Germans hope to break Italian jinx

Germany coach Joachim Loew insists the world champions have no Italian complex as they attempt to break their Azzurri curse in Saturday’s Euro 2016 quarterfinal.

In eight previous attempts, Germany has never beaten Italy in the finals of a major tournament and will need to make history Bordeaux to reach the semifinals.

German fans will at least take heart from a 4-1 rout of a lacklustre Italy in their most recent meeting in a friendly in March. But Loew knows Saturday’s clash with a place in the last four at stake will be an utterly different proposition. “We have no Italian trauma. We don’t have any fear of them, just trust in our own skills,” Loew said.

Loew has experienced Germany’s pain first hand as assistant manager when Italy spoiled their World Cup party on home soil in 2006 and four years ago when a Mario Balotelli double took the Azzurri to the final of Euro 2012 at Germany’s expense.