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. ADVERTISING Despite missing more penalties in one shootout than it had
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.
