Italy's Montolivo ready for 'special' Germany clash

Jun 27, 2012 10:45:00 AM

The AC Milan-bound midfielder is willing to risk upsetting his German mother by helping the Azzurri beat Joachim Low's in-form side in Thursday's semi-final showdown

Riccardo Montolivo says he is looking forward to facing Germany and insists that he will not be deterred from taking a penalty if need be despite his miss in the Euro 2012 shoot-out win over England.

The 27-year-old came in as a replacement for the injured Thiago Motta in the quarter-final and played the full 120 minutes before botching his spot-kick in the shoot-out.

Speaking to reporters, Montolivo said Thursday's semi-final encounter with Germany will be extra special for him as his mother is German and he speaks the language fluently.

"It's going to be a very special game for me," the 27-year-old stated in a press conference ahead of the match.

"My mother is 60 per cent Germany fan and 40 per cent Italy fan.

"I have a few [German] character traits - maybe my coolness, but not while taking penalties!"

The new AC Milan midfielder, who sports a German flag on one of his shinpads, vowed that despite missing against England, if needed, he will step forward to take a spot-kick again.

"I felt terrible after missing my penalty, it was really a tough moment but fortunately it ended well - we are lucky to have a goalkeeper like [Gianluigi] Buffon," he said.

“If we go to penalties again then definitely I would go back on to the spot to take one. Only people who never shoot never miss."

Germany's last-four encounter with Cesare Prandelli's men will get under way at 20:45CET in Warsaw's National Stadium.

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