Making their third successive appearance beyond the UNL group stage, it was perhaps Italy’s experience on this stage which propelled them to an early lead.
Nicolo Barella released Matteo Politano, who got there just ahead of Oliver Baumann to play it across the area.
Jonathan Tah got a foot in the way, but he could only touch away as far as an arriving Sandro Tonali, who curved expertly past the lunging German defenders and into the net.
The stunned visitors continued to control possession, even testing Gianluigi Donnarumma through Leon Goretzka’s low drive, but they were repeatedly hit on the counter in the same way in which Italy opened the scoring.
Baumann made strong saves as both Tonali and Moise Kean broke away from the Germany defence, but the hosts ultimately had to settle for their only goal before half-time in their last six head-to-head matches.
And they were punished for failing to find a second, as Julian Nagelsmann’s decision to bring on Tim Kleindienst at the interval paid dividends.
The Borussia Monchengladbach target man rose to meet Kimmich’s deep cross and directed it past Donnarumma – his third strike in five Germany appearances.
A cagey spell followed, but Italy looked increasingly like they could take the lead again, with Kean firing over the top before Giacomo Raspadori was denied by Baumann.
Instead of restoring their advantage, however, Italy were suddenly on the wrong side of the scoreline 15 minutes from time, when Kimmich’s inswinging corner took a slight touch off Goretzka and crept into the net.
Chances came and went for Italy late on, but failing to find an equaliser means they now need to win a head-to-head for the first time since 2012 on Sunday to progress.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Joshua Kimmich (Germany)
