Germany vs. Italy was like a perfectly played chess match settled by a drunken bar fight

Germany vs Italy | EURO 2016 | 2/7/16 - FIFA 16

After 120 minutes of the most calculated game of Euro 2016, Germany and Italy settled things with the most random, uncalculated ending.

A quarterfinal between Germany and Italy at Euro 2016 does not just mean a match between two giants that would be expected in a later round. It is a match that is all about the two tacticians coaching the teams: Joachim Lw and Antonio Conte, respectively.

As the two teams met in Bordeaux, the match started as expected, with the two coaches staying true to their smart reputations. Conte stuck to three-man defense that made Italy surprise quarterfinalists despite bringing a squad many considered to be one of their worst in recent memory. Lw prepared appropriately for the Italians, setting his team up in a defensive style. Julian Draxler, who was the team"s star in their Round of 16 match against Slovakia, was replaced by defender Benedikt Hwedes in an attempt to keep out the Italian attack. Germany were dealt an early blow 15 minutes in after Sami Khedira went off injured, but replacement Bastian Schweinsteiger was able to keep the structure as his coach intended.

The plan worked for more than an hour. Neither team scored, and the defenses remained tough to break. However, in the 65th minute, a breakthrough came. The play started in Germany"s defense through goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, leading for Mario Gmez to make a great pass to Jonas Hector, who got the assist on Mesut zil"s goal. After not conceding a goal during the tournament, Gianluigi Buffon had to pick the ball up out of the net for the first time.

Lw, with his team now in the lead, used his second substitution on Draxler, who came on for Gmez. Shifting his team to play in a more attacking style, the German was going for the win. Yet, as if the match had to remain as equal as possible, Jrme Boateng had his hands as far away from his body as possible and conceded a penalty after the ball hit his hand. Center back Leonardo Bonucci, solid as he was in the back for Italy during the tournament, was just as important taking his first penalty for his country and scored in the 78th minute. Neuer, just like Buffon, conceded a goal for the first time in France.

Lw and Conte were equal again, and extra time was certain for the teams. In the second half of extra time, Conte made two subs while Lw remained confident in his group on the field. First was Lorenzo Insigne in the 108th minute, who came on for der as a set of fresh legs and to close out the extra time period. The deadlock was not broken. Finally, in his last tactical act of the night, Conte brought on Simone Zaza for Giorgio Chiellini in stoppage time, clearly with the intent that he was meant for the penalty shootout.

For all the hard work the two managers did, they cancelled each other out. The only way left for the long tactical battle to end was through several strokes of luck: a penalty shootout.

If the 120-minute match was a show of smart tactical decisions, the penalty shootout was its equivalent, only in horribly taken spot kicks. The shootout went to nine rounds, and included seven misses, including Graziano Pell scuffing a shot after telling Neuer he was going for a chip.

Zaza basically undid the substitution his coach made, taking the penalty in a unique fashion that resembled the running man, only for him to miss in the most embarrassing fashion.

And so the best tactical chess match of Euro 2016 the most cerebral, considered game anyone could have imagined was settled in the most random manner of any game of the tournament, with Germany going through 6-5 on penalties.

Source: http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2016/7/3/12088724/germany-italy-euro-2016-tactics-penalties

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Germany vs Italy Euro 2016 match report: Hector seals spot-kick success to take world champions into last four

GERMANY VS ITALY 1-1 (6-5) - UEFA Euro 2016 Nouveau Stade de Bordeau - UEFA EURO Quarter-final

It was ten minutes to midnight in Bordeauxwhen Germany finally pulled their way through to the European Championship semi-finals, ending their lifetime curse against Italy as well as a penalty shout-out that had a historic feel to it.

It took 18 penalty-kicks, the normal 10 and another four rounds of sudden-death, for Germany to finally pull away from a dogged Italian side who they simply could not escape. This was a night that Joachim Lows side, hunting a European crown to go with their World Cup, had made far harder for themselves than they should have done.

This was a match in which Germany were the better side, and took a 1-0 lead, before blowing it when Jerome Boateng conceded a needless penalty to Italy with just 12 minutes left on the clock.

Having suffered from the penalty spot, as Leonard Bonucci converted, Germany had to return to the same end, in front of the Italian fans, to decide who would play in Thursdays semi-final in Marseille. This was a tight, tense tactical game, two hours of football with two goals and not many more chances between the teams.

The final phase of the night could not have been more different. The first section of the shoot-out, with five kicks each, ended a laughable 2-2, and not just because of the brilliance of the goalkeepers Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Buffon. Simone Zaza lifted his kick over, Mesut Ozil hit the post, Graziano Pelle dragged his wide and and it all fell to Bastian Schweinsteiger to end the shoot-out and the evening. The Germany captain, the World Cup winner and proclaimed fussballgott hooked his kick helplessly over, and the game continued.

This was when Germany held their nerve, converting three straight kicks to keep the tie alive before Matteo Darmian could not beat Neuer. JonasHector had Germanys second shot to win and this time he made no mistake.

Germany were through, which felt like the right result in the end, especially after a game in which they had been superior. Low had even sprung a surprise by matching Antonio Contes set-up, which gave Germany the early upper hand. But as they prepare for Thursdays big game, it is worth wondering whether this team has quite as much focus as they should have.

AlessandroFlorenzi enjoyed an impressive game for Italy but ended up in the losing side(Getty)

World Champions usually play on their own terms and so few were expecting Joachim Lowto abandon his favoured 4-2-3-1 system just because of their opponent. But Low had seen Italys last game, their tactical outsmarting of Spain at the Stade de France last Monday, and he did not want the same thing to happen to his side.

So Low redrew his plan, dropping Julian Draxler, even after his man-of-the-match performance against Slovakia in Lille last Sunday. 4-2-3-1 became 3-4-2-1, with Joshua Kimmich and Hector pushed wide as wing-backs. Germany were not going to let themselves be outflanked by Mattia De Sciglio and Alessandro Florezni, nor would they be out-numbered in the middle either.

It was a conservative move with a positive result. By matching Contes system Low disarmed him. Germany were free to take control. They dominated possession but had to be patient, against an Italy side as comfortable in a 5-3-2 shape as a 3-3-4. Thomas Muller and Ozil struggled to get on the ball and the German players with the most space to pick passes were the centre-backs. Mats Hummels became their chief creator. He hit one long ball just beyond Mario Gomez, and another to Schweinsteiger, whose headed goal was disallowed for a foul on De Sciglio.

Germany were trying to move the ball patiently but they could never quite find the space they needed. Their best first-half chance came when Schweinstiger skewed a shot so wide that it flew across to Kimmich. He passed to Muller, who could not get enough force to beat Buffon.

Mesut Ozil is congratulated on his opener by Mario Gomez in Bordeaux(Reuters)

But Germany were the better team and they sensed that the game was there for them. They improved after the restart, with Gomez more willing to stretch the Italian defence with his running. He laid up a chance for Muller, whose shot was deflected away by Florenzi flying through the air.

This was a better Germany, with better rhythm, good enough to break down even this defence. When Florenzi got caught under a Neuer kick, Gomez broke into the space down the left and was found by Muller. Hector underlapped, Gomez fed him, and Hector crossed. Ozil bounded into the box and converted, in front of thousands of gleeful German fans.

The Italian defence had been broken and the game was there for Germany to win. Buffon had to tip the ball over when Giorgio Chiellini tackled Gomez from close range. Gomez limped off, Draxler came on, and Germany looked sharper than ever.

This is why it was so surprising when, with 13 minutes left, Germany threw all this hard work away. Boateng was marking Chiellini tightly in the box when a cross came in, but Boateng jumped with his arms high and wide, as if he were doing an impression of his team-mate Neuer. The ball hithis right hand and the penalty award was obvious.

Leonardo Bonucci waited, looked, and buried the ball into the bottom right hand corner. The Italian substitutes flooded the pitch as if they had the game with the last kick, knowing that they had been gifted a way back into a game they should have been locked out of.

The whole feel of the night changed as Germany realised how unnecessarily difficult they had made things for themselves. It was Italy who looked likelier to win, and when Florenzi and Eder drove another counter-attack forward, with 10 minutes left, Pelle should have done better than dragging his shot wide.

Extra time was as tired and cautious as it often is in games that mean this much. There were half-chances for Ozil and Lorenzo Insigne, but little more than that, as the teams played out time until penalties. With the benefit of hindsight, Italy might have pushed harder for the 2-1 win before the end.

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Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/germany-vs-italy-match-report-hector-seals-spot-kick-success-for-world-champions-a7116336.html

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Germany vs Italy: Mesut Ozil convinced past failings won"t hinder his country in Euro 2016 quarter-final

GERMANY VS ITALY LIVE - UEFA Euro 2016 Live Today Nouveau Stade de Bordeau - UEFA EURO Quarter-final

Arsenals Mesut Ozil has no concerns over Germanys historical travails against Italy as two of Euro 2016s top sides prepare to do battle in Bordeaux.

Germany have never beaten Italy in their eight competitive meetings and on four occasions it has been the Azzuri who have eliminated their opponents from major tournaments.

Ozil was in the side that fell 2-1 to a Mario Balotelli-inspired Italy in 2012, scoring a late penalty in a defeat that nearly cost Joachim Low, a World Cup-winning coach two years later, his job.

But Germany looked in formidable form the last time these two countries met in March, Ozil once more netting from the spot but this time in a commanding 4-1 win, though it came against a largely second-string Italian side that included several players who failed to make Antonio Contes squad.

And Ozil is more focused on Germanys recent success than their disappointing tournament record against Italian sides.

History says we have never beaten Italy at a major tournament and always failed this test, but as professionals we will try to win and aim to play in a different way, he said.

We proved we can do it in the friendly. Were concentrated on ourselves. We can beat anyone and we want to beat them.

Though Italy have been among Euro 2016s most impressive performers, defeating Belgium in their opening game and eliminating Spain in the round of 16, Conte has acknowledged they face their toughest test yet against a side he believes are the most complete team in the world.

It was a big compliment, Ozil said. We are aware of our strengths and play as a team whether defending or attacking. Whats important tomorrow is achieving what our coach asks us to do.

We have quality, but not just that. We also have experience and a good mixture of talented players who all have the same objective.

We knew from the start of the tournament that wed be facing strong sides, so we have the energy and belief to achieve certain objectives.

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Source: http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/euro2016/germany-vs-italy-mesut-ozil-convinced-past-failings-wont-hinder-his-country-in-euro-2016-a3286401.html

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