Italian Olympic Committee President
Giovanni Malagò said Thursday Italy would keep up their record
of beating Germany in major tournaments and said he had German
friends who were "terrified" of facing the Azzurri in Saturday's
Euro 2016 quarter-final in Bordeaux.
"I've spoken with German friends who are terrified," the
CONI chief said.
"It makes you recall that Germany never manages to beat us
in these tournaments," he said.
"Germany dominated the last World Cup but Italy is the
strongest team of all mentally, Italy has the group mentality".
Italy has beaten Germany 15 times in 33 games, with 10
draws and 8 defeats - but all the losses were in friendlies,
including the latest match, a 4-1 German win in March.
Three of Italy's best-known wins were in the World Cup - in
the 1970 and 2006 semi-finals and in the 1982 final.
German coach Joachim Loew said earlier this week that Italy
were not Germany's bogeyman.
"An Italy nightmare does not exist for Germany", he said.
"The past is a warmed-up cup of coffee".
"On Saturday we want to drink a just-made espresso".
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