MILAN, Italy (Reuters) – World champions Germany and Italy played out an entertaining goalless draw in their friendly international on Tuesday with both sides missing a string of chances in their final match of the year. The Germans, who beat Italy twice this year including in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals following a penalty shootout, were without half a dozen key players – with Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil and Jerome Boateng all missing. In a game which marked Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon earning his 167th cap – equalling the European record – the hosts dominated the encounter but Germany also had their share of chances. Italy’s biggest chance came eight minutes from the end with Andrea Belotti hitting the post with a low shot.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Reuters
