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One change for Germany from the Slovakia win, as Benedikt Howedes replaces Julian Draxler. It’s not totally clear yet what formation the Germans are going to play.
Germany: Neuer; Hector, Howedes, Hummels, Khedira, Ozil, Müller, Boateng, Kroos, Kimmich, Gomez.
Crucially, De Rossi is out for the Italians.
Italy: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Florenzi, Parolo, Sturaro, Giaccherini, De Sciglio, Pelle, Eder.
“I don’t rate the Germans!” Eamon Dunphy may be setting himself up for a fall here.
The RTÉ pundit also backs up Michael Ballack’s claim that the German side lack leaders.
Remember, Germany have never beaten Italy in a competitive game.
However, the Germans did beat the Italians 4-1 in a friendly last March.
We’re underway…
Germany have started well.
They’re dominating possession and playing the ball around with an air of confidence.
Italy, meanwhile, are noticeably paying close attention to Toni Kroos in these early stages whenever he gets the ball.
It’s been a scrappy opening so far.
Neither side has really threatened, which will suit Italy more so than Germany — the less open the game, the better, as far as Conte’s men are concerned.
Plenty of German probing, but they’ve yet to really threaten to open up the Italians.
This game has started pretty much as expected.
Khedira has been limping for the last few minutes and he signals to the bench that he needs to come off.
Schweinsteiger comes on in his place.
That’s a big blow for Germany early on, and perhaps even things up in one sense, after Italy lost the similarly pivotal Daniele De Rossi prior to kick-off.
He’s certainly got the experience for the big occasion.
Germany threaten to open up Italy for the first real time.
Hummels’ excellent long pass is just too far ahead of Mario Gomez for the striker to control it properly.
The Germans are playing the majority of the football in the opening stages of this game.
Sturaro gets a firm warning from the official following a mistimed challenge on Kroos, and he is probably lucky to escape a yellow.
It’s been very stop start so far, as is usually the case with Italy games.
Schweinsteiger heads the ball into the net from a lofted ball delivered into the box, but it won’t count.
Replays show he shoved De Sciglio out of the way before making contact with the ball.
Moments later, Parolo produces a superb tackle to stop Müller breaking on the counter-attack — that’s the kind of superb defending with which Italy have become irrevocably associated with during this competition.
De Sciglio gets past Kimmich easily down the left, but Boateng is well positioned to intercept the cross.
Italy have produced almost nothing in attack so far, but that’s a reminder of how sharp they can be in terms of capitalising on individual mistakes.
It’s been a disappointing enough match so far, with no clear-cut chances for either side yet.
A match high on organisation but low on entertainment.
Odd moment, as De Sciglio attempts to clear the ball, but ends up unwittingly producing what is effectively a cross into the Italian box.
Fortunately for him, Florenzi is on hand to calmly control the ball and clear his lines.
A rare sight on goal, as Gomez gets on the end of Kimmich’s cross.
The striker’s header, however, is well off target.
Moments later, Hector crosses, and the ball ricochets into the path of Müller, but the Bayern Munich star can’t quite connect with the ball properly, and Buffon saves comfortably.
First decent chance for Italy, and it’s a moment reminiscent of their opening goal in the group game with Belgium.
Bonucci finds Giaccherini with a brilliant long pass, and the winger’s cross goes all the way across the box to the onrushing Parolo, who shoots narrowly wide.
Better from Italy, and this game is showing signs of livening up as we approach the half-time whistle.
HALF-TIME: ITALY 0-0 GERMANY
So half-time, and it’s been a predictably cagey and in truth, somewhat dull first half.
Germany have had the lion’s share of possession and done the majority of probing, while the Italian defence has been typically solid and rarely looked in danger of being exposed.
It’s been a game of half-chances at best, with Parolo coming closest on the bring of half-time, with a shot just wide, after good work by Bonucci and Giaccherini in the build-up.
With 45 minutes played, this already has the feel of a gruelling 120-minute encounter, which may well ultimately be settled by penalties.
The second half is underway…
More excellent defending — the recurring theme in this game.
Hummels looks sharper than Eder, as he gets to a dangerous cross ahead of the striker.
Germany are playing with a bit more urgency now.
As I type, Müller gets the ball on the edge of the box, but his shot is deflected just wide off Florenzi.
That’s probably the closest Germany have come so far.
Sturaro gets booked for a challenge on Ozil. Looks like his dissent after rather than the mistimed tackle alone earned him the yellow.
Moments later, De Sciglio is penalised for a nasty late challenge on Kimmich. He picks up a booking also and will consequently miss the semi-final if Italy get there.
Another yellow card, this time for a high challenge by Parolo on Gómez.
Even by Italian standards, these last few minutes have encompassed a lot of cynical play.
GERMANY 1-0 ITALY (OZIL 65)
Florenzi makes a hash of a Neuer clearance, before Gómez plays a lovely reverse pass to the onrushing Hector.
The full-back’s cross finds Ozil’s perfectly-timed run, and the Arsenal star makes no mistake with the finish.
It will interesting to see how Italy respond.
The Ireland game aside, it’s the first time they’ve been behind in this tournament.
As I type, Buffon makes a great save, after Gómez breaks the Italian offside trap and attempts an audacious back-flick.
Germany are growing in confidence, while Julian Draxler is preparing to come on.
You’d fear for Italy now, given their lack of creativity and well-documented limitations in attack.
Gomez hobbles off to be replaced by 22-year-old Julian Draxler of Wolfsburg.
That change is certainly not going to weaken the Germans considerably.
Müller will now play as the most advanced attacker, with Özil as the number 10 and Draxler on the left.
Half chance for Pellè, as he evades Boateng in the box, and finds a yard of space to get a shot away, but the ball flies just wide.
Italy are starting to play with a bit more ambition now.
PENALTY TO ITALY!
ITALY 1-1 GERMANY (BONUCCI 78)
Incredible! An innocuous cross into the box connects with the arm of Boateng and the ref points to the spot.
Bonucci then slots the ball coolly into the corner of the net to bring the Italians level.
Hector loses the ball sloppily, and Italy counter attack.
Pelle’s shot is then deflected wide for a corner.
It’s been a far more open and entertaining second half.
Here’s a look at the two goals…
Italy make a change, as Darmian replaces Florenzi.
It’s probably a wise move, as the Roma star looks tired and was partially at fault for the Germany goal.
De Sciglio’s shot from the edge of the area finds the side-netting. Neuer looked to have it covered anyway.
Meanwhile, Hummels will take no part in the semi-final if Germany get there, as he’s deservedly booked for a late challenge on Eder.
Good header by Chiellini to get to the cross ahead of Schweinsteiger.
Germany are rallying in the dying stages here.
FULL-TIME: ITALY 1-1 GERMANY – EXTRA-TIME TO BE PLAYED
So that’s that. We’re set for another 30 minutes at least.
The second half was far more open than the first, with decent chances for both sides and a better overall tempo to the game.
Germany continued to dominate possession and deservedly went ahead through Ozil.
However, Italy have defended brilliantly for the most part, and their remarkable resilience was evident again, as they won a penalty out of nothing which Bonucci slotted home calmly.
The Italians looked tired towards the end of the 90 minutes, and have gone long periods without the ball, so the Germans look the more likely side to win it over the course of the next half hour.
The first half of extra time has begun…
Pelle has just been booked for an awful challenge on Boateng.
The Southampton striker will now miss the semi-final on Thursday if the Italians get there.
Müller and Chiellini have just had a heated argument in the Italian penalty area after a coming together.
The usually prolific Bayern Munich man, who still has never scored a goal at the European Championships despite being among the top scorers at the last two World Cups, has cut a frustrated figure this evening.
There’s obvious tiredness and frustration creeping into both sides’ play, with little quality on display since the end of normal time.
In other words, this game already looks destined for penalties.
Müller gets the ball on the edge of the box, but Chiellini throws his body in the way and the attempt is deflected wide.
The Italian backline really have been as magnificent as ever tonight.
Giaccherini has now been booked for handling the ball after going down under a challenge, clearly thinking he should have been awarded a free kick.
The number of Italian players booked is starting to reach farcical levels.
HALF-TIME OF EXTRA-TIME: ITALY 1-1 GERMANY
Thus ends a fairly uneventful 15 minutes of football.
Germany did some pressing but never attacked with any real conviction.
You get the sense that both sides would be happy enough to settle for penalties at this stage.
Italy’s defence have been especially good in this game — Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli don’t deserve to end this match on the losing team.
The second half of extra-time is underway…
Italy make a change, as Eder is replaced by Insigne.
You’d imagine the Napoli man is a decent penalty taker.
Big chance for Germany, as it opens up on the counter-attack for Draxler all of a sudden.
However, the Wolfsburg star fails to show the adequate degree of composure, as his pass towards Müller is badly overhit.
Schweinsteiger is the latest player to collect a booking. He gets a booking for a hand to the face of Sturaro. The Italian player certainly made the most of that.
Meanwhile, as I type, Insigne has a shot from a tight angle that’s saved with relative ease by Neuer.
Hummels lofts a ball into the box, but it’s straight into the arms of Buffon.
Both sides are looking suitably exhausted now.
Half-hearted appeals for handball and a penalty as a German through ball is intercepted.
Replays show there was nothing in it.
Chiellini is being replaced with Zaza coming on.
That’s surely a change made with the looming penalty shootout in mind.
FULL-TIME: GERMANY 1-1 ITALY – PENALTIES TO BE PLAYED
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So penalties it is!
It felt inevitable for a long time.
There were no real chances in extra-time, so penalties is probably a fitting outcome in this game.
Germany probed and dominated possession over the entire match, but probably didn’t do enough to deserve a win over 120 minutes of play.
1-0 Italy. Insigne scores the first penalty.
1-1. Kroos scores for Germany.
1-1. Zaza blasts a penalty wide.
He was brought on specifically to take a penalty.
1-1. Muller’s attempt is saved by Buffon, and the attacker still hasn’t scored at the Euros.
2-1. Barzagli scores.
2-1. Ozil hits the post.
Still 2-1. Pelle drags his attempt wide.
2-2. Draxler scores.
2-2. Bonucci’s attempt is saved.
Germany can win it woth the next kick…
2-2. Schweinsteiger puts his penalty over the bar. Incredible drama.
3-2. Giaccherini scores.
3-3. Hummels scores.
4-3. Parolo scores.
4-4. Kimmich scores.
5-4. De Sciglio converts.
5-5. Boateng scores.
5-5. Darmian’s penalty is saved by Neuer.
GERMANY BEAT ITALY 6-5 ON PENALTIES TO ADVANCE TO THE EUROS SEMIS!
Hector scores the winning penalty after a crazy penalty shootout that seemingly lasted an age.
It’s heartbreak for the Italians, but the Germans perhaps just about deserved it, having played with more ambition over the course of the match, dominating possession and territory.
One minor consolation for Italy? As George Hamilton notes, this game goes down in the record books as a draw, meaning Germany technically still haven’t beaten Italy in a competitive game.
Right, that’s it from me for now.
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