UEFA Euro 2016: Germany go through on penalties
World Champion Germany secures a place in the semifinals of the UEFA EURO 2016.
At the end of normal time (i.e 90 minutes), the scores well tied to one-goal each as MesutOzil scored for the Germans just after the hour mark and Leonardo Bonucci, keeping his cool, converted a penalty which was the result at the expense of a ridiculous handball in the box from German defender Jerome Boateng.
Extra time was needed to settle the most intriguing tie between the former and current World Champions. The Germans and Italians played out the thirty minutes with great zeal and devotion but did not reap any fruitful results. So to decide the fate of both the teams, a penalty shootout was required.
Stat alert: Germany last penalty shootout loss was in 1976 at the hands of Czekoslovakia.
This was the first time ever that Italy and Germany went head-to-head in a penalty shootout.
At the start, Lorenzo Insigne and Toni Kroos converted the spot kicks to perfection for their respective teams to make the score 1-1. SimeoneZaza of Italy missed the penalty as his shot went sky high and into the stands. Thomas Muller’s soft penalty was also saved by the veteran goalie Gianlugi Buffon. Barzagli fired his shot into the goal, whilst the reliable MesutOzil hit the woodwork. GraziannoPelle scuffed shot didn’t worry the keeper and his attempt went way wide of the intended target.
Julian Draxler scored as he took the tie to sudden death. Bonucci and Schweinsteiger, to the fans astonishment both missed their respective spot-kicks. Giaccherini, Hummels, Parolo, Kimmich, De Scigilo and Boateng managed to convert the penalties into goals. MatteoDarmian stepped up next to take the next penalty and to Germany’s delight, Manuel Neuer stepped up and saved the crucial penalty.
The winning penalty was scored by Jonas Hector, as his shot went underneath the arms of the Italian keeper.
Hector when asked about the moment, he said: “It is hard to put it into words, but I am overjoyed that it went in.”
The FC Koln defender also added that, “There weren’t many people left. I knew I had to take one at some point and I had my heart in my mouth.”
Germany will now face either the host nation France or the surprise package of the tournament Iceland in the semifinals.