With the upcoming UEFA Euro 2016 quarter-final clash between two of the most successful European football nations, we take a look down memory lane to recap through some of their most memorable clashes over the years. In the eyes of many fans and experts alike, this match comes much too early in the tournament as Germany and Italy have perhaps been the two most impressive sides in the tournament so far, and having them meet so early in the knockouts seems a tragedy, but such is the unpredictability of the draw.
With 8 World Cups and 4 European Championships between them, their pedigree was in no doubt coming into the tournament, but they’ve more than justified the hype around their winning mentality in Euro 2016. Italy, especially have surprised with convincing wins against two sides that were amongst the very favourites to win the whole competition – Belgium and Spain. And despite what Joachim Low says, The Germans will have looked onto Italy’s win against Spain with dread, well aware that they have never beaten the Italians in a tournament match.
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Here are the 5 greatest Germany – Italy matches:
Italy 2 – Germany 1 (Euro 2012)
This match is still fresh in the memory, for Mario Balotelli’s thunderous-shirtless celebration after a brilliant brace, as well as Italy’s dominant performance.
Andrea Pirlo was a complete maestro in midfield, controlling the whole game while Balotelli produced his best performance in the Azzurri shirt. The Germans did have a sustained period of pressure in the second half, but an eventual Ozil penalty in stoppage time came much too late.
The Italians were the best team to watch in the tournament, even though they got dismantled by Spain in the final and their football was affectionately labeled as ‘Tikitalia’ at the time.
Germany 0 – Italy 2 (After Extra-Time) – World Cup 2006
Another absolutely heartbreaking result for a German team playing the 2006 World Cup on home soil. This was an absolute humdinger of a match, goalless in normal time before two amazing extra-time goals by Fabio Grosso and Juve legend Alessandro Del Piero (who scored with the most exquisite of chips) saw the Italians crush German hearts, and send them out in the semi-finals.
Man of the Match? Andrea Pirlo. How thrilled they must be he isn’t in the team for Euro 2016.
After this performance, Italy would go on to win the competition while it would take Germany another 8 years before they got their hands on the trophy themselves.
Germany 0 – Italy 0 (Euro 1996)
This is a match in which Germany can take credit for Italy’s ouster in a tournament, even if the match ended in a draw. Germany were already guaranteed progress to the next stage while the Italians had to win. Chelsea maestro Gianfranco Zola had a penalty saved by Andreas Kopke in the 9th minute and despite Germany going down to 10 men after Thomas Strunz was sent off, Italy couldn’t score. German keeper Kopke had one of the games of his life and blocked everything the Italians threw at the German goal.
The 0-0 draw resulted in Italy’s elimination while Germany would go on to win the competition played in England with Matthias Sammer named as the player of the tournament.
Italy 3 – Germany 1 (1982 World Cup)
The 1982 World Cup final was quite a spectacle, played in front of 90,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. Italy were led out by their legendary goalkeeper Dino Zoff and had an illustrious backline including Gaetano Scirea and Claudio Gentile, while the Germans had Karl-Heinz Rumminegge as captain and Paul Breitner running the midfield.
After a scoreless first half during which Antonio Cabrini a penalty low and wide to the right of goal, Paolo Rossi would break the deadlock heading home a Gentile cross from close range. Milan legend, Marco Tardelli then scored from outside the box with a low left footed shot before Alessandro Altobelli made it 3–0 with another low strike. Paul Breitner would score Germany a consolation goal in the 83rd minute and Italy would hold on to win their 3rd World Cup, their first in 44 years.
Italy 4 – West Germany 3 (1970 World Cup)
This match is perhaps the most spectacular duel between the two. Italy led after Roberto Boninsegna, the Inter legend scored in the 8th minute. Franz Beckenbauer dislocated his shoulder but stayed on the field carrying his dislocated arm in a sling as his side had already used their two permitted substitutions. Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, the German defender (plying his trade for AC Milan at the time, ironically enough) equalized for West Germany during second half stoppage time to make the Italians start from scratch again.
In an extremely dramatic extra time period, Gerd Muller put Germany ahead in the 4th minute but Tarcisio Burgnich leveled the scores four minutes later. Luigi Riva then put the Italians back in front before Gerd Muller scored again for West Germany to tie up the score at 3–3. Italy were not be denied though and Gianni Rivera scored what turned out to be the winner in the 111th minute. Unmarked near the penalty area, Rivera connected with a cross by Boninsegna, clinching the victory for Italy and booking their place in the final.
