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The 2016 UEFA European Championships is being played across France from June 10 to July 10 for the first time with 24 nations across 10 venues in nine cities with the French capital Paris being the only city with two venues in the Stade de France and the Park de Prince.
The defending double champions are Spain, who are three time record champions along with Germany.
QUARTERFINAL MATCH #3
GERMANY 1-1 (0-0);6-5 ITALY [after penalties]
Goal(s): 1-0 Mesut Özil (65′), 1-1 Leonardo Bonucci (78′ penalty)
In an epic football match, 2014 FIFA World Cup winners Germany beat Italy 6-5 on penalties tonight in Bordeaux after the match had ended one-all after 90 and 120 minutes.
It was an ultra tactical game in which Germany coach Joachim Löw and his Italian counterpart Antonio Conte tried to outwit each other and especially in the first session it wasn’t a treat to watch for fans as Italy stayed deep and Germany was looking to create space and chances.
But Germany received its first shock as Sami Khedira had to be substituted after just 16 minutes with captain Bastian Schweinsteiger coming on. The match came to live for the first time tonight towards the end of the first session as first Thomas Müller didn’t connect properly after a good German combination and then at the other end Sturaro’s shot was cleared for a corner by Jerome Boateng. Goalless at the break.
After the change of sides, Germany came out with more purpose and put Italy under pressure with the best chance in this phase of the game coming to Thomas Müller of Mario Gomez but Florenzi somehow acrobatically saved the ball from cross the goalline.
But Germany’s dominance finally resulted in the lead in the 65th minute whe Manuel Neuer quickly released the ball, Germany got the ball back from Italy and Gomez on the left wing first kept the ball and then played a brilliant through ball for Jonas Hector, whose deflected shot is banged into the net by Mesut Özil. And only three minutes later, Germany should have doubled their lead as Gomez of a brilliant Özil pass tried to heal the ball into the Italian goal but a combination of Chiellini and Buffon ensured Italy stayed in the game.
Italy had problems, but they were not beaten as first a Graziano Pelle shot just missed the target before in the 77th minute referee Karzai gave Italy a penalty for an unnatural handball from Jerome Boateng. Leonardo Bonucci stepped up and scored of the penalty, which should have been retaken then Bonucci stopped on the way to take the shot, but this was overseen by the referee.
De Sciglio’s shot just went wide in the 89th minute but that was it from regulation time. In extra time it was Germany once more with the initiative but except a shot from Müller and a volley from Draxler nothing much happened as both teams were tiring with all that tactical running.
The penalty shootout then was the climax to this game with first Zaza shooting over, then Thomas Müller’s shot it saved, Özil hits the post, Pelle shoots wide, Bonucci’s shot is saved and Schweinsteiger shoots over. 2-2 after five shoots each, then three goals each before Darmian’s shot is saved by Neuer and Hector’s ball goes in past Buffon and Germany score a historic first ever victory against Italy in a major tournament – FIFA World Cup or UEFA Euro.
It surely was a night to remember!
Carlsberg Man of the Match: Manuel Neuer (Germany) #GERITA
