Saturday 2 July 2016

Germany vs Italy Euro 2016 Football Match Preview And Prediction - July 3, 2016

Germany have a fully-fit squad to chose from after Jerome Boateng, Julian Draxler and Sami Khedira recovered from minor injuries.

Italy will assess midfielder Daniele De Rossi, who was forced off against Spain with a thigh injury.

His most suitable replacement, Thiago Motta, is suspended, while winger Antonio Candreva is again ruled out.

Should De Rossi be unable to begin Saturday's match, Stefano Sturaro could be promoted to the starting line-up.

The Italians have 11 players a yellow card away from a suspension that would see them miss a potential semi-final - Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Daniele De Rossi, Mattia De Sciglio, Eder, Lorenzo Insigne, Graziano Pelle, Salvatore Sirigu and Simone Zaza.

For Germany, Boateng, Khedira, Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich and Mesut Ozil are a booking away from missing a possible semi-final.

Italy have played Germany eight times in major tournaments and never lost. In four knockout matches they have beaten the Germans four times, with the last coming in the Euro 2012 semi-finals. It's a daunting record, but the mantra coming out of the German camp this week has been one of spiky indifference.

"We have no Italy-trauma, because it's a different team now and I think nothing of things that are dragged in from the past," says German coach Joachim Low.

"It's cold coffee. We prefer a fresh espresso. We have to make sure it tastes very good on Saturday," he added.

Germany certainly showed no sign of trauma in March when they romped to an emphatic 4-1 victory over the Azzurri in a friendly.

One of the most fascinating battles in Bordeaux will be between the opposing defences. The only goal Italy have conceded at this tournament was when their famed 'BBC' of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini weren't playing together (against the Republic of Ireland).

The German back four have been equally as impressive and they are the first side at a European Championship finals to keep a clean sheet in each of their first four games.

Head-to-head

Germany have never beaten Italy at a major tournament (D4, L4).
They have lost all four of their games against Italy in the knockout stages of a tournament - three times at the World Cup (semi-finals in 1970 and 2006 plus the final in 1982) and once at the European Championship finals (the semi-finals in 2012).
Germany and Italy's last encounter was earlier this year when Germany won 4-1 in Munich. It was their first victory over the Azzurri since June 1995.
Fifteen of the 18 goals scored in their previous eight encounters at major tournaments have come after half-time, including seven in extra time (39%).

Germany

Germany have reached at least the semi-finals in their last five major tournaments. They last time they failed to do so was at Euro 2004 (they were eliminated in the group stage).
They have won 14 of their last 17 games at major tournaments, drawing two and losing one (a 2-1 defeat against Italy in the semi-finals of Euro 2012).
Germany are the only team yet to concede a single goal at Euro 2016. The only previous time they kept clean sheets in their first four games at a major tournament was in the 1978 World Cup.
The last player to score past Manuel Neuer in a major tournament was Oscar in the 2014 World Cup semi-final against Brazil - a run of 480 minutes.
Thomas Muller hasn't scored a goal in nine games at the Euros. He has 10 goals in 13 World Cup games.
Mario Gomez has scored five goals at a Euros, the joint-most for Germany along with Jurgen Klinsmann.
Gomez has scored 21 goals in his last 27 starts for Germany, including one in each of his four starts in 2016.
Bastian Schweinsteiger could equal Miroslav Klose's record of featuring in 37 matches at a World Cup and European Championship finals.

Italy

Italy have kept 19 clean sheets in 37 matches at a European Championship finals, more than any other team in the history of the tournament - just ahead of Germany (18 clean sheets in 47 games).
They have already won three games at Euro 2016, their highest tally (excluding penalty shoot-outs) at the tournament since Euro 2000 (four wins).
Italy's only previous game in Bordeaux in a major tournament was a 2-2 draw against Chile in the 1998 World Cup group stage.
Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci are the only players to have started all four of Italy's games.
Graziano Pelle's two goals at Euro 2016 have come in the 92nd and 91st minute.

MATCH FACTS
Italy have won four, drawn two, and lost just one of their last 7 meetings with Germany.

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