The Germans did win at last but after a terrible shoot-out.
Germany and Italy are two of the most revered teams in world football, with 12 World Cups and European Cups between them, more than most teams. Whoever wins the match becomes the favourite for Euro 2016. However, Germany had never beaten Italy in either the European Championship or the World Cup before this. Perhaps that was playing on Low’s mind when he actually changed Germany’s formation to match Italy’s 3-5-2.
A drab match for the neutrals, but a tactically fascinating for keener observers saw the Italians give the Germans a real run for their money, ending in a penalty shootout which former France striker Thierry Henry described as 'the worst penalties in history'. All in all, it was a fascinating encounter and Germany finally beat Italy after eight tries in a major tournament. Here are the major talking points:
Low’s big gamble pays off
Low took a big gamble before the match deciding to match Italy man for man by co-opting their 3-5-2 formation instead of playing Germany’s conventional 4-3-3. Defender Benedikt Howedes replaced wonder-kid Julian Draxler in the starting line-up and the move seemed to pay off until Boateng’s bizarre acrobatics. This was a mark of deep respect for Italy and Conte, who’ve been superlative in this tournament, showing that a team without superstars, even if they stick together, can make a difference. The Italians were superlative throughout the match, snuffing out the scant German attacks and Low deserves plaudits for his tactical flexibility.
A boring match for the neutrals
Low’s decision to match Conte’s formation, and add an extra defender into the mix meant that both teams cancelled each other out. For the better part of 120 minutes, the Italian defence stood tall, except for that one moment of magic from Gomez and Ozil. A move started by the veteran Gomez, who is really enjoying a swansong, saw him play a beautiful pass to the over-lapping left-back Hector. Hector crossed it in-field but the pass was deflected and Mesut Ozil appeared just in time to sweep it home from eight yards out.
Boateng’s stupid mistake
Normally, Jerome Boateng is one of the calmest defenders around who has his bearings about himself unless Lionel Messi is in town. He has had an amazing Euro 2016 so far, including one headline moment when he pulled off an almost-unbelievable goal-line clearance against Ukraine. However, for reasons best known to him, he leapt up like a ballerina with both hands in the air to defend an Italian corner and hand the Azurris a get-out-of-jail card. Up stepped Leonardo Bonucci who dispatched the penalty with all the calm of a Mafiosi hitman as he put it at the right-hand bottom corner which even Neuer, one of the world’s best keeper, came nowhere near saving.
The worst penalty shootout of all time
Former England international Gary Lineker once said: “Football is a simple game. 22 men chase a ball and at the end, the Germans win.” Lineker’s line held true but not before the most atrocious penalty shootout ever seen in a major tournament.
Both Neuer and Buffon are world class keepers, and that seemed to be playing on both teams’ minds as they proceeded to give a lesson on how not to take penalties. For Germany, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger failed to find the net and it was more remarkable because the last time a German missed a penalty was in 1982 World Cup! And the last time Germany lost in a penalty shoot-out was so long back (in the 1976 Euro final), that neither country that participated in the match (West Germany and Czechoslovakia) exist anymore.
In that match, they lost out after Antonin Panenka tricked the keeper with the exquisite chip goal that has been dubbed the Panenka, but there were few penalties of that quality here. For the Italians, Pelle, Zaza and Bonucci missed in the first five kicks. Particularly preposterous was Zaza’s miss who took an incredibly long run-up before dispatching a below par penalty.
Things got better though as Italians, Emanuele Giaccherini, Marco Parolo and Mattia De Sciglio scored the next three with Hummels, Kimmich and Boateng scoring for the Germans. When Matteo Darmian failed to score, Hector stepped up and despite Buffon’s best efforts, sanity was restored and Germany won another penalty shoot-out.
Chelsea fans are going to salivate over Conte (Roman might not be so thrilled)
The English Premier League is going to be a thrilling place next season with Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger, Liverpool Jurgen Klopp, Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino and Leicester City’s new hero Claudio Raneiri going head to head.
All of these stalwarts will however worry about the arrival of Antonio Conte who has proved himself to be a tactically astute manager to get the best out of an Italian team low on star power. Conte did that with a team where every member knew what was expected of them and his flawless victories against heavy-hitters Belgium and holders Spain will thrill Chelsea supporters who’d like to get back to winning ways. Roman Abrahimovic, a man who wants more bang for his buck and would like to see some expansive football might not be so thrilled about Conte’s arrival though.
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