Video: Germany missed three penalties but still managed to defeat Italy in the shootout

Germany and penalty shootouts go back a long way.

They've only lost a penalty shootout once and that was in the final of the Euro 1976.

To rub it in further, they had never missed a spot-kick in a shootout since 1982.

But this time against Italy on Saturday in the Euro 2016 quarters, they almost made a meal of it. The shootout only occurred after 120 minutes of gritty action. In terms of entertainment value, it might have fallen short of the Wales-Belgium clash, but if you were looking for tactics and strategy, this was the ultimate.

The first goal only arrived an hour into the game from the twinkle-toed Mesut Ozil who stormed in to break the deadlock.

And Germany could have got a second, but they met a rock in the name of Gianluigi Buffon who pulled off an inch-perfect reflex save against Mario Gomez.

A few minutes, Germany gifted Italy a goal on a platter. Or to be more exact, Jerome Boateng did, flapping his arms around in the penalty box with the result being Italy gifted a penalty. Leonardo Benucci had no trouble putting Italy back into the game.

And finally after an excruciating 120 minutes, it went to penalties. Just like Germany would have wanted, right?

Wrong. In a shambolic penalty shootout, Italy missed three of their first five penalties. Incredibly enough, so did Germany, breaking a record of never missing a spot-kick in a shootout since 1982.

It looked like it would boil down to who would be worse. And tragically, it was Italy, after fighting so bravely, who blinked first. After more than fifteen kicks and the scores tied 5-5, Manuel Neur, Germany's goal-keeper dived low to keep Matteo Darmian's shot. It was up to Buffon again and though he got some fingers on Jonas Hector's fierce shot, it was not enough as the ball careened into the net, giving Germany yet another victory in a shootout.