Germany break Italy jinx, enter semis

Jonas Hector scored the decisive spot-kick as Joachim Low's men booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2016 following a 1-1 draw after extra time in Bordeaux on Saturday.

 

 

Germany won a dramatic penalty shootout 6-5 to book their place in the Euro 2016 semi-finals and send Italy crashing out in Bordeaux, reports Goal.com.

 

After 120 minutes of action ended in a 1-1 draw, Jonas Hector netted the winning spot-kick after seven players failed to convert in an unbelievable sequence of penalties on Saturday.

 

Simone Zaza, Graziano Pelle, Leonardo Bonucci and Matteo

Darmian all missed for Germany, who saw Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil and captain Bastian Schweinsteiger also fluff their lines.

 

Ozil looked to have put Germany on course for victory in normal time, but Bonucci's late penalty – after a handball from Jerome Boateng – ensured the game progressed to extra time and then spot-kicks.

 

The thrilling win helped Germany gain a measure of revenge for a run of eight consecutive defeats to the Azzurri in major tournaments, including a semi-final loss four years ago at Euro 2012.

 

World champions Germany are now the first team to make the last four at six consecutive major tournaments.

 

Joachim Low's side will face either hosts France or Iceland in Marseille next Thursday when they will bid to make a record seventh European Championship final, although Mats Hummels will miss the match through suspension after picking up a booking against Italy.

 

Germany switched to three at the back with Benedikt Howedes replacing Julian Draxler, but they suffered a blow when Sami Khedira limped off after only 16 minutes as skipper Schweinsteiger came on to replace him.

 

Schweinsteiger, whose outing saw him equal Miroslav Klose's European appearance record at major tournaments, had a goal disallowed for shoving Mattia De Sciglio to the ground before getting on the end of Hummels' cross and planting a header beyond Gianluigi Buffon.

 

Germany had the best chance of a quiet first half when Muller scuffed a presentable opportunity straight at Buffon, and the Bayern Munich man was denied by a flying Alessandro Florenzi on the goal-line shortly after the interval.