Heavyweights clash for semi-final spot

Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is poised to make his first start in the Bordeaux match, while Italy’s veteran defender Daniele de Rossi faces a race to be fit. Like two heavyweight boxers eyeing up their opponent before the first bell, both teams have talked up the respect factor and down played the significance of Italy winning the last eight meetings at major tournaments. 

In the most recent matches, Italy claimed a 2-1 win in the Euro 2012 semi-finals while Germany romped to a 4-1 win in a meaningless friendly in March. Joachim Loew’s Germany insists they have no ‘Italy trauma’ as they look to beat the Azzurri at the ninth attempt on a big stage and throw off their Italian shackles. 

Antonio Conte’s Italy has compared taking on the world champions as football’s equivalent of ‘climbing Everest’. Italy have their own trauma after crashing out of the 2014 World Cup in the first round. Both squads insist this will be their toughest test so far at the European Championship finals. No doubt penalties have been practised behind closed doors, should the tie be decided by a shoot-out. The Azzurri proved they are up for the challenge by dumping previous holders Spain out of the competition with a 2-0 win in the last 16.