Germany outlasts Italy in penalties, breaks hoodoo to reach Euro 2016 semis

One streak lives on, and another, mercifully for one particular nation, finally comes to an end.

Germany is off to the semi-finals of a major international tournament for the sixth consecutive time, and Die Mannschaft ended their longstanding Italian hoodoo to get there.

Joachim Low's men booked a spot in the final four of Euro 2016 on Saturday, a tense match against the Italians requiring penalties before the German's prevailed 6-5 after some of the best - and worst - spot kicks in recent memory.

The victory signals the first time in eight competitive meetings that Germany has defeated Italy, having gone into the contest losing four and drawing the same amount in its illustrious tournament history when faced with the prospect of the Azzurri.

Matteo Darmian, Italy's ninth shooter, saw his effort palmed away by imperious German netminder Manuel Neuer, which opened the door for Jonas Hector to unleash a wave of German delight when his spot kick, the 18th of the marathon affair, just squeezed under the arms of Gianluigi Buffon.

Simone Zaza and Graziano Pelle will bear much of the scorn in the aftermath of the shootout, the two men each missing the target with embarrassing efforts - the former's bemusing run-up looking foolish after he skied the effort over the bar, while the imposing striker rolled a tame shot well wide of the post.

Related: Twitter reacts to Germany overcoming Italy in enthralling shootout

Italy, bringing arguably its worst team in a generation to a major international tournament, punched well above its weight at Euro 2016, but after surprising wins over Belgium and Spain, the Germans proved one obstacle too far.

The gut-wrenching defeat ended Antonio Conte's two-year spell with Italy, but the fiery gaffer heads to Chelsea with his reputation at its peak after leading a talent-poor squad to heights that very few expected.

"The only regret I have from this European Championship is these penalties," Conte said after the loss. "Nothing else; no regrets. These lads really showed everything."

Germany looked set to put the contest to bed in normal time after a Mesut Ozil prod opened the scoring in the 65th minute. But Italy, offering comparatively little going forward, was gifted a lifeline in the 78th minute, when Jerome Boateng's blatant, and puzzling, handball in the area allowed Leonardo Bonucci to level matters at the Stade de Bordeaux.

Related - Watch: Bonucci slots in spot kick to level bout with Germany

The Juventus defender, a colossus all tournament long for his side, couldn't repeat the feat in the shootout, however, as his was one of four shots either sent wayward or stopped by Neuer en route to Germany's triumph.

The victory will see Die Mannschaft meet the victor of Sunday's quarter-final between tournament host France and plucky continental darling Iceland.

- With files from The Associated Press