Despite missing more penalties in one shootout than it had done in 40 years of taking spot-kicks after extra time, Germany still managed to end its curse against Italy.
Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger all missed in Saturday's shootout after the sides finished 1-1 following extra time in their European Championship quarterfinal.
Fortunately, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer spared their blushes with two saves as Italy missed four spot-kicks and Germany went on to win 6-5, securing the team's first competitive victory over the Azzurri at the ninth attempt.
"It was a war of nerves," Neuer said.
Only two German players had ever missed in a tournament shootout before — Uli Hoeness as West Germany lost the 1976 European Championship final 5-3 to Czechoslovakia, and Uli Stielike as West Germany defeated France 5-4 in the 1982 World Cup semifinal.
It was a dramatic shootout in Bordeaux, featuring 18 spot kicks with neither side striking a decisive blow before it went to 'sudden death.' "I've never experienced a penalty shootout like it before. It went on for ages. I'm not sure how many penalties there were exactly," Neuer said.
There had been a penalty beforehand too, scored by leonardo Bonucci in the 78th minute to cancel out Ozil's opener from 13 minutes before.
With extra time almost at an end, Italy coach Antonio Conte brought on penalty specialist Simone Zaza on for Giorgio Chiellini, but the move backfired when he missed after an unconventional trot up to the ball.
Then Mueller's curious failure to score at a European Championship came back to haunt him when his effort was saved by Italy veteran Gianluigi Buffon.
Andrea Barzagli scored before Ozil struck the post, leaving Italy with a 2-1 lead. Then Graziano Pelle dragged his effort wide and Julian Draxler equalized to make it 2-2.
Germany had the advantage when Neuer saved Bonucci's spot kick. "I didn't want to let Bonucci score a second time," Neuer said.
But German celebrations were cut short when Schweinsteiger, who could have sealed victory by converting his spot-kick, struck his effort well over.
Neither side missed their next three penalties. Then Neuer saved Matteo Darmian's spot kick, paving the way for Jonas Hector to be the hero with the winning shot.