Germany Has Never Beaten Italy In a Competitive Match
By Ty Duffy
Germany has been the best, most consistent soccer nation in Europe, if not the world, for the past 50 years. The German team has lifted seven major tournament trophies (including the 2014 World Cup). They have reached 14 tournament finals.
That sparkling résumé has one major hole: a competitive win over Italy. Germany has beaten the Azzurri in friendlies, including a 4-1 match in March. But, the teams have met eight times in international competition. Those matches have yielded zero wins for the Mannschaft and four knockout stage eliminations.
Like so often in history, Italian intrigue has prevented the flowering of a far greater Germany. Italy eliminated the Germans at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2012. The teams now meet in the Euro 2016 quarterfinals.
We’re not saying it will be all Forza Azzurri on Saturday – Germany has some serious advantages, especially facing a depleted midfield – but stumbling over the Italian hurdle is the German equivalent of England taking penalties. If Italy can get ahead early…
Here is a recap of the previous matches.
1962 World Cup: West Germany and Italy played to a 0-0 draw in the first group match in Santiago. The Germans won the group, before being eliminated 1-0 by Yugoslavia in the quarterfinal. The Italians lost to Chile and were eliminated in the group stage.
1970 World Cup: This was one of the all-time great World Cup matches. West Germany and Italy met in the semifinal in Mexico City. German defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger pulled it back to 1-1 in the 90th minute. Five goals were scored in extra time, with the Italians pulling away 4-3. Italy lost 4-1 to Brazil in the final.
1978 World Cup: The World Cup dabbled in second group play. Italy and Germany were paired in Group A in the second round. They drew 0-0 in the first group match in Buenos Aires. The Dutch won the group and went on to play Argentina in the final.
1982 World Cup: Italy and West Germany met in the World Cup Final at the Bernabeu. The Azzurri scored three goals in the second half to win 3-1. Paolo Rossi, just back from a two-year betting scandal ban, was the tournament’s top scorer.
Euro 1988: The Germans hosted the tournament. Italy and West Germany were paired in the same group. They played to a 1-1 draw in the opening match in Dusseldorf. Both teams reached the semifinals. The Netherlands overcame a 1-0 deficit to beat Germany 2-1. The Soviet Union beat Italy 2-0.
Euro 1996: Italy and Germany drew 0-0 in the final Group C match in Manchester. Germany won the Group. The Czech Republic edged Italy on goal difference. The two former teams met in the final, with the Germans winning 2-1 in extra time.
2006 World Cup: Germany and Italy clashed again in the World Cup semifinal in Dortmund. The match looked like it was bound for penalties. Then Italy burst through with two goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero for a 2-0 win. The Italians beat the French on penalties in the final.
Euro 2012: Germany and Italy met in the Euro 2012 semifinal in Warsaw. Two first-half goals from Mario Balotelli put the favorite Germans behind. They could only pull one back on a stoppage time penalty. Italy went through to the final in Kiev, where they lost 4-0 to Spain.