If "Angstgegner" (German for "bogey team") was the watchword after Italy (unbeaten in eight tournament games against the Nationalmannschaft) secured a quarterfinal meeting with Joachim Low's team, the eve of the match in Bordeaux was dominated by something called "Geheimniskrämerei" -- extensive secret-mongering both in and by the Germany camp.
The German FA received permission from UEFA to hold their last training session at their base in Évian, rather than at the stadium in Toulouse, on Friday night in order to escape prying eyes. The pitch in the Stade Camille Fournier was hidden behind huge screens to enable Low to train with his first team in total seclusion.