DieBruderschaft.com

BORDEAUX, France -- Germany ended 54 years of misery against Italy at major tournaments by taking a familiar route to victory: The penalty shootout.Jonas Hector lifted the so-called Italian curse off Germany on Saturday by converting the 18th kick of one of the wildest shootouts in European Championship history, clinching a 6-5 victory and a place in the semifinals.I took my heart in my hand, said Hector, Germanys left back, and just wanted to make sure it went in.It did -- but only just. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon guessed the right way but dived over Hectors kick. No wonder the 38-year-old Buffon walked off the field in tears afterward.A cagey match between Europes two most successful soccer nations finished 1-1 after extra time, with Leonardo Bonuccis 78th-minute penalty for Italy canceling out a 65th-minute strike by Mesut Ozil.After the tactical tedium came the shootout drama. Bonucci was one of seven players to fail to score in the shootout, with Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger also blazing over when he could have sealed victory with the score at 2-2.Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer gave his side another sight of victory by saving Matteo Darmians penalty, and Hector held his nerve.Ive never experienced a penalty shootout like it before, Neuer said.It was Germanys sixth straight victory in a penalty shootout since losing the final of Euro 1976 to Czechoslovakia, and its first competitive win over Italy in nine tries dating back to 1962. That run included defeats to the Azzurri in the 1982 World Cup final and three major tournament semifinals -- at World Cups in 1970 and 2006, and at Euro 2012.Seeking to follow up its World Cup title from two years ago, Germany will play either France or Iceland in a semifinal match in Marseille on Thursday.Italys loss ended Antonio Contes two-year tenure as coach and he heads to Chelsea in the English Premier League with a strong reputation after masterminding wins over highly fancied Belgium and Spain at Euro 2016.The only regret I have from this European Championship is these penalties, Conte said. Nothing else; no regrets. These lads really showed everything.One of his last acts as Italy coach was to embrace Darmian, who collapsed to the ground in despair after seeing Hector convert his penalty.It was a fixture worthy of the final itself -- Italy and Germany have won eight World Cup titles between them -- but the game didnt live up to its promise.Dropping deep when not in possession, Italys defensive set-up stifled the Germans -- another tactical success for Conte -- and made for a contest of few clear-cut chances until Ozils goal.Hector ran onto Mario Gomezs inside pass and sent over a cross that deflected into the path of the inrushing Arsenal playmaker, who calmly steered the ball home from eight meters.It was the first time the Germans had got behind Italys famed back line all game, but they couldnt hold on. They finally conceded a goal at the tournament when Bonucci scored from the spot after Jerome Boateng handled Giorgio Chiellinis flicked header.Bonucci was a surprising choice as penalty-taker, considering he hadnt previously taken one in regulation time in his career.With both teams tiring and showing respect for each other, extra time passed without significant incident and Euro 2016 had its second penalty shootout of the quarterfinals -- after Portugal beat Poland on Thursday.As Germany, as ever, won the battle of nerves from the spot.It was the lottery of the shootout, Conte said. I think theyre the best side in the world. The fact we could match them is an achievement.Mats Hummels will miss the semifinal through suspension after collecting a second yellow card of the tournament. Womens Air Max Australia . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. White Air Max Australia . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. http://www.shopairmaxaustralia.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Discount Air Max Australia . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Air Max Australia Running Shoes .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Johan Larsson has developed a knack for delivering when the Buffalo Sabres are in need of a goal.Larsson had a third-period score in his return to Minnesota and Robin Lehner made 27 saves, lifting Buffalo to a 2-1 win against the Wild on Tuesday night.A 2010 second-round pick by Minnesota, Larsson has seven game-winning goals among his 18 career tallies, and all seven in 83 games the past two seasons for the Sabres.It just happens, Larsson said. Fortunately, Im out there and a little bit of luck, I guess.Ryan OReilly added his fourth goal for Buffalo, which has won three straight.Larsson scored his second of the season past goaltender Devan Dubnyk with just over six minutes left. Brian Gionta centered a puck that went off the stick of Minnesota forward Mikael Granlund and deflected off the shaft of Larssons stick.The Swedish forward played one career game for the Wild in 2013 before being traded for Jason Pominville.He was a guy who scored a lot for us at the end of last season and did have a knack for getting the big goals and getting the game-winning goal, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. Tonight were trying to scratch out some kind of offense in the third period, trying to push forward in this building and get the win. Theres nothing really fancy about him coming up big.Dubnyk stopped 22 shots but had his individual scoreless streak end at 183:16. Granlund scored his second goal for Minnesota, which had won three in a row and was unbeaten in four previous home games.It was frustrating, Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. Sometimes its a frustrating team. It can play so good one period and not show up for the (next) period. Tonight, we didnt show up in the first period.Dubnyks streak ended just three shots into thhe game.dddddddddddd Dubnyk stopped Rasmus Ristolainens point shot, but OReilly had the rebound deflect off his skate directly to his stick for an easy score.Im a big fan of wins and those shutouts are bonus, Dubnyk said. Its disappointing to have it end on a bounce like that, but a lot of fortunate bounces have to happen to get three in a row. So, well let that one go and get ready for Saturday. Granlund tied it on the games first power play. With Josh Gorges off for slashing and breaking Granlunds stick, Pominville brought the puck into the offensive zone and dumped to Eric Staal.Staals shot bounced to Granlund, who was streaking in. Granlunds speed allowed him to get past a sprawling Lehner for the goal.I thought we came out hard today, Lehner said. They came back and pushed back in the second period, and got some momentum going. But I think we held the fort together and I think thats a very solid third period.Game notes Buffalo D Zach Bogosian didnt play the final two periods and was announced out with a knee injury. ... Minnesotas franchise-record scoreless streak was snapped at 184:59. ... Sabres F Hudson Fasching, a Minnesota native, missed the game with a groin injury. The team recalled Justin Bailey from Rochester of the American Hockey League. ... Staal has a five-game point streak, his longest since Jan. 2014. He has one goal and four assists in that span. ... The road team has won 15 of the 20 games in the series between the two teams, including the past five.UP NEXT:Sabres: Return home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.Wild: After three days off, they play Saturday at Colorado. 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