Germany squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 against Italy on Sunday to earn a nerve-racking 5-4 aggregate victory and a spot in the Nations League last four.

The Germans shot out of the blocks and played their best first half in more than a decade with 16 efforts towards goal, Joshua Kimmich opening their account with a 30th minute penalty.

They then caught Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and the entire defence napping with a quickly taken Joshua Kimmich corner for unmarked Jamal Musiala to slot in their second in the 36th minute.

Tim Kleindienst added a third on the stroke of halftime.

It was a German mistake, however, that launched Italy’s comeback and allowed Moise Kean to cut the deficit four minutes after the restart. With the Germans a shadow of their earlier selves, Kean then beat defender Jonathan Tah in the 69th to make it 3-2.

Italy drew on the night with Giacomo Raspadori‘s stoppage-time penalty but could not find another goal to level the tie on aggregate as Germany prepare to face either Denmark or Portugal in the last four in June.