The match finished 1-1 after extra time, as Mesut Oezil’s superbly-worked second-half goal was cancelled out by Leonardo Bonucci’s 78th-minute penalty.
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There was no victor to be found in extra-time and, after nine penalties apiece, the Azzurri were eliminated as Jonas Hector scored the decisive spot-kick.
Thomas Mueller, Oezil and Bastian Schweinsteiger failed to convert their shoot-out spot-kicks, as nerves got to them. But we matched the world champions, a really strong side, and this proves we’re a real team, a team with character, with individual talent, the lot.
“Regrets can arrive when you feel you didn’t give everything but that’s not the case”. I’ve always fought for the interests of the national team, not for myself. These two years have been fantastic, and I will never stop thanking these 23 lads, the staff, the kit men, everybody. You love your country and the shirt you are wearing.
Only two German players had ever missed in a tournament shootout before – Uli Hoeness as West Germany lost the 1976 European Championship final 5-3 to Czechoslovakia, and Uli Stielike as West Germany defeated France 5-4 in the 1982 World Cup semifinal.
He had to pause, to stifle the tears, before adding: ‘Along the years, nothing will stay of the good things we have done – only the defeat’.
“I had no real influence on the penalty-takers”, he said. Then Graziano Pelle dragged his effort wide and Julian Draxler equalized to make it 2-2.
“It was great that the youngsters like (Joshua) Kimmich and Hector kept their nerves on such a stage”.
The 22-year-old Draxler, who scored once and set up another in the 3-0 victory over Slovakia in the Round of 16, was initially sacrificed for an additional defender at the start of the game.But his introduction in the 72nd minute instantly invigorated Germany and he could have netted a late victor with an audacious bicycle kick. I experienced something similar in 2006 in the World Cup against Argentina.
“The lads gave everything they had against a very strong side”, he said. But we had the upper hand.
“Well we have finally succeeded against Italy and now we’ve done it in a knockout game”. Conceding from a penalty was a bit unlucky.
Low reverted to three centre-backs to counter Italy’s tactical approach and he felt it was essential to make the adjustment.
We talked about a back three.
Italy coach Antonio Conte said he was disappointed to go out despite his defensively-minded team showing little adventure in the final third of the pitch during the match.
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The 45-year-old, who was part of Germany’s Euro-winning side of 1996, said the tinkering showed Loew does not trust his players as much as he did two years ago. It’s too risky to take them on in a four versus four. They play from the wings into the middle, try to lay it off and then make runs from deep. It is easily predictable, but they are doing it well.
