Manuel Neuer assures Germany “have changed and have a different mentality,” so can finally end their Italy taboo at Euro 2016.
The quarter-final kicks off tonight in Bordeaux at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
“Every now and then I remember Mario Balotelli in that pose,” the goalkeeper told La Gazzetta dello Sport, referring to the striker’s Euro 2012 goal.
Manuel Neuer assures Germany “have changed and have a different mentality,” so can finally end their Italy taboo at Euro 2016.
The quarter-final kicks off tonight in Bordeaux at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
“Every now and then I remember Mario Balotelli in that pose,” the goalkeeper told La Gazzetta dello Sport, referring to the striker’s Euro 2012 goal.
“Our papers still publish that photograph today. We were coming off four consecutive victories in that tournament, but some individual errors decided the defeat.
“We were incapable of reacting to the double blow of Balotelli’s brace. Joachim Löw confessed he got the strategy wrong, but the blame always has to be shared out.
“In 2012 I was accustomed to defeat, unfortunately. I’d just lost the Champions League Final with Bayern Munich, so that was a bad summer for me.”
Since then, Germany have won the 2014 World Cup and Neuer feels their confidence has grown.
“The team is similar to how it was in 2012, but much more mature. Italy have changed a great deal. After our success in Brazil, we have a different mentality.
“The great thing about football is that it always gives you another chance to make up for past mistakes. Let’s make the most of it.”