World Champions, Germany face their football nemesis, Italy in what promises to be a mouth-watering quarter-final thriller of the 2016 European Championship. Germany have never beaten Italy at a major tournament. And they have lost all four of their games against Italy in the knockout stages: three times at the World Cup (semi-final in 1970, final in 1982, semi-final in 2006) and once at the European Championship (semi-final in 2012).
Although Germany pounded Italy 4-1 in their last encounter on 29 March this year in a Munich friendly.
At the start of the tournament, no matter gave Italy, made up of aged players, a chance to come this far. But they have been impressive with two emphatic 2-0 wins of highly fancied Belgium and defending champions, Spain. That sent the Del Bosque boys home earlier as they had planned.
In doing these, Italy, in keeping with its tradition, had let in only one goal. Interestingly the Azzuris have kept 19 clean sheets in 37 Euro games, more than any other team in the history of the competition, ahead of Germany (18 clean sheets in 47 games).
Italy, who would want to avenge that 1-4 humiliation in Munich, are dealt a heavy blow as they may be without their dorminant midfielder Daniele De Rossi tonight. The AS Roma strongman is still suffering from a “serious right thigh injury” picked up in the 2-0 victory over Spain at the Stade de France. Team doctor Enrico Castellacci admitted the 32-year-old is unlikely to be available.
This is a crucial setback for Italy as they aspire to knock out Germany for the second time in the European Championship, having beaten them 2-1 in the Euro 2012 semi-final in Warsaw. That match adds to eighth Germany’s successive match against Italy without success at major tournaments.
It is a record, but does that alone make the Azzurri favourites going into the quarter-final match at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux? There are doubts. Germany have been fantastic. They are the only team yet to concede a single goal so far at Euro 2016. The last time, Germany kept such clean sheets in their first four games at a major tournament was in the 1978 World Cup, which they narrowly lost in the finals against Mario Kempes’ Argentina, who were hosts.
Germany defender, Jerome Boateng from Bayern Munich, who scored the opener in their 3-0 last-16 victory over Slovakia, said the key to winning Italy today is that “we play our own game. But of course the Italians are tactically well-trained. It will be important to find solutions and to put the Italians in some trouble.” He refused to accept that Italy poses a trauma for Germany.
His teammate, Toni Kroos, who plays for Real Madrid, shares the same opinion. “Why should I have an ‘Italian trauma’? You’ll have to explain that to me first,” said Kroos. “I haven’t played that often against Italy, so previous matches were nothing to do with me.
“They are hard to play against, stand deep and are very relaxed on the ball, they’ve played like that for years. Italy will be the strongest team we have faced until now. I’m looking forward to it and I’m very optimistic.”
Apart from de Rossi, the Italian team is further weakened by two significant absentees tonight. Lazio effervescent winger, Antonio Candreva is also unlikely to be fit following a hamstring injury in the 1-0 group phase win over Sweden. And PSG experienced midfielder Thiago Motta is suspended after a second yellow card against Spain.
Conversely, Germany coach, Joachim Low has no new injury problems or suspensions to worry about.
Despite this, the match, as always, will be thriller, as soccer fans watch to see if Germany will be able to get rid of their football affliction called Italy. To be able to achieve this, the Germans desperately need to up their game.
Kick-off is at 21.00 Hours, CET.
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