Left-back Jonas Hector scored the decisive spot-kick after the match had finished 1-1 after extra-time.

His was the 18^th penalty in the shootout with Simone Zaza, Graziano Pellè, Leonardo Bonucci and Matteo Darmian all missing for Italy.

Mesut Ozil, one of three Germans to miss from the spot along with Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger, had earlier put his country into a 65^th minute lead before Bonucci converted a penalty following a needless handball from Jerome Boateng.

Victory for Germany means they will now go on to face to winner of tomorrow’s match between France or Iceland with the semi-final scheduled to take place at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on Thursday (July 7).

The first-half was low on clear chances, however, Schweinsteiger did have a goal disallowed for a blantant push on Mattia De Sciglio after coming on for the injured Sami Khedira in the 16^th minute.

Italy arguably went the closest to breaking the deadlock before half-time when Stefano Sturaro's shot was deflected narrowly wide by Boateng.

Germany nearly made the breakthrough after the restart and, although Muller’s effort was acrobatically cleared off the line by Allessandro Florenzi, they did not have to wait much longer for Ozil’s opener which came 25 minutes from time.                 

Hector’s cut-back fell nicely into the Arsenal’s midfielder’s path via a deflection off Bonucci, and he was able to half-volley the ball into the bottom corner from close range. 

Mario Gómez played a key part in the goal, picking out Hector’s run, and he should have doubled his country’s advantage before limping off on 72 minutes.

The forward chested down Ozil’s lofted pass in the penalty area but saw his back-heeled effort palmed away superbly by Italy’s veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

The miss proved to be costly with Italy soon being given the chance to equalise from the penalty spot after Boateng inexplicably raised both hands in the air to block Florenzi’s cross.

Bonucci put away the first penalty of his career with assurance, evading the dive of Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to find the bottom right corner.  

Matters got worse for Germany in the 90^th minute when defender Mats Hummels received a second booking of the tournament for a trip on Éder, ruling him out of the semi-finals.

The match always looked destined to go to penalties in a fairly uneventful 30 minutes of extra-time and so it proved to be the case.

Italy's Lorenzo Insigne and Germany's Toni Kroos both netted after which Zaza, a late substitute for Giorgio Chiellini, blazed his over the crossbar and Muller saw his attempt saved by Buffon.

Andrea Barzagli scored for Italy before Ozil struck the post and Pellè dragged his effort tamely wide, allowing Julian Draxler to level the shootout at 2-2.

Neuer then saved Bonucci's second penalty of the night to give Schweinsteiger the opportunity to ensure Germany’s progression, but he blazed his attempt over the crossbar.

Six penalty takers all held their nerve in sudden death before Neuer saved Darmian's soft penalty to his left.

Hector then drove low under Buffon to move the world champions ever closer to a fourth European Championship crown.

Germany missed more penalties in one shootout than in their entire history, but they have still never lost a shootout since the 1976 European Championship final they lost to Czechoslovakia.

Muller was the first Germany player to miss a spot-kick since Uli Stielike at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.