Italy and Germany finish goalless in friendly at the San Siro
Italy and Germany played out a goalless friendly draw in Milan on Tuesday night in a repeat of their Euro 2016 quarterfinal.
Germany eventually came out on top in that summer meeting in Bordeaux, winning a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, but there was nothing to separate the two European superpowers this time.
Germany had the better of the first half, creating the best of the chances, while Italy went closest to victory in the second half with Andrea Belotti hitting the post, but neither side could find a winner.
Both countries fielded experimental sides -- Italy with a three-man attack composed of Eder, Ciro Immobile and Belotti and Germany with a three-man defence of Benedikt Howedes, Mats Hummels and Shkodran Mustafi -- although both were still stronger in terms of personnel than had been expected.
Leon Goretzka was one of the less experienced players in Germany's starting XI and he wasted the first chance in the 12th minute when he got in around the back of the Italy defence only to discover why Gianluigi Buffon is still rated as one of the best in the business.
The Italy No.1, 38, was earning his 167th cap, taking him level with Iker Casillas as Europe's most capped player, just over 19 years after he made his debut.
Immobile wasted Italy's first chance midway through the opening period when he latched onto Daniele De Rossi's excellent pass but sliced his shot, missing the target significantly with only Bernd Leno to beat.
Germany pushed again and shots from Ilkay Gundogan and Thomas Muller followed as they came closer than their hosts to opening the scoring in front of a crowd of around 50,000 at the San Siro.
Belotti had a claim for a penalty waved away early in the second half when he went down as he tried to pass Jonathan Tah.
Tah was punished with a yellow card for a foul on Eder which, unfortunately for Italy, was outside the penalty area, while another decision by the referee this time angered Germany as Kevin Volland's effort was ruled out for offside on the hour mark.
Federico Bernardeschi failed to provide the appropriate finish to a swift Italy break which saw him found by Immobile, but his weak shot was no problem for Leno.
Bernardeschi returned the favour for Immobile moments later, and he replicated the Fiorentina winger's finishing skills by sending the ball wide of Leno's post before Belotti went closer than anybody to breaking the deadlock, planting his shot against the left-hand post in the 82nd minute.
Game Information
Men's International Friendly News