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

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

[Berlin_Freeper]

Briefly, Germany toyed with our minds. For a few moments, they seemed to forget it was not supposed to be in their football DNA to miss from a penalty shootout even when the heat of the battle was dangerously close to intolerable. Yet how typical that, ultimately, it was their players in the victory scrum, chasing one another in euphoria and celebrating another victory from 12 yards. No other side does it better even if, on this occasion, they gave themselves an almighty scare.

They certainly tempted us to think they might have suffered a temporary loss of identity when Thomas Müller, Mesut Özil and Bastian Schweinsteiger failed to score with three of their opening five attempts in the high drama that eventually finished with Germany extending their remarkable run of reaching the semi-finals, at least, in every major tournament since Euro 2004.

[BeadCounter]

I don’t know if anyone around here forecasted Germany to win Saturday, snicker! of course, in the end, it was a draw decided by penalty kicks.

[BeadCounter]

Those soccerway stats don’t include West Germany;

Germany has lost in tournaments to Italy in:

2012
2006
1982
1970

Obscure petty tournament probably but it looks like Germany defeated Italy in the Centenary Tournament in June, 1995:
http://eloratings.net/Germany.htm

And what is this? June 1988, group stage, West Germany and Italy drew as well! Check the elo page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_1988

June 1978, maybe the group stage again but W. Germany and Italy drew at the World Cup.

So, they bend that stat a bit to say Italy has won all of those consecutive times, it must mean only elimination games in those tournaments so there is a bit of a condition on when they say that.

1962, another draw by Italy and Germany at the World Cup in Chile.

So, those stats the pundits trot out are actually not that bad in my humble opinion.

[over3Owithabrain]

Yep. Soccer has a stupid way to settle things.

Imagine a tie baseball game doing a home run derby, a real football game doing a field goal contest, or an NBA game being decided by a free throw contest. Gay

[kabar]

Granted 1996 was a draw. not a loss. I still stand by my statement that Italy has been Germany's kryptonite. I am am avid Germany fan. When I was living in Italy in 1970, my introduction to the World Cup was the famous 1970 game between Italy and Germany that Italy won 4-3. I watched the game in the lobby of an Italian hotel where the crowd was supporting Italy and my wife and I were the lone German fans. It remains one of the greatest games I have ever seen.

While Germany has won more international championships, Italy is largely dominant in the head-to-head international match-up, having beaten Germany 15 times in 34 games, with 11 draws and 8 defeats. Moreover, the German team had never defeated Italy in a tournament match until Euro 2016, with all Germany's other wins over Italy being in friendly competitions. However, the draw between the two teams in the group stage of Euro 1996 eliminated Italy from the tournament, while Germany had already qualified for the knockout stage.

In the World Cup Italy has beaten Germany three times and tied twice. Germany has never beaten Italy in the World Cup.

In the Euros Italy has won once, lost once (2016), and tied twice.

I always cringe when Germany draws Italy in a match. They seem to have Germany's number unlike any other team in the world. Even though, Brazil has five world cups and Italy has four along with Germany, I consider Germany to be the premier soccer nation in the world given its record of finishes in major tournaments.

[BeadCounter]

Yep. Soccer has a stupid way to settle things.

Imagine a tie baseball game doing a home run derby, a real football game doing a field goal contest, or an NBA game being decided by a free throw contest. Gay

Or an ice hockey game decided by a shootout! Oh, wait!

[BeadCounter]

I think since Klinsmann, Germany have become a sporting team but they were not before.

I think the evidence is there that Germany may have doped in 1954 and now it is sounding like they did in 1966 too; they drew Austria in 1982 on purpose, probably won in 1990 by a draw. The 1974 World Cup final is open to debate too. I think their history is rather disgusting and with Italy, have dragged the sport into disrepute. That's what I think.

Schumacher did that in that game and helped give Italy a world championship. I'll give them credit for also being one of the World Cup's premier cheats.

[BeadCounter]

It’s widely thought Germany won in 1990 on a dive; but they may have deserved it via non-calls earlier in the game. And this was against Argentina who with Diego were a rather shady team as well.

[BeadCounter]

Don’t call it sour grapes, a German University says it looks like West Germany doped in 1954; now it is coming out about ‘66. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if other teams may have done that too.

[Alberta's Child]

At least in the NHL they drop the shootout in the playoffs. Some of the greatest sporting events in history have been multi-overtime NHL playoff games that run into the wee hours of the morning.

[BeadCounter]

Come On France! They ought to put Germany's name on the 1982 World Cup as co-champs for that play.

The True Champions Play Clean and Some Other Teams Poison The Well For Everyone!

[dfwgator]

Or an ice hockey game decided by a shootout! Oh, wait!

But not during the playoffs, they play until somebody scores.
What I would do after the 30 minutes, is allow unlimited substitutions, and play until somebody scores.

[dfwgator]

. The 1974 World Cup final is open to debate too.

The game against Poland shouldn't have been played, the field was in atrocious shape, there were literally puddles on the field, and it negated Poland's speed advantage.

[kabar]

LOL. Baseless allegations. I guess sustained success over decades draws invidious comments from losers. West Germany and now Germany have a system. They are always well-organized and disciplined, They are tough mentally in the big games. Doping tests have been carried out in the Bundesliga since 1988.

[BeadCounter]

Germany has been sporting now, since 1996 I’d say. Nothing should take that away. That may be one reason why Italy was able to beat them in both 2006 and 2012. Germany now, since Klinsmann have been one of the cleanest teams around, relying on talent.

Though it is not a big deal; some are saying Chiellini basically feigned an injury last night cerca 119 minutes in that game so Zaza could come in for the penalty shootout. I’m not sure if that is a valid criticism and even if so, many teams might do that. Chiellini is one of Italy’s best players.

[Henry Hnyellar]

Oh wait indeed. Your ignorance shines though. Hockey (the NHL) has no shoot outs in the playoffs.

[MHGinTN]

Boateng was throwing his hands up to display the contact from the Italian player ... he was rewarded with a penalty shot for the Italians! Too much exaggeration of contact in soccer, and the Italian and French are usually the most egregious practitioners.

If you think about it, the number of successful penalty kicks were equal, But Ozil scored in play!

[dfwgator]

I’d love to figure out how to watch the game with that Iceland announcer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xQXbhdriWU

[Berlin_Freeper]

Buffon hugs the fans as the team leaves France

[Berlin_Freeper]

Iceland fans: Poles taught us our sporting chant

[Berlin_Freeper]

MARIO GOMEZ OUT!

[official dfb statement] Gomez out for the last two games, Khedira and Schweinsteiger are being treated and both NOT ruled out for the semi final