Two of the biggest giants in world football rekindled their competitive rivalry Saturday in Bordeaux, as Germany and Italy met in the quarterfinals of Euro 2016.The two countries have combined to win eight World Cups and four European championships. Germany and Italy have also looked like two of the strongest teams this summer in France.The Germans won Group C with seven points and easily dispatched Slovakia in the round of 16. Six points was enough for Italy to claim the top spot in Group E, and the Azzurri knocked out reigning champion Spain with a decisive 2-0 win.On paper, Germany vs. Italy was the most highly anticipated fixture of the quarterfinal stage, and the winner will likely be considered the odds-on favorite to win the tournament.Below are the schedule for the remaining fixtures at Euro 2016 and the odds for each remaining country.Quarterfinal ResultsOddsGermany End Winless Streak Against ItalyGermany and Italy had previously met eight times in major international tournaments, with the Germans failing to register a win. Most recently, they clashed in the semifinals at Euro 2012, with a Mario Balotelli brace putting the Italians through to the final.On Saturday, Germany finally got the better of their European rivals. Matteo Darmian missed for Italy in the penalty shootout, and Jonas Hector tucked his penalty just under a diving Gianluigi Buffon to seal the win.According to the Times' Rory Smith, Buffon was hard on himself after the final penalty kick:It's doubtful anyone will remember the shootout fondly. Seven players missed their kicks:The match didn't come to life until Mesut Ozil put the Germans ahead 1-0 in the 65th minute. The Arsenal midfielder found himself in the right place at the right time to finish off a deflected pass from Hector just outside the six-yard box.The Times' Henry Winter praised the work thatOzil did leading up to the goal:Germany's advantage didn't last long. In the 78th minute, Jerome Boateng surrendered a penalty for an obvious handball inside the 18-yard box. As BBC's Match of the Day noted, Boateng left the referee with little choice but to point to the spot:Leonardo Bonucci leveled the match in the 78th minute on his first-ever professional penalty in regular or extra time, per OptaPaolo.Neither Germany nor Italy broke the deadlock in the remaining 12 minutes or the 30 minutes of extra time, and the Germans played to type in the penalty shootout. According to ESPN FC, they're unbeaten in their last six shootouts at major tournaments.Germany will now face off with either Iceland or France in the semifinals. Both opponents present an intriguing matchup in terms of narrative.Despite their lofty place in world football, the French and Germans have rarely met in major tournaments. They last played each other at the 2014 World Cup, which was their first meeting since the 1986 World Cup. Iceland vs. Germany, meanwhile, would be the ultimate David vs. Goliath match, and an Iceland win would be one of the most shocking results in the sport's history.Hosts Take on Underdog IcelandTo a certain extent, Iceland present the worst-case scenario for France.The hosts have struggled to break down defensive sides throughout the tournament. They needed an 89th-minute goal fromDimitri Payet to beat Romania, and Antoine Griezmann scored in the 90th minute to provide the go-ahead score against Albania. France didn't dominate against the Republic of Ireland in the round of 16, either.Unfortunately for France, Iceland have excelled defensively at Euro 2016. Ragnar Sigurdsson in particular has earned praise from those who were unfamiliar with his work at FC Krasnodar. Goal's Ives Galarcep wondered if Sigurdsson will parlay his success in the tournament to his club career:Unlike England, though, France won't be caught off guard by the quality of the Icelandic back four. The secret is out about Iceland, and nobody will take them lightly anymore."They are a very strong team with heart and have the quality to create good set pieces," said French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, per Marca. "We've studied them and will not be surprised on Sunday. You have to be wary of all teams because there have been surprises in the tournament."The key for France will be to score early. While England didn't benefit from Wayne Rooney's fourth-minute penalty, the French shouldn't suffer a similar problem in the event they go ahead in the first half. They're a better overall side than England and shouldn't succumb to the same mental lapses that hurt the Three Lions.In general, hosting an international tournament can be a blessing or a curse.Two of France's three major tournament winsEuro 1984 and World Cup 1998came when they were the hosts. Les Bleus are well aware how valuable the groundswell of positivity created by home fans can be in crucial matches.Of course, when things go wrong, playing on home soil can be a massive weight on the players' shoulders. Brazil wilted under the pressure at the 2014 World Cup, and their 7-1 defeat to Germany left scars that are still being felt today.The longer France go scoreless, the more their frustration may grow on the pitch. And that frustration could transfer over to the supporters in Saint-Denis, who will expect nothing less than a victory in the semifinal.Note: Euro 2016 odds are courtesy of Oddschecker and up to date as of 7:25 p.m. ET on Saturday night.
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