Germans can’t explain shoot-out shambles

It was, seemingly, the semi-final that many people demanded.

Indeed, it would have had an enticing amount of dimensions swirling around it: Germany, England, a European semi-final, Warsaw.

Instead, Italy ensured that England were left to dwell on an even more familiar set of dimensions: death in the quarter-finals on penalties.

At Germany’s training base outside Gdansk yesterday, one of the heroes of the last time the two rivals met reflected on a recognisable story.

Andreas Koepke, who is now the German goalkeeping coach, famously saved Gareth Southgate’s penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final to send his team through to the final and, ultimately, victory. He couldn’t quite explain, though, why England still haven’t won a shoot-out since.

“I’m far too removed from England to pass judgment. It was all in their own hands. They were tragically unlucky and [Ashley] Young had a stinker with that penalty.”

Koepke said the German coaching staff all watched the England-Italy quarter-final together and were “taken by surprise” by how well Roy Hodgson’s side played at the start. “But after around 60 minutes,” Koepke also said, “they had nothing to add.”

Like everyone else, the goalkeeper was hugely impressed with Andrea Pirlo’s penalty, which dominated discussion for long periods of Germany’s press conference.

“That definitely was cheeky, especially as Italy were one down. As a keeper, you don’t reckon that anyone would ever dare score a penalty like that. Pirlo had a very good match. He seized command, especially when the English started to be beaten by their own fatigue.”

As for the man who faced down Pirlo, Koepke had only praise.

“England have an excellent keeper [in Joe Hart], which hasn’t necessarily been the case on previous occasions.”

He didn’t, however, include Hart in his top band of number ones when pressed later on.

“[Iker] Casillas, [Gigi] Buffon and Manuel [Neuer] are the three best keepers in the world. There is nothing between them.”

German playmaker Mesut Ozil, meanwhile, was a bit more generous to Hodgson’s team. “As far as England are concerned, they’ve played a very good tournament. They were slightly inferior against Italy and that was visible in the game. But they have improved too.”

Not in penalties, though.