Germany attempt to throw off Italian shackles

Bordeaux, July 1 

Europe’s titans clash on Saturday when Germany and Italy meet in the quarterfinal with huge stakes for both countries.

Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is poised to make his first start in the Bordeaux match, while Italy’s veteran defender Daniele de Rossi faces a race to be fit.

Both the teams have talked up the respect factor and down played the significance of Italy winning the last-8 meetings at major tournaments. Joachim Loew’s Germany insists they have no ‘Italy trauma’ as they look to beat the Azzurri at the ninth attempt on a big stage and throw off their Italian shackles. Conte’s Italy has compared taking on the world champions as football’s equivalent of ‘climbing Everest’.

Italy have their own trauma after crashing out of the 2014 World Cup in the first round.

Both squads insist this will be their toughest test so far at the European Championship finals. — Reuters