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Jonas Hector scored the decisive penalty in the ninth round of penalty kicks after Leonardo Bonucci had canceled out Mesut Ozil’s strike in regular time to send Germany into the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
Germany altered their lineup to effectively null any Italian attacking strength, and a fascinating tactical battle between two of Europe’s greatest footballing nations struggled to match the pregame hype.
Germany found a lot of first half joy through Joshua Kimmich, the young German was pushed into the midfield to combat an Italian side that was without the suspended Thiago Motta and the injured Daniele De Rossi.
However, Italy’s backbone of Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini looked unfazed by the Germany pressure. At the break, almost the entirety of the game’s play had transposed in either the midfield or Italy’s half.
Germany finally found their deserved breakthrough in the 65th minute, Mesut Ozil getting on the end of a deflected cross to finish emphatically beyond the helpless Buffon.
Italy struggled to play themselves into the game but in the 76th minute Jerome Boateng threw them a lifeline. Boateng’s handball has already gone viral, the theatricality of his marking becoming a photoshop sensation.
It wasn't conventional defending from Jerome Boateng. Photo: @BBCMOTD | Twitter
Leonardo Bonnuci calmly dispatched the resulting penalty, equalizing for Italy and sending the game on a direct path toward penalties. Two of the planet’s best goalkeepers, Neuer and Buffon, took center stage.
Lorenzo Insigne scored the opening penalty for Italy, and Toni Kroos equalized for Germany. It looked like it would be a clinical shootout but Zaza, Muller, Ozil, Pelle, Bonucci and Schweinsteiger all conspired to miss their respective attempts.
Knotted at 5-5, Darmian hit a terrible penalty which Neuer saved easily. Hector made no mistake with his attempt, sending Germany into the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
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