German advanced into the Last four of the Euro 2016 tournament following a 6-5 penalty shoot-out against Italy at Matmut Atlantique.

Heading into the match, Germany has made just one change from the side that defeated Slovakia 3-0 in the Round of 16 with Benedikt Howedes coming in for Julian Draxler.

Meanwhile, Italy are without the experienced Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Candreva through injury, while Thiago Motta was suspended after picking up a second yellow card against Spain.

Germany had seen plenty of possession in the opening stages of the match but it was Italy who got the first chance of the match as Eder stepped over the ball and found Stefano Sturaro on the edge of the German box, but the midfielder could only put his weak effort wide.

Then, with 23 minutes gone, German midfielder Joshua Kimmich cut inside onto his left before sending a cross into the box but Leonardo Bonucci was well placed to clear the ball to deny the German national side.

Italian defender Mattia De Sciglio broke forward on the right, carrying the ball to the edge of the box before firing a low cross towards the near post, but German defender Jerome Boateng read the play well as he got to the ball ahead of Emanuele Giaccherini to clear the away.

Two minutes before the half-time interval and Toni Kroos slashed a shot but it fell to Bastian Schweinsteiger, who put the ball back across goal to find Thomas Muller but his shot was easily saved by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

At the other end, Sturaro ran onto the ball at the far post and drilled a low effort towards goal. Boateng stuck a boot out as the ball deflected wide of the far post.

De Sciglio crafted a chance for Italy as he found himself in some space on the right, as he fired a low cross into the penalty area. Eder looked to tee up Giaccherini but Joachim Low’s side manage to clear the ball away from danger.

Germany had a chance to open the scoring as Mario Gomez laid the ball off to Muller, who beat Giorgio Chiellini on the edge of the area before firing a powerful shot towards the far corner.

The ball looked to be heading towards the back of the net but Alessandro Florenzi was back on the goal line to deflect the ball away from goal and behind for a corner.

Italy worked another chance as Eder laid the ball off for Marco Parolo, the midfielder fired a shot at goal but his effort goes wide of the post from the edge of the penalty area.

Two minutes later and German responded well when German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer sent a long ball through to Gomez. The striker then slipped the ball in behind the Italy defence for Jonas Hector and his deflected cross fell into the path of Mesut Ozil, who made no mistake from close range to score his 20th international goal.

Germany could’ve doubled their lead in the 69th minute as Ozil lifted the ball over the Italy defence for Gomez, who rejected the chance to head the ball goalwards. He opted instead to bring the ball down before attempting to beat Buffon, but the Italian shot-stopper got a fingertip on the ball to tip it over the crossbar.

Italy drew level in the 78th minute as Florenzi swung a cross into the box which was flicked on by Giorgio Chiellini, Boateng jumped at the back of the Italy defender with both arms in the air ,the ball struck his arm and the referee didn’t hesitate in pointing to the spot for a penalty.

Bonucci stepped up to take the penalty kick and stroked the ball into the bottom right corner, Neuer guessed right but couldn’t get near the ball.

Two minutes from time and De Sciglio cut in off the left before he fired a low shot towards the near post. The ball got the best of the German goalkeeper but could only steer his effort into the side-netting, as the score remained 1-1 heading into extra-time.

In the fifth minute of extra-time Italian forward Graziano Pelle found Eder, who spread the ball out to De Sciglio on the right, who played a low ball into the box which was easily blocked by Hector.

At the other end, Kroos sent a ball to the back post which found Italian midfielder Parolo under no pressure, but he headed the ball behind for a corner.

Germany had a chance to take the lead as Schweinsteiger lifted the ball into the box and Barzagli could only head the ball straight up. Draxler, with his back to goal, got an over-head kick away but the ball sailed over the crossbar as the scores remain 1-1 in the 108th minute.

Germany broke forward through Draxler in the 110th minute as Muller was up in support and all Draxler has to do was roll the ball into his path to put him clear through on goal. However, at the crucial moment, Draxler got his pass all wrong, putting too much on it as the chance disappears.

It proved the final effort of regulation time, but with the scores still level after another 30 minutes, penalties ensued.

PHOTO: Reuters