In a friendly match played on the sidelines of the first-leg play-offs for the 2014 World Cup, Germany and Italy faced each other in Milan, resulting in a 1-1 draw in a game that lived up to the usual intensity between these two European powerhouses.
The decisive moments unfolded in the first half of the match. In the 8th minute, Matt Hummels put Germany ahead, establishing a slight dominance for the Mannschaft. However, Italy responded promptly, with Ignacio Abate equalizing. Following a corner, Hummels cleared the ball with his head, but it fell to the feet of the Milan defender, who managed to deceive Manuel Neuer and find the back of the net. The 1-1 scoreline persisted until the end of the match, showcasing a balanced and competitive encounter between two football heavyweights.