeaux were treated to an exciting, balanced, and hotly-contested match. Löw made a change to his starting formation from their dominant 3-0 victory over Slovakia in the round of 16. Benedikt Höwedes started instead of Julian Draxler, defending alongside Hummels and Boateng. Joshua Kimmich (right) and Hector (left) played at full-back, and worked up and down the pitch for the entire match. When Italy had possession, they both dropped back to form a five-man defence. Löw successfully used this formation in the last meeting of two four-time world champions, in a 4-1 win in Munich at the end of may. In the four previous matches of this tournament, Germany played with four at the back.
Die Mannschaft needed a few minutes to settle into the rhythm of the game in Bordeaux, and Löw was forced to make his first change after fifteen minutes. Bastian Schweinsteiger came into the match for the injured Sami Khedira, and took up his position as a defensive midfielder. However, the captain’s substitution did not do much to change the course of the game. Italy defended resolutely – sometimes sitting back cautiously, and then suddenly throwing a lot of players into the German half. Germany had a number of problems with this unpredictable defence, and because Toni Kroos and Mesut Özil were closed down very quickly, the Germans were missing a bit of precision and that little spark of brilliance.
Özil puts Germany into the lead - Bonucci levels
The Italians continued to sit back, and so Germany had to play patiently on the edge of their box. The world champions searched relentlessly for gaps in the very focussed defence of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. But chances on goal were few and far between. Hummels tried with a long ball to Mario Gomez in the 20th minute, but the striker did not manage to reach it. However, the Germans continued to work extremely hard, and were almost rewarded moments later with the opening goal. Schweinsteiger converted with his head in the 27th minute, but Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai awarded a foul against him.
The game stayed tight, with Germany searching for gaps and Italy waiting for a mistake. It became dangerous again just before the break, however Gomez headed over the bar. Then Thomas Müller was in the thick of the action in the Italy box, but did not connect properly with the ball. At the other end, Stefano Sturaro nearly scored, but Boateng stopped it well.
It functioned as a warning, and after the break Germany turned things around and pushed Italy further back. Müller had the opening goal in his sight in the 54th minute, but Alessandro Florenzi blocked his effort spectacularly. A few moments later it finally came: Gomez moved the ball up the left-hand side, delayed, and then played hector in at the perfect moment. The Cologne man set up Özil, who scored the opening goal from a few metres out. Shortly after, Gomez could have been rewarded for his strong performance, but he lost out to the quick reactions of Buffon in the 68th minute.
Löw was then forced into a substitution once again. Gomez left the field with an injury, and was replaced by Draxler. Despite their second unplanned change, Germany had hold of the game, and already seemed well on their way to the semi-final. But then Boateng touched the ball with his hand in the penalty area. Bonucci converted the subsequent penalty, and saved the 2012 finalists, sending the game to extra time. Germany stepped it up a gear, and wanted to decide the game in their favour before it came to a penalty shootout. Draxler had the biggest opportunity in the 107th minute, but he put the ball just over the bar with his back to goal. Özil also had an attempt after 119 minutes - Buffon stood strong.
Die Mannschaft’s dream of winning EURO 2016 in France is still intact, after an historic victory in a dramatic penalty shootout. Joachim Löw’s team won 6-5 in Bordeaux against Italy in the spot-kick lottery, and celebrated their first win after eight defeats against the Squadra Azzura at major tournaments. The most recent was at EURO 2012, as well as a painful semi-final defeat against Italy at the home World Cup in 2006. Mesut Özil scored in the 65th minute on Saturday evening to make it 1-0, with Leonardo Bonucci equalising from the penalty spot in the 78th minute after a handball by Jerome Boateng. Jonas Hector scored the decisive penalty in the shootout to put the world champions into the last four of a European Championship for the third time in a row. That will take place on Thursday (21:00 CEST), against either hosts France or debutants Iceland. However, Mats Hummels will definitely miss the game after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament shortly before the end of regular time.
Up until Hector’s winner, the Germany squad had to overcome a seriously difficult task. Italy, who beat title-holders Spain on their way to the quarter-final, were as expected, a very difficult opposition. In the first half in particular, Germany had difficulty dealing with Antonio Conte’s strong Italy team, but in the second half, they upped their game and deservedly took the lead. Nobody saw Bonucci’s equaliser coming at the time, but the Juventus defender held his nerve in the dual with Manuel Neuer. The game went into extra time, which ended goalless, despite Germany taking control. Then Manuel Neuer came up with two saves, and Hector scored the final penalty, and the late match winner.
Löw brings in Höwedes for Draxler
38,764 fans in Bordeaux were treated to an exciting, balanced, and hotly-contested match. Löw made a change to his starting formation from their dominant 3-0 victory over Slovakia in the round of 16. Benedikt Höwedes started instead of Julian Draxler, defending alongside Hummels and Boateng. Joshua Kimmich (right) and Hector (left) played at full-back, and worked up and down the pitch for the entire match. When Italy had possession, they both dropped back to form a five-man defence. Löw successfully used this formation in the last meeting of two four-time world champions, in a 4-1 win in Munich at the end of may. In the four previous matches of this tournament, Germany played with four at the back.
Die Mannschaft needed a few minutes to settle into the rhythm of the game in Bordeaux, and Löw was forced to make his first change after fifteen minutes. Bastian Schweinsteiger came into the match for the injured Sami Khedira, and took up his position as a defensive midfielder. However, the captain’s substitution did not do much to change the course of the game. Italy defended resolutely – sometimes sitting back cautiously, and then suddenly throwing a lot of players into the German half. Germany had a number of problems with this unpredictable defence, and because Toni Kroos and Mesut Özil were closed down very quickly, the Germans were missing a bit of precision and that little spark of brilliance.
Özil puts Germany into the lead - Bonucci levels
The Italians continued to sit back, and so Germany had to play patiently on the edge of their box. The world champions searched relentlessly for gaps in the very focussed defence of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. But chances on goal were few and far between. Hummels tried with a long ball to Mario Gomez in the 20th minute, but the striker did not manage to reach it. However, the Germans continued to work extremely hard, and were almost rewarded moments later with the opening goal. Schweinsteiger converted with his head in the 27th minute, but Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai awarded a foul against him.
The game stayed tight, with Germany searching for gaps and Italy waiting for a mistake. It became dangerous again just before the break, however Gomez headed over the bar. Then Thomas Müller was in the thick of the action in the Italy box, but did not connect properly with the ball. At the other end, Stefano Sturaro nearly scored, but Boateng stopped it well.
It functioned as a warning, and after the break Germany turned things around and pushed Italy further back. Müller had the opening goal in his sight in the 54th minute, but Alessandro Florenzi blocked his effort spectacularly. A few moments later it finally came: Gomez moved the ball up the left-hand side, delayed, and then played hector in at the perfect moment. The Cologne man set up Özil, who scored the opening goal from a few metres out. Shortly after, Gomez could have been rewarded for his strong performance, but he lost out to the quick reactions of Buffon in the 68th minute.
Löw was then forced into a substitution once again. Gomez left the field with an injury, and was replaced by Draxler. Despite their second unplanned change, Germany had hold of the game, and already seemed well on their way to the semi-final. But then Boateng touched the ball with his hand in the penalty area. Bonucci converted the subsequent penalty, and saved the 2012 finalists, sending the game to extra time. Germany stepped it up a gear, and wanted to decide the game in their favour before it came to a penalty shootout. Draxler had the biggest opportunity in the 107th minute, but he put the ball just over the bar with his back to goal. Özil also had an attempt after 119 minutes - Buffon stood strong.
What followed was a very memorable penalty shootout, with seven missed spot kicks. Löw and Conte spoke to their teams once again, after 120 intense minutes. Lorenzo Insigne scored Italy’s first - Kroos responded confidently. Then Simone Zaza put his over the bar, with Müller missing too. Andrea Barzagli converted expertly, and Özil hit the post. Graziano Pelle also let his nerves get the better of him, unlike Draxler. Then, Neuer saved his team against Bonucci, and Schweinsteiger put his over the bar. Emanule Giaccherini fired Italy in front once again, with Hummels also scoring. Marco Parolo, Kimmich, Mattia De Sciglio and Boateng did the same. Then Neuer saved from Matteo Darmian – and hector kept his cool.
