epa05404547 Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon of Italy (L) and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer of Germany react prior the penalty shoot out during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between Germany and Italy at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France, 02 July 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.)  EPA/VASSIL DONEV   EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Bayern’s Manuel Neuer made the decisive save from Matteo Darmian (Picture: Getty)

Manuel Neuer was the hero for Germany as the world champions edged an epic quarter final against Italy, winning 6-5 on penalties.

A first half stalemate gave way to a far more open second period in which Germany began to turn the screw on Antonio Conte’s side, who failed to hit the heights they reached in the previous round against Spain.

Thomas Muller had one effort deflected wide by an incredible clearance from Alessandro Florenzi before Mesut Ozil took matters into his own hands, arriving with immaculate timing to sweep home Mario Gomez’s deflected cross with 25 minutes remaining.

Germany’s lead lasted only 13 minutes, however, when Jerome Boateng inexplicably handled in his own penalty area and Leonardo Bonucci tucked away the resulting penalty with consummate ease.

Extra time failed to produce a winner and after an error-strewn shootout which saw some appalling misses, most notably from Graziano Pelle and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany eventually edged through once Manuel Neuer saved Matteo Darmian’s spot kick and Jonas Hector blasted his effort underneath Gianluigi Buffon. Here’s how they all rated…