That was something else.
After a cagey 1-1 draw and 30 minutes of uneventful extra time, Germany vs. Italy exploded in one of the most engaging penalty shootouts in tournament history.
This wasn’t the calm and collected Germany penalty-taking side we knew. Or the coolly efficient Italian penalty-taking outfit from Euro 2000.
Germany vs. Italy in the Euro 2016 quarter finals was nothing short of chaos.
#GERITA pic.twitter.com/on7KWY4Ff4
— Howler Magazine (@whatahowler) July 2, 2016
Some were rather to the point with their advice.
Just fuckin batter it
— John Nicholson (@JohnnyTheNic) July 2, 2016
The #scenes began right around the time Muller missed his penalty…
https://twitter.com/PsykoUK/status/749359421260693504
Muller the first German to miss a penalty in an international shoot-out since Stieleke in 1982.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) July 2, 2016
And it didn’t get any better when Ozil missed his
https://twitter.com/Huuurrley/status/749360120082169860
https://twitter.com/arrsnal/status/749361542492225536
At one point it looked like Italy would gain the upper hand as Neuer was only leaning to his right.
Italy have realised to hit it straight down the middle against Neuer.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) July 2, 2016
But neither team could capitalise. We eventually did reach a 5-5 draw, but both sides had taken EIGHT penalties to get that point. Everyone was floundering.
I don’t understand why these guys are struggling with penalty kicks. They’ve only played 120 minutes and have the whole world watching.
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) July 2, 2016
Graziano Pelle, who is fond of chipping the keeper, tried to outsmart Neuer, but then only managed to send his penalty wide.
https://twitter.com/M_Sarfo15/status/749359566261981184
Graziano Pelle getting spooked by his own mind games, Rafa Benitez-esque showmanship
— Jack Baker (showbiz showbiz showbiz) (@JackBaker1311) July 2, 2016
Bastian Schweinsteiger had match point for Germany, but then shot his penalty clear over the bar.
BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER, THE MOST GERMAN MAN EVER, TURNS OUT TO BE GARETH SOUTHGATE IN DISGUISE
— Tom Phillips (@flashboy) July 2, 2016
Schweinsteiger's penalty just landed in me front garden, mad
— Karl (@ChefKd000) July 2, 2016
Then it came to Simone Zaza, who was brought on late in extra time to take a penalty. It cued derision for its prolonged run up.
https://twitter.com/RM_Insider/status/749361902023696384
Or this #Zaza pic.twitter.com/mGY8SrEibj
— Dan Thomas (@DanThomasESPN) July 2, 2016
And after Matteo Darmian fluffed his lines, that would be all she wrote for Italy. It ended as it always does: with the Germans winning on penalties. 6-5 and Die Mannschaft roll onto a semi-final where they will play the winner of France vs. Iceland. HOWEVER…
All the English-based Germans & Italians who took penalties missed
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) July 2, 2016
All in all, it was really rather fun.
