Italy
Gianluigi Buffon – 7.5
He made a brilliant reflex-action save from Mario Gomez’s backheel flick to keep Italy in the game at 1-0 down. Apart from that, he had to make only a couple of routine saves. He made one save in the shootout – denying Thomas Muller.
Andrea Barzagli – 7.5
As usual, Barzagli was exquisite, easily dealing with anything the Germans had to offer in the form of crosses, low or lofted.
Leonardo Bonucci – 7.5
He didn’t flinch the entire game from his defensive position, frustrating Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez with a series of assured clearances and tackles. He showed great composure to convert Italy’s penalty and take the tie into extra time. He couldn’t repeat his heroics in the shoot-out though.
Giorgio Chiellini – 7.5
Like his Juventus teammates, Chiellini was also a robust presence at the back, not allowing anything to get the better of him. He kept wingback Joshua Kimmich in check for the entire 120 minutes. He created a good chance late in the first half, spotting Giaccherini’s run into space in the opposition defence to find him and force the Germans to quell the danger.
Alessandro Florenzi – 6.5
Florenzi looked threatening every time he made his way up the pitch, but saw each of his crosses from the right flank comfortably dealt with by the Germans.
Mattia de Sciglio – 7
He was a busy figure on the left wing, playing good one-twos with the midfielders and making futile attempts to find Giaccherini with a defence cutting pass. However, he was also left frustrated by a stubborn German defence. He made a good contribution at the back, helping his centre-backs with some good clearances.
Stefano Sturaro - 7
In the absence of Daniele de Rossi, Sturaro deputised pretty well in midfield. He made important tackles to win possession back from the Germans and was lively in attack too. His fierce shot late in the first half went narrowly wide thanks to Boateng’s intervention.
Marco Parolo – 7.5
He was excellent in front of the defensive trio, making tackles and interceptions aplenty to foil Germany’s attacking pursuits. He was unlucky to get booked for his only foul in the game.
Emanuele Giaccherini – 6.5
The Sunderland midfielder did extremely well to run into space in the German defence to meet a lofted pass from Chiellini and provide the low cross for Sturaro, who shot just wide.
Overall, he showed pockets of energy on the left side of midfield and was constantly breathing down Howedes’ neck in an attempt to nick the ball off him. However, he couldn’t find the space to get into the box and test Manuel Neuer.
Graziano Pelle – 5.5
He was well shut out by a resilient German defence and barely got a foot inside the opposition box. He seemed to make more fouls than shots at goal and his horrible night culminated with his dreadful spot-kick.
Eder – 5
Like Pelle, Eder too was starved of the ball against the Germans and failed to even register a shot on goal.
Substitutes
Matteo Darmian – 5.5
He replaced Alessandro Florenzi after 86 minutes at right wingback. He managed to advance up the pitch on a couple of instances, but without the required effect. His tame penalty was saved by Manuel Neuer and sealed Italy’s fate.
Lorenzo Insigne – 6.5
He looked adventurous against a leggy German defence for the 12 minutes he was on the pitch. He even managed to get a shot away, but it was straight at Manuel Neuer.
Simone Zaza – N/A
He barely touched the ball after coming on in the 121st minute. His ridiculous-looking run-up to take his penalty (which he horribly scuffed) doesn’t warrant a rating.
