EURO2016 Quarter Final: Germany 1-1 Italy (6-5 on pens)

A chink in the armour? Is there hope for the rest of Europe?

Hope that the Germans aren’t as devastatingly effective at penalties as they used to be. That has to be the take out of this game. Ozil’s was saved. Schweinsteiger blasted over when he could have won it.

Maybe the pressure of stepping up to the spot wearing the team colours of a nation that is so super cool and super-effective from 18 yards is getting too much to bear for this current generation. Even so, they did enough to beat the Italians, Darmian the culprit in blue, with a penalty that reminded me so much of Gareth Southgate’s in 1996.

The match that preceded all this drama wasn’t that dramatic really. Tight. As you’d expect from two heavyweights. But it is Germany who had more players who held their nerve and found the net in the spot kicks who progress.