Italy have never lost a competitive meeting with Germany but Joachim Low’s side will look to rewrite the history of this fixture when the teams meet in the second semi-final at National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland. This match will start at 11.45 (PST).
This will be the 31st international match between the two teams and third in European Cup finals. Italy have won 14, lost seven and draw nine in 30 previous matches against Germany. They scored 45 and conceded 34 goals in these matches.
The both matches played between the two teams in European Cup finals were drawn. The first encounter played at Dusseldorf on June 10,1988 was ended 1-1 while two teams played a goalless draw in the second and last meeting at Manchester on June 19,1996.
Italy’s record is even better in competitive meetings with three wins and four draws, starting with a 0-0 stalemate at the 1962 World Cup in Chile. Italy and West Germany’s 1970 World Cup semi-final was a classic won by the Azzurri 4-3 after extra time.
Gianluigi Buffon has conceded just twice in four appearances against Germany while Daniele De Rossi scored in Italy’s 4-1 friendly win in March 2006. Italy have not lost to Germany since a 2-0 friendly defeat in Zurich in June 1995.
The Azzurri are unbeaten in their last five games against Germany, winning three times and drawing twice.
Italy have failed to make it to the finals only in two of the 10 semi-final games they’ve played at major tournaments, a 0-2 loss against Soviet Union at Euro 1988, and a 3-4 defeat on penalties against Argentina in the 1990 World Cup, after a 1-1 draw.
Germany have played in a semi-final in a major competition 17 times so far, making it to the final on 11 occasions.
Germany are the only side to have won each of their four games in the current tournament. They have now won their last 15 competitive games – an all-time record in Germany Football history. The Germans have scored in each of their last 20 games. They have scored a total number of 51 goals in these matches.
Germany boast the best attack in the current European Championship, scored nine goals while Italy have the second-best defence, conceded just two goals conceded.
Germany are on a world-record 15-match winning streak in competitive fixtures but Italy are unbeaten in 14 games in European Cup 2012 since qualifying began, with just four goals conceded.
Three-time winners Germany have won all but one of their six European Championship semi-finals while Italy, champions in 1968, are still looking for their first semi-final goal – at the fourth attempt.
EUROPEAN CUP FOOTBALL
GERMANY V ITALY:
HEAD TO HEAD:
INTERNATIONAL MATCHES:
Played: 30
Italy won: 14
Germany won: 7
Drawn: 9
Goals for Italy: 45
Goals for Germany: 34
EUROPEAN CUP MATCHES:
Played: 2
Italy won: –
Germany won: –
Drawn: 2
Goals for Italy: 1
Goals for Germany: 1
MEETING IN EUROPEAN CUP FINALS:
Date Venue Stage Result Score
10-06-1988 Dusseldorf Final round W.Germany drew with Italy 1-1
19-06-1996 Manchester First round Germany drew with Italy 0-0
PRFORMANCE IN EUROPEAN CUP SEMI FINALS:
GERMANY:
Date Venue Result
14-06-1972 Antwerp Beat Belgium 2-1
17-06-1976 Belgrade Beat Yugoslavia 4-2 (aet)
21-06-1988 Hamburg Lost to Netherlands 1-2
21-06-1992 Solna Beat Sweden 3-2
26-06-1996 London Beat England 6-5 on penaties after 1-1
25-06-2008 Basel Beat Turkey 3-2
ITALY:
Date Venue Result
05-06-1968 Naples Beat Soviet Union on coin toss after 0-0
22-06-1988 Stuttgart Lost to Soviet Union 0-2
29-06-2000 Amsterdam Beat Netherlands 3-1 on penalties after 0-0.
