Good evening and welcome to Nigerianeye's live commentary of the Euro 2016 quarter-final between Germany and Italy from Bordeaux.
World champions Germany turned on the style against Slovakia in the round of 16 – recording a comfortable 3-0 victory to breeze into the last eight.
Italy, meanwhile, overcame the holders Spain 2-0 to advance to the quarter-final stage.
Tonight will be the 34th meeting between these two teams in international football. Incredibly, Germany have never beaten the Italians in a major competition.
OFFICIAL LINE-UPS
GERMANY: Neuer; Howedes, Boateng, Hummels; Kimmich, Khedira, Kroos, Hector; Ozil, Muller; Gomez
ITALY: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Florenzi, Sturaro, Parolo, Giaccherini, De Sciglio; Pelle, Eder
Thank you for joining Nigerianeye for tonight's action.
Hector blasts his effort past Buffon and Germany have made the semi-finals of the European Championships. It is heartbreak for the Italians, who have so much to this competition.
GER PEN NINE! GOAL! Hector scores past Buffon and Germany have won it!
ITA PEN NINE!SAVE! Neuer keeps out Darmian's effort!
GER PEN EIGHT! GOAL! Boateng finds the corner to level it once again.
ITA PEN EIGHT! GOAL! De Sciglio finds the back of the net via the woodwork.
GER PEN SEVEN! GOAL! Bottom corner from Kimmich!
ITA PEN SEVEN! GOAL! Parolo goes down the middle to score.
GER PEN SIX! GOAL! Hummels just about beats Buffon, who got a hand to it.
ITA PEN SIX! GOAL! Giaccherini sends the Italians ahead!
GER PEN FIVE! OVER! Schweinsteiger fires over the crossbar! We go on!
ITA PEN FIVE! SAVE! Neuer keeps out Bonucci's low effort!
GER PEN FOUR! GOAL! Draxler scores for 2-2 in the shootout.
ITA PEN FOUR! WIDE! Pelle drags his effort wide of the post. Incredible scenes!
GER PEN THREE! POST! Ozil hits the post! My word!
GER PEN TWO! SAVE! Muller fires straight at Buffon!
ITA PEN TWO! MISS! Zaza fires straight over the crossbar!
GER PEN ONE! GOAL! Kroos fires past Buffon for 1-1 here.
ITA PEN ONE! GOAL! Insigne scores to send the Italians ahead.
Here we go then. Germany versus Italy in a penalty shootout for a spot in the semi-finals.
Germany have still never beaten Italy at a major competition - in normal time anyway! The pressure on these players is going to be incredible. There will be a hero and a villain in around 10 minutes!
We head for a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw between Germany and Italy!
ET 30 min+1 END OF 120 MINUTES: Germany 1-1 Italy
ET 30 min+1 ITA SUB! Zaza replaces Chiellini for the Italians.
ET 29 min Ozil fires straight at Buffon as Germany continue to threaten here.
ET 29 min Germany want a penalty as Muller pokes the ball into a number of blue shirts, but the referee is not interested. Super period of passing from the Germans in the last two minutes or so here.
ET 27 min Kroos again delivers into the Italian box and Parolo is on hand to make the clearance.
ET 26 min... the referee orders a re-take following some pushing inside the box.
ET 25 min Germany have a free kick in a dangerous position as Muller wins a foul from Chiellini...
ET 23 min Super work from Insigne inside the German box as he turns and shoots in one movement, but Neuer is on hand to make the save. This is much better than I expected the second half to be!
ET 22 min BOOKING! Schweinsteiger (Germany) is booked for a foul on Darmian.
ET 21 min Well, I expected this extra-time period to just fizzle out, but Germany are really going for it at the moment and Italy are starting to look tired for the first time in this match and indeed the tournament.
ET 19 min Almost a wonderful chance for Germany as Draxler races clear of the Italian midfield before looking to set up Muller, but the pass is too strong! Schweinsteiger then fires over the crossbar from distance.
ET 18 min ITA SUB! Insigne replaces Eder for the Italians.
ET 18 min CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Draxler as Italy fail to properly clear a cross from the right, but the attacker hooks over from close range. What a chance to surely win this game!
ET 18 min... could well be time for someone to make themselves a hero in the next 15 minutes.
ET 16 min RESTART Italy get the second half of extra-time underway...
ET 13 min BOOKING! Giaccherini (Italy) is booked for handball.
ET 13 min Boateng tries his luck from distance, but his effort was always wide of the post.
ET 11 min Muller has a strike deflected wide for a corner after finding space outside the Italian box.
ET 10 min You get the feeling that Italy would be happy to take their chances in the penalty shootout, while Germany seem keen to get the job done in normal time. Still no separation in Bordeaux tonight.
ET 7 min Players are going down all over the place at the moment following a number of late challenges and that is slowing the tempo. Italy have a half-chance as Pelle meets a cool flick from Eder, but the striker's effort was always wide of the post. Still goalless with seven minutes of extra-time played.
ET 3 min Germany have one substitute left in this match, while Italy have two, which is a big advantage at this stage of events. It is Germany that have started extra-time in control of the possession.
ET 1 min... BOOKING! Pelle (Italy) is booked for a late tackle on Boateng.
ET 0 min RESTART! Germany get the extra-time period underway in Bordeaux.
The referee brings normal time to a close with the two teams level at 1-1. It was always going to go the distance and we will now head into extra-time in the third quarter-final.
90 min+4 END OF 90 MINUTES: Germany 1-1 Italy
90 min+3 Two brilliant headers from Chiellini to clear ahead of Schweinsteiger and Muller inside his own box.
90 min+2 We are into the second of three additional minutes here and it does appear that extra-time and possibly penalties will be needed to separate these two teams. What a second half of football.
90 min BOOKING! Hummels (Germany) is booked for a late challenge on Eder.
89 min CLOSE! De Sciglio hits the side-netting with a strike from distance!
89 min Neither side is giving too much away at the moment as extra-time moves closer and closer.
87 min ITALY SUB! Man United's Darmian replaces Florenzi for the Italians.
86 min Italy are going to make their first change of the match in the next break.
84 min You just get the feeling that there is another goal in this match as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. No sign of either side settling for extra-time with 84 on the clock.
82 min CHANCE! Brilliant break from the Italians as Florenzi drives down the right before finding Eder, who rolls the ball into Pelle and the striker's attempt is blocked wide of the post.
81 min I thought that one goal would be enough to win this match, but Italy were having none of it and we enter the final 10 minutes at 1-1. What a brilliant second half of football this has been here!
79 min We are all square here as Bonucci fires his penalty past Neuer. What a moment!
78 min GOAL! Germany 1-1 Italy (Bonucci, pen)
78 min Italy have a penalty as Boateng handles inside the box! What was he thinking?!
77 min PENALTY ITALY!
75 min CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Italy as De Sciglio picks out Pelle with a brilliant low cross, but the striker's effort flies over the crossbar. Should have made Neuer work there!
73 min There is still time for Italy, but something has to change here as Germany continue to look the team more likely to score the game's second goal. Little over 15 minutes of normal time remaining here.
71 min GER SUB! Gomez is replaced by Draxler in Germany's second change.
68 min Italy just cannot keep the ball at the moment as Germany go in search of a quick-fire second.
66 min Breakthrough! Germany strike first in this quarter-final as Ozil fires home from close range after Hector's low cross had been deflected into the path of the Arsenal attacker - ruthless finish!
65 min GOAL! Germany 1-0 Italy (Ozil)
63 min Half-chance for the Italians, but Parolo's effort from distance was always wide of the post.
62 min Giaccherini cuts inside onto his stronger foot and delivers a brilliant cross towards Florenzi, but Hector is on hand to clear behind. That is the threat from Italy - the fast counter-attack.
62 min Little under 30 minutes of normal time remaining and Germany are in control as they pass and probe in the final third of the field. Italy will be waiting for that one chance to launch a counter-attack.
59 min BOOKING! Parolo (Italy) is booked for a high boot on Gomez.
57 min BOOKING! De Sciglio (Italy) is booked for a late challenge on Kimmich.
56 min BOOKING! Sturaro (Italy) is booked for dissent.
54 min CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Germany to take the lead as Gomez sets up Muller inside the Italian box and the Bayern man fires towards goal, but Florenzi makes a super block!
53 min You just get the feeling that one goal would be enough to win this match and both teams are threatening in the final third. Kimmich breaks down the right for Germany before delivering a super cross towards the near point, but Barzagli is on hand to make the clearance. Much better game.
51 min The tempo has definitely risen in the second period and that is great news for the neutral. I had a horrible feeling that this would drift into a 0-0 draw, but both teams are attacking at the moment.
49 min Half-chance for the Italians as De Sciglio delivers a dangerous cross from the right, but Eder cannot find Giaccherini under pressure from two defenders. Moments later, De Sciglio again delivers from the same area, but Pelle is beaten in the air. Bit of pressure on the German back four at the moment.
47 min... no changes in terms of personnel, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops. One goal wins it for me.
46 min RESTART! Italy resume the second period here...
The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0 following a very close opening 45 minutes of football. Germany have shaded the match overall, but both sides came close in the latter stages of the half. We could well be in for a long night in Bordeaux!
45 min+1 HALF-TIME: Germany 0-0 Italy
44 min CHANCES! Two big Italian chances! First, Giaccherini breaks clear inside the German box before delivering a smart cross towards Eder - Germany half-clear to Parolo and his effort is just deflected wide of the post. Germany did not look secure at the back there!
42 min CHANCE! Another chance for Germany as Muller finds himself unmarked inside the Italian box following a couple of mistakes, but his effort lacks power and Buffon makes the save.
42 min CHANCE! Proper chance for Germany this time as Kimmich delivers a super cross onto the head of Gomez, but the striker's effort is wide of the post. Much better from the Germans there.
40 min Germany continue to deliver high balls into the Italian box, but it is perfect for the team in blue as they continue to clear their own penalty area. Still waiting for the first real opportunity here.
37 min OOPS! Buffon makes a meal of a cross from the left and almost allows Gomez to poke home from close range. Not like the Italian goalkeeper! Not the type of game for the mistakes!
36 min Little under 10 minutes of the first period remaining and as expected, it has been very tight. Italy have just started to threaten in the final third, but neither team has really had a clear-cut chance in the opening 36 minutes of this quarter-final. I still fancy this one to go to extra-time and beyond.
34 min Just a reminder that Germany have NEVER beaten Italy in a competitive match, which is just incredible. They have been the better side tonight, but the scoreboard remains 0-0 in Bordeaux.
32 min Half-chance for Italy as Kimmich allows the ball to slide under his feet and it allows De Sciglio to cross from a wide position, but Boateng is across ahead of Giaccherini to make the clearance.
30 min Italy are struggling to carry a threat at the moment as Germany continue to dominate possession of the ball. Eder is full of running in the final third, but has struggled to get the better of Germany's physical central defenders. Down the other end, Gomez looks to meet an excellent pass from Ozil, but Chiellini is across to make the clearance and indeed win his team a free kick following a high boot from Gomez.
27 min GOAL DISALLOWED! Schweinsteiger heads a wonderful Muller cross into the back of the net, but the midfielder is adjudged to have pushed De Sciglio before heading past Buffon!
26 min The referee decides to have a word with Sturaro during a period of late challenges! We have not yet had a yellow card, but we must be getting close as tackles arrive from every angle imaginable!
24 min Kimmich continues to make good ground for Germany down the right, but Italy are very strong with anything that comes into the air. Kimmich is clearly the out-ball, however, as Boateng and Howedes both look for the 21-year-old whenever they have time and space on the ball. Still goalless in Bordeaux.
22 min Italy are finding it difficult to break the lines at the moment as Germany boss the midfield battle. Bonucci eventually looks to deliver towards Eder, but Boateng is on hand to deal with the situation.
20 min Half-chance for Germany as Gomez makes a super run and manages to meet a sweeping pass from Kroos, but his effort loops into the arms of Buffon, who can release De Sciglio down the right.
18 min We are still waiting for the first clear-cut chance, which is not too much of a surprise. It is very tight and I would be surprised if that pattern changed, especially if the score remains 0-0 for a long period.
16 min GER SUB! Schweinsteiger replaces Khedira for Germany in the 16th minute.
15 min SAVE! Florenzi cuts inside two defenders before drilling one towards goal, but it is a comfortable save for Neuer. Khedira is indeed going to be replaced for the Germans here.
15 min Khedira is going to be replaced here. Big blow for Germany!
14 min Slight problem for Khedira as the midfielder takes a heavy challenge from Chiellini, but it does appear that the Juventus man will be fit to continue. He has been down for a few moments though.
13 min Just a reminder that the winner of tonight's match will take on either France or Iceland in the semi-finals of the competition next Thursday. The other semi-final will be Portugal versus Wales.
11 min Not too much to report in terms of chances or attacking football at the moment, but Germany are in control of the ball as they pass and probe in the final third. Italy will be more than happy to sit deep and absorb the pressure, before looking to release the likes of Eder on the counter-attack here.
8 min Germany are now back in control of the possession as they force Italy to retreat into a defensive shape. It is a fascinating tactical battle at the moment as both teams size up the opposition.
6 min Giaccherini does well to pull onto Boateng and spin inside the German box and the attacker's effort is deflected just wide of the post. Italy are growing after Germany looked to make a fast start.
5 min Good pressure from Italy as they force two corners in quick succession, but Germany manage to clear the danger on both occasions. The second set piece actually falls to Sturaro on the edge of the box, but his effort was always moving wide of the post. Fairly low-key start to this match.
4 min As expected, Germany have matched up to Italy's 3-5-2 formation tonight, which is a statement of respect for Conte's team. Possession football from the Germans in the early stages in Bordeaux.
2 min... it must be said that the atmosphere inside the stadium is absolutely incredible. Let's hope that the football matches it! You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital in terms of the final result. Both teams have been sensational defensively in this competition.
0 min KICKOFF! Germany get the first period underway in Bordeaux...
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