Germany ended a 21-year wait for a victory over Italy courtesy of a 4-1 triumph at the Allianz Arena this evening.
It was a winless run that dated back seven encounters, but goals from Toni Kroos, Mario Gotze, Jonas Hector and Mesut Ozil finally earned the bragging rights for the world champions over their European rivals in emphatic style.
It was largely one-way traffic during the opening 45 minutes in Munich, with Hector, Thomas Muller and Julian Draxler all calling Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon into action.
However, the veteran of 156 senior international caps could do nothing to prevent the hosts from breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute. A low Muller cross from the right was cleared only as far as Kroos and from 20 yards out, the creative midfielder passed the ball inside Buffon's upright to score a second goal in consecutive outings for his country.
The goal sparked a period of domination for Germany, yet it was not until the final minute of the half that they doubled their advantage. Muller was again the creator with a floated cross towards the back post, which Gotze nodded across Buffon and into the far corner.
It was a more attack-minded Italian side that emerged for the second half and they should have been back in the contest in the 48th minute when Riccardo Montolivo found himself with time and space inside the Germany area. Yet, from all of eight yards, the midfielder prodded wide of the target.
That miss was then duly punished in the 59th minute by a third German goal. Draxler weaved his way past three Italian opponents, exchanged passes with Gotze and then rolled the ball into the path of Hector, who had the simple task of finding the net from close range.
The night then got even worse for Italy and Buffon 15 minutes from time when the keeper brought down Sebastian Rudy as he bore down on goal. With Muller having been substituted, the responsibility from 12 yards was passed to Ozil and the Arsenal man duly fired in his 19th goal for Die Mannschaft.
The final say on proceedings went the way of the Italians when substitute Stephan El Shaarawy saw his deflected strike fly in, but it did little to disguise the fact that Antonio Conte's men had been well beaten.
Liam Apicella
