Germany reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals after winning 6-5 penalties

Joachim Low's World Cup holders looked on course for victory in normal time - against a country they had never beaten at a major tournament - when Mesut Ozil rounded off a slick build-up with Mario Gomez and Jonas Hector to score at the near post in the 65th minute.
Italy did not flinch but were grateful for a moment of madness from Germany defender Jerome Boateng when he needlessly handled, allowing Leonardo Bonucci to score the first penalty of his career with 12 minutes left.
Germany missed more penalties in one shootout than in their history - three - but were once again the winners on penalties.
They have still never lost a shootout since the 1976 final of this competition when they lost to Czechoslovakia - some 40 years and 13 days ago.
It was settled when Hector drove low under Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon after Manchester United's Matteo Darmian saw his side's ninth penalty saved by Manuel Neuer.
Germany will now play either hosts France or England's conquerors Iceland in the last four.

And then in the shootout itself, a team renowned for cool heads in this situation suddenly seemed to find itself gripped by nerves.

When Thomas Muller saw his spot-kick saved by Buffon, it was the first time they had missed a spot-kick since Uli Stielike at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and Ozil also hit the post.
Indeed, Germany had only missed two penalties - Uli Hoeness the other culprit in that 1976 final with Czechoslovakia - but it was catching, Bastian Schweinsteiger firing wildly over with a chance to clinch it.

Full time Germany 6-5 Italy.

What they said

Italy manager Antonio Conte: "I want to thank the boys. They were extraordinary for two years for me. They topped it off with this special experience. I'm sorry because they deserved to go though.

"We made the fans proud of us. And we made the players truly aware that it's a privilege to wear the shirt."

Germany manager Joachim Low: "It was a drama - extra time and with two sides on the highest tactical level. The penalties missed were even more dramatic. We were lucky.

"There is nothing I could blame the team for. We were the better team in the 120 minutes. We'll recover now and on Thursday we'll continue. The experienced players missed and the young players scored."