EVIAN: Germany's younger generation can rightfully feel they are the ones to be trusted when the world champions line up for a Euro 2016 semi-final next week after they stood up to be counted in the country's first tournament victory over Italy on Saturday.

Coach Joachim Loew has remained loyal to the core of his World Cup-winning squad for much of the tournament but it was his emerging players who showed nerves of steel to secure a famous quarter-final victory in Bordeaux.

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In a nerve-wrecking 6-5 win on penalties, Germany missed more spot kicks in a matter of minutes than they had in their entire shootout history as some of Loew's most trusted servants surprisingly failed to find the target.

Mesut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller, who have played a combined 274 matches for Germany, all fluffed their lines but still lived to fight another day thanks to their team mates.

Central defender Mats Hummels is suspended for the game while Sami Khedira could be ruled out with an adductor muscle injury he picked up early on Saturday.

With several exciting prospects waiting in the wings of the tournament's youngest remaining squad, such as explosive winger Leroy Sane and midfielder Julian Weigl, both 20, Loew has a selection headache any coach would be delighted to suffer.