This was a real test for the  Germans; the first time they had trailed in a competitive match for 1,313 minutes, or 22 hours, dating back to the third-place game at the 2010 World Cup.

Sami Khedira did force Gianluigi Buffon to make one of a number of fine saves, but when Riccardo Montolivo picked out Balotelli from deep inside his own half with a terrific diagonal ball in the 36th minute another goal followed. Balotelli took full advantage of the fact that Philipp Lahm had played him on side by beating Manuel Neuer for a second time with a stunning strike.

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