BORDEAUX, France (AP) Germany finally ended 54 years of hurt against Italy in major tournaments, winning a wild penalty shootout 6-5 to reach the semifinals of the European Championship on Saturday.
Jonas Hector scored the winning penalty in the quarterfinal match in Bordeaux with the 18th kick of the shootout, slotting beyond Gianluigi Buffon and putting Germany in the last four of a sixth straight tournament.
''I took my heart in my hand,'' said Hector, Germany's left back, ''and just wanted to make sure it went in.''
A cagey, tactical match between two of the continent's heavyweights finished 1-1 after extra time, with Leonardo Bonucci's 78th-minute penalty for Italy canceling out a 65th-minute strike by Mesut Ozil.