Germany vs. Italy: Score, Reaction from 2016 International Friendly

Goals from Toni Kroos, Mario Gotze, Jonas Hector and Mesut Ozil handed Germany their first win over Italy in 21 years as manager Joachim Low's side prevailed 4-1 at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

Kroos opened the scoring midway through the first half with a curling finish from the edge of the box before Gotze made it two just before half-time.  

On an evening of total dominance for Germany, Hector sealed the friendly win in the second half with a smart finish following a great run from Julian Draxler before Ozil netted a penalty and Italy's Stephan El Shaarawy found a late consolation.

Both sides provided their respective starting lineups ahead of the match:

"

5 changes for #DieMannschaft. @mterstegen1, @MustafiOfficial, #Rudy, @MarioGoetze and #Draxler all come in. #GERITA pic.twitter.com/wFgbDrejAw

— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) March 29, 2016"

It was hardly an inspiring start to the game in Munich, neither side engineering a genuine chance or forcing a save of any note.

DW Sports indicated just how poor the first 20 minutes were:

However, the world champions sparked into life in the 24th minute, Thomas Muller advancing down the right and delivering a dangerous cross into the box before Kroos curled home a finish.

Leonardo Bonucci was partially at fault as his clearance of Muller's cross was not comprehensive enough and only went as far as Kroos on the edge of the box, but the Real Madrid midfielder's side-footed finish was expertly placed past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Muller almost doubled the hosts' lead four minutes later as he shot on target from the edge of the area, but Buffon was able to tip the effort over the bar for a corner.

Italy looked short of ideas in attack, their best opening of the half coming in the 37th minute when Simone Zaza almost caught Marc-Andre ter Stegen dawdling on the ball.

German football writer Stefan Bienkowski was fairly damning about the Azzurri's showing but predicted a brace of Italian goals in no time:

However, it was in fact the Germans who deservedly got the second goal of the match just before half-time, Gotze heading home from close range after Muller had clipped a ball into the box from the edge of the area.

Gotze showed great intent and skill to beat two Italy defenders to the ball, but it was a soft goal for the visitors to concede, via BT Sport Football:

It was more of the same after the break, although Italy did garner more of the possession, and Riccardo Montolivo poked a decent left-footed effort past the post.

Manager Antonio Conte's side could not get themselves back into the game, and they went 3-0 behind just before the hour after a surging run from Draxler down the left flank left the Italian defence in tatters.

The Wolfsburg star was released on goal after he exchanged a cheeky backheeled one-two with Gotze, and he then set up Hector to finish with ease from the edge of the box.

Per German football writer Cristian Nyari, it was impressive work from Draxler:

"

That was brilliant by Draxler. And that probably seals Hector's place at the EUROs and at LB. 3-0. #GERITA

— Cristian Nyari (@CrisNyari) March 29, 2016"

Things got worse for Italy when Buffon conceded a penalty after felling Sebastian Rudy in the box, and Ozil finished well from the spot.

El Shaarawy netted the consolation for the visitors in the 83rd minute, his shot on the turn from the edge of the box deflecting off Antonio Rudiger and looping over Ter Stegen.

But it was an emphatic and impressive win for the Germans and an excellent response after consecutive defeats to England and France.

Post-Match Reaction

Conte conceded after the drubbing that the match revealed a major gap in quality between his Italian side and the world champions, per Italy's Twitter feed: "We faced the best team in the world. It was an important game in terms of evaluating our team. There is a gap we need to close."

He also revealed that there are still decisions to be made ahead of the summer's Euro 2016: "Some of the players were tired from Friday. Some things we are sure of ahead of [the Euros], but some decisions still need to be made."

Low, meanwhile, hailed his side's defensive solidity in contributing to a fine win, per German outlet Das Erste (via DW Sports): "We have not won against Italy for a long time. We defended well."