Villarreal star Giuseppe Rossi scored a late leveller as Italy claimed a 1-1 draw with Germany in Dortmund.
Germany pegged back in Dortmund
Villarreal star Giuseppe Rossi scored a late leveller as Italy claimed a 1-1 draw with Germany in Dortmund.
Joachim Low's side had looked on course for victory after the ubiquitous Miroslav Klose scored just 16 minutes in.
But second-half substitute Rossi made sure Italy avoided defeat with his goal just ten minutes from time.
Mesut Ozil set the ball rolling for the opening goal with a neat backheel to Thomas Muller, who entered the penalty area and squared to Klose. Gianluigi Buffon got his foot to the Germany striker's shot but was unable to keep it out.
Two minutes later, Ozil created another chance for Klose, who found himself with only Buffon to beat but he shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Germany were dominating and Lukas Podolski shot just inches wide from 30 yards in the 23rd minute.
Reaction
Italy's reaction came in the final 10 minutes of the first half with Daniele De Rossi volleying straight at Manuel Neuer from 16 yards after being found by Giorgio Chiellini.
The Azzurri then had two strong penalty appeals waved away by the referee.
First Antonio Cassano went down under pressure from Per Mertesacker inside the penalty area and then, after some excellent work by Cassano to open up the Germany defence, Mattia Cassani's shot appeared to be handled by Dennis Aogo.
Italy carried on where they left off in the second half with substitute Marco Borriello seeing his shot saved by Neuer.
The Roma striker then had an even better chance to beat Neuer, but the Schalke goalkeeper made a fine one-handed save low to his left to deny him. Italy's persistence was rewarded in the 81st minute as half-time substitute Rossi scored the equaliser.
Domenico Criscito sent the Villarreal forward through and he held off Mertesacker and kept his concentration to beat Neuer at the second attempt. Germany responded immediately with Sami Khedira testing Buffon, but they were unable to find a way through.
