Despite missing more penalties in one shootout than it had done in 40 years of taking spot-kicks after extra time, Germany still managed to end its curse against Italy.
Despite missing more penalties in one shootout than it had done in 40 years of taking spot-kicks after extra time, Germany still managed to end its curse against Italy.
Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger all missed in Saturday’s shootout after the sides finished 1-1 following extra time in their European Championship quarterfinal.
Fortunately, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer spared their blushes with two saves as Italy missed four spot-kicks and Germany went on to win 6-5, securing the team’s first competitive victory over the Azzurri at the ninth attempt.
“It was a war of nerves,” Neuer said.
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.
It was a dramatic shootout in Bordeaux, featuring 18 spot kicks with neither side striking a decisive blow before it went to ‘sudden death.’
“I’ve never experienced a penalty shootout like it before. It went on for ages. I’m not sure how many penalties there were exactly,” Neuer said.
Jonas Hector’s strike penalty ended a winless curse against Italy that dated back to their first meeting at the 1962 World Cup.
“After so many years or decades we were due a win against Italy,” German football federation president Reinhard Grindel said. “From that point of view, the right ones had the luck that you need in a shootout.”
Germany coach Joachim Loew had tried a new tactical setup with a three-man defense, but in the end it was an old friend — the penalty kick — that provided the key to victory.
However, Neuer is anxious to avoid a similar situation when the team plays a semifinal against France or Iceland in Marseille on Thursday.
“You can’t just rely on the fact that Germany comes through every time there’s a penalty shootout,” Neuer said.