Germany took advantage of Italian errors - including a bizarre mistake from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma - to move into the semi-finals of the Nations League, despite a late Italy fightback.
Julian Nagelsmann's side won 2-1 in the first leg of the quarter-final at the San Siro in Milan on Thursday and completed the job in the second leg at Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park.
Having already conceded a penalty, scored by Germany captain Joshua Kimmich after Tim Kleindienst had been fouled by Alessandro Buongiorno, Donnarumma was at fault for an embarrassing second.
He tipped Kleindienst's header over the bar but then went to remonstrate with either the referee or his team-mates and walked about eight yards off his line.
Germany capitalised through Kimmich's quickly-taken corner from the right, which was swept into the unguarded goal by Jamal Musiala with Donnarumma out of position.
That made the score 4-1 on aggregate and it became 5-1 just before half-time when Italy lost possession when playing out from the back with Kleindienst heading in from Kimmich's cross, for the skipper's third goal involvement of the night.
But the tie was not over as Italy dominated the second half.
Former Everton striker Moise Kean pulled two goals back for Italy, firstly with a clinical finish into the bottom corner and then after being set up by Giacomo Raspadori.
In the fifth minute of injury-time, Italy made it 3-3 on the night as Maximilian Mittelstadt was judged to have handled the ball, with Raspadori scoring the penalty.
That made it 5-4 to Germany on aggregate but Italy could not find another goal that would have taken the tie to extra-time.
This is the fourth staging of the Nations League and Germany have made the semi-finals for the first time where they will host Portugal in June.
Through winning this quarter-final, Germany will be placed into World Cup Qualifying Group A, along with Luxembourg, Northern Ireland and Slovakia, while Italy will be in Group I with Estonia, Israel, Moldova and Norway.
Latest Stories
-
Government moves to revive NIB this year, pledges full recapitalisation
4 minutes -
Nurses’ accomodation top priority as Awudome Anyirawase celebrates Easter
15 minutes -
EPA CEO Prof. Klutse’s 69 groundbreaking scientific research findings driving bold climate policies and decisive action
33 minutes -
Finance Minister announces sweeping cost-cutting measures to rein in government expenditure
42 minutes -
Resource GNFS instead of ordering their dismissal – Ntim-Fordjour to Ashanti Regional Minister
47 minutes -
GOC President Ben Nunoo Mensah ‘will not contest’ in April’s Elective Congress
54 minutes -
IGP Yohuno makes sweeping police transfers, including 2 officers in leaked tape saga
1 hour -
Electricity is no more free – Energy Minister warns SOEs
1 hour -
Elmina Sharks to play behind closed doors for rest of season, fined GHS 20,000 for misconduct
2 hours -
Labour Minister pushes for stronger HR policies and job creation
2 hours -
Jordan Ayew names Christian Atsu as the best player he has ever played with
2 hours -
Elmina Sharks’ Asamoah banned for a year, five officials suspended for rest of season
2 hours -
GPL: Hearts of Oak fined GHS 20,000 for allowing fans into ‘security zone’
2 hours -
GFA bans Elmina Sharks President Papa Kwesi Nduom for three months
2 hours -
Today’s Front pages: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
2 hours