Germany booked their spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2016 courtesy of a penalty-shootout victory over Italy in Saturday night’s last-eight clash in Bordeaux.
Mesut Ozil sent the world champions into a 65th-minute lead on the night, but Italy were level 13 minutes later when Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci scored from the penalty spot.
Ultimately, penalties were needed to decide the outcome of the quarter-final and it was Germany that triumphed 6-5 in the shootout after seven players had missed from the spot.
Germany started the match in control of the possession, but it was Italy that had the first two attempts inside five minutes – Stefano Sturaro firing wide from a half-cleared corner, before Emanuele Giaccherini had an effort deflected behind after pulling on to the isolated Jerome Boateng.
Germany’s first sight of Gianluigi Buffon’s goal arrived in the 20th minute when Mario Gomez met a sweeping pass from Toni Kroos, but the striker’s tame effort looped into the arms of the waiting Italian goalkeeper.
Joachim Low’s side had the ball in the back of the net in the 27th minute when Schweinsteiger headed a Thomas Muller cross past Buffon, but the referee disallowed the effort for a push on Mattia de Sciglio.
Buffon mis-handled a cross from the left as Germany had another half-chance 10 minutes before the end of the first period, but the Juventus goalkeeper just managed to sort his hands out ahead of the waiting Gomez.
Muller had a wonderful chance to send Germany ahead in the 53rd minute after Gomez set up the Bayern Munich attacker inside the Italian box, but Florenzi produced a brilliant block to divert the ball wide of the post.
Germany made the breakthrough in the 65th minute, however, as Gomez found Hector with a low pass and the left-back’s cross was deflected into Ozil, who fired home for his 20th international goal.
Low’s side should have scored a second three minutes later when Ozil found Gomez inside the box, but the striker could not beat the brilliant Buffon with a close-range effort as Italy somehow stayed in the quarter-final.
Italy were level in the 78th minute, however, when Leonardo Bonucci converted from the penalty spot after Boateng had handled inside the German box.
De Sciglio, who ran a marathon for Italy in a wide position, had the final opportunity of normal time, but his effort from distance hit the side-netting as the third quarter-final of Euro 2016 headed for extra-time.
Germany were the more forward-thinking team in the first period of extra-time, but Italy’s brilliant defensive unit kept the likes of Muller and Julian Draxler at bay as the score remained 1-1 after 105 minutes of football.
Draxler had the best chance of the second half of extra-time when he took advantage of a loose header from Andrea Barzagli, but the attacker hooked over the crossbar from close range, before missing the chance to set up Muller following a fast counter-attack from the Germans.
Incredibly, Simeone Zaza, Muller, Ozil, Pelle, Bonucci and Schweinsteiger all missed in the shootout, but the vital miss came from Matteo Darmian at 5-5 and it was Jonas Hector that stepped forward to win it for the world champions.
Euro 2016: Germany scales Italy hurdle, picks semi finals ticket
