Germany had enjoyed majority of the possession but Italy were threatening in their own way playing the long ball game to best of their ability, putting risky ball into the box causing problems for Germany sometimes.
Advertisement
Emanuele Giaccherini, Marco Parolo and Mattia De Sciglio were the other goal scorers for Italy while Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich and Jerome Boateng scored for Germany to level at 5-5.
Something had to give in Bordeaux as Saturday’s 1-1 draw meandered to penalties, with Italy’s vast 4-0 record against their rivals in tournament knockout matches being jeopardized by Germany’s astonishing five consecutive shootout triumphs.
Man-of-the-match Manuel Neuer was Germany’s hero in the shoot-out, saving shots by Bonucci and Matteo Darmian in the marathon 18-penalty battle.
Now Buffon will set his sights on the 2018 World Cup, where he would make history.
“As a player, you never want a penalty shoot-out because it is a lottery”.
“I didn’t see anyone alongside me, the media, or anyone, it was always Conte against everyone”, he lamented.
In particular, the incoming Chelsea boss is cross with the media and the Italian Football Federation for not backing him and the national team up.
Neuer did his duty and saved Bonucci’s second penalty of the evening.
Jonas Hector was the unlikely victor who converted the winning penalty and put the world champions through to face France or Iceland in the semifinals.
Conte says he is planning to take a week off before beginning his work at Stamford Bridge, and when asked if he might coach the Azzurri again in the future he said he considered the prospect unlikely. We have a very talented group, and have now found the right structure.
“It’s hard to find the words”.
Into extra time, they went and Germany came closest in the additional half hour, substitute Draxler pouncing on a poor headed clearance from Andrea Barzagli to send an overhead kick just over, before both sides settled for penalties and the drama that ensued. “We made our people proud and for this we can’t be sorry”. I’m not happy with what happened for them. “It’s not fair for a single episode to cancel all that we gave with our hearts”.
However, the game will probably be remembered for some of the poorest spot kicks ever taken in a shootout. “I did prepare, but none of their penalty takers aimed where they usually do”.
Advertisement
Former France captain Thierry Henry was particularly scathing about Italy’s Graziano Pelle, who told the keeper he was going to dink the ball and missed the target altogether.
