Germany beat Italy to reach Euro 2016 semi-finals after epic penalty shootout

theguardian.com ^ | July 3, 2016 | Daniel Taylor

[Berlin_Freeper]

Group A

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
FRA	2	1	0	3	7
SWI	1	2	0	1	5
ALB	1	0	2	-2	3
ROM	0	1	2	-2	1

France 2-1 Romania
Albania 0-1 Switzerland
Romania 1-1 Switzerland
France 2-0 Albania
Switzerland 0-0 France
Romania 0-1 Albania

Group B

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
WAL	2	0	1	3	6
ENG	1	2	0	1	5
SVK	1	1	1	0	4
RUS	0	1	2	-4	1

Wales 2-1 Slovakia
England 1-1 Russia
Russia 1-2 Slovakia
England 2-1 Wales
Russia 0-3 Wales
Slovakia 0-0 England

Group C

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
GER	2	1	0	3	7
POL	2	1	0	2	7
NI	1	0	2	0	3
UKR	0	0	3	-5	0

Poland 1-0 N.Ireland
Germany 2-0 Ukraine
Ukraine 0-2 N.Ireland
Germany 0-0 Poland
N.Ireland 0-1 Germany
Ukraine 0-1 Poland

Group D

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
CRO	2	1	0	2	7
SPA	2	0	1	3	6
TUR	1	0	2	-2	3
CZE	0	1	2	-3	1

Turkey 0-1 Croatia
Spain 1-0 Czech Republic
Czech Republic 2-2 Croatia
Spain 3-0 Turkey
Czech Republic 0-2 Turkey
Croatia 2-1 Spain

Group E

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
ITA	2	0	1	2	6
BEL	2	0	1	2	6
IRE	1	1	1	-2	4
SWE	0	1	2	-2	1

Ireland 1-1 Sweden
Belgium 0-2 Italy
Italy 1-0 Sweden
Belgium 3-0 Ireland
Italy 0-1 Ireland

Group F

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
HUN	1	2	0	2	5
ICE	1	2	0	1	5
POR	0	3	0	0	3
AUT	0	1	2	-3	1

Austria 0-2 Hungary
Portugal 1-1 Iceland
Iceland 1-1 Hungary
Portugal 0-0 Austria
Iceland 2-1 Austria
Hungary 3-3 Portugal

Qualified for Round of 16: Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, Wales

Best third placed teams to qualify: Northern Ireland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia

Eliminated: Albania, Austria, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine

Round of 16

Saturday, June 25
Switzerland 1-1 (Poland wins 5-4 on penalties) Poland
Wales 1-0 (Own Goal) Northern Ireland
Croatia 0-1 (117th minute goal) Portugal

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Sunday, June 26
France 2-1 (Irish see RED) Ireland -- Lyon (3 p.m. CET/9 a.m. ET, ESPN)
Germany 3-0 (Tourney Team starts to peak at right time) Slovakia -- Lille (6 p.m. CET/12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Hungary 0-4 (Blowout) Belgium -- Toulouse (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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Monday, June 27
Italy 2-0 (The rain in Spain falls mainly in Italy) Spain
England 1-2 ("Humiliated") Iceland

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Quarterfinals

Thursday, June 30 - Match 45
Poland 1-1 (Portugal win 5-3 on penalties) Portugal

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Friday, July 1 - Match 46
Wales 3-1 (Red Dragon defeats Golden Generation) Belgium

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Saturday, July 2 - Match 47
Germany 1-1 (Germany win 6-5 on penalties) Italy

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Sunday, July 3 - Match 48
France vs. Iceland -- Saint-Denis (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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Semifinals

Wednesday, July 6
Portugal vs. Wales -- Lyon (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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Thursday, July 7
Germany vs. W48 -- Marseille (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN)

---

Final

Sunday, July 10
W49 vs. W50 -- Saint-Denis (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN)

UEFA.com
UEFA Euro 2016 - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

#EURO2016

[Berlin_Freeper]

Joachim Loew's 'Fighters' Break Italy Hoodoo
Joachim Loew hailed his team of "fighters" as Germany finally broke their Italy hoodoo by seeing off the Azzurri in a penalty shootout in Saturday's Euro 2016 quarter-final.

Jonas Hector hit the crucial German penalty to seal the world champions' 6-5 victory in Bordeaux to claim an historic win over Italy.

It was the first time Germany have beaten the Azzurri in nine attempts at a World Cup or European Championships finals.

"From a fighter's point of view, it was amazing what the side did," said Loew as Germany reached the semis at a Euro finals for the third time in a row.

[Berlin_Freeper]

[Berlin_Freeper]

Manuel Neuer, Germany goalkeeper and Man of the Match

I have never experienced a shoot-out like it. I think most of the Italians just aimed down the middle. The goal we conceded during normal time was a bit unlucky, but I believe we were the better side and are deservedly through.

It was something special to have so many penalty-takers and such drama! We did not manage to beat Italy in 90 minutes. We did not beat Italy in 120 minutes. That shoot-out was fitting for a duel between Italy and Germany. It wasn't that easy. It was a battle of nerves. I did prepare, but none of their penalty takers aimed where they usually do.

[Berlin_Freeper]

BORDEAUX, France
Whole sections of libraries are devoted to the role of the mind in sports -- from mental strength to strategy, from creative intelligence to emotional intelligence. Every last bit of it came into play on the night Germany were able to slay their demon.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Italy coach: 'No one supported me, it was Conte against everyone'

"I didn't see anyone alongside me, the media, or anyone, it was always Conte against everyone. I've always fought for the interests of the national team, not for myself," he said.

"If I'm honest I've never felt supported by anyone. The president of the Italian federation has always been alongside me but he can only do so much.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Buffon in tears after Italy's Euro 2016 exit to Germany

Gianluigi Buffon: Italy deserved Euro 2016 quarterfinal victory over Germany

"Everyone has their own reasons to cry," an emotional Buffon told Rai Sport. "I'm sorry because we deserved it for the group that we are, for what we have made people believe.

"It's rare for a team to miss three penalties and then that's still not enough to win."

He added: "We gave our soul to follow this dream."

[Mollypitcher1]

My heart is with France. Will be watching today. Hopetheycan repeatthe great win of ‘98.

[Berlin_Freeper]

"I'm sorry!"

[Alberta's Child]

They ought to really figure out a way to finish these games without going to those stupid shootouts.

With two out of the three quarterfinal games to date decided this way, they may as well ditch the first 90 minutes and OT and just line up for penalty kicks from the start. It would sure save everyone a lot of trouble.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I'm sure this France team can win Euro 2016

[Berlin_Freeper]

Germany's Jerome Boateng becomes Photoshop fodder after handball against Italy

[BeadCounter]

H2H, Head to Head:

May 27, 2012 France 3 2 Iceland

Oct. 9, 1999 France 3 2 Iceland

Sept. 5, 1998 Iceland 1 1 France

Nov. 20, 1991 France 3 1 Iceland

Sept. 5, 1990 Iceland 1 2 France

April 29, 1987 France 2 0 Iceland

Sept. 10, 1986 Iceland 0 0 France

Sept. 3, 1975 France 3 0 Iceland

May 25, 1975 Iceland 0 0 France

Aug. 31, 1957 France 5 1 Iceland

June 1, 1959 France 8 0 Iceland

Total head to head, France 11 wins, 3 draws.

From 1975 on, really not that bad of counter-play by Iceland.

Stats from Soccerway though I don't know if the links carry through or one has to start from the beginning again:

Head 2 Head Comparisons

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Where Zaza copied his penalty kick run up to the ball:

[kabar]

Germany uber alles. They almost gave the win away to Italy. Germany is the better side,

[Berlin_Freeper]

Euro 2016 panic after firecrackers start stampede

[kabar]

Italy has always been Germany's kryptonite. Fortunately, after losing 8 straight matches to Italy in tournaments, justice was served.

Schweinsteiger could have won it and didn't. Muller missed as well. The young guys came through.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Iceland's resilience to be tested by French attack: Euro 2016 match preview – video

[Berlin_Freeper]

France must take the game to Iceland right from the start of their European Championship quarter-final on Sunday or their dream of glory on home soil might end up buried in volcanic ash.

[BeadCounter]

Fortunately, after losing 8 straight matches to Italy in tournaments, justice was served.

No, Germany did not lose 8 straight matches to Italy in tournaments. 1996 was a draw and Italy went out in the group stages.

Other than that, Germany has lost in the Euro to Italy only one time. I'd think Germany would take their 2 or 3 Euro Championships for that one loss.