Italy's Mario Balotelli scored two superb first-half goals to
steer his team to a 2-1 victory over favourites Germany today and
into the Euro 2012 final where they will meet holders Spain.
The unpredictable forward struck twice in 16 minutes to silence
critics with a glorious performance that snapped Germany's 15-match
winning streak in competitive games.
The victory sets up an unexpected final in Kiev on Sunday with the
world and European champions with whom the Italians drew 1-1 in the
group stage of the tournament.
Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil converted a penalty in added time
after Federico Balzaretti had handled in the area but Italy held on
for the victory.
The distraught Germans are now without a win against the Italians
in all eight of their tournament meetings since their first half a
century ago.
"I'll say only that when one talks about Italy everyone needs to be
very careful," said Italy's coach Cesare Prandelli. "We have played
an extraordinary game. We have given an example of how to show
grace and an attachment to the shirt."
Asked about Balotelli's performance he added: "He's brilliant, but
this was a team effort. We played a fantastic game against a really
good side."
"We did those things that put the opponents in difficulty. The
career of Mario Balotelli has only just begun."
Huge Dispointment
Germany coach Joachim Loew said: "We had two goals against us in
the first half and it was difficult. The team showed a lot of heart
after that. We had our chances in the second half, if we had got
the goal sooner it would have been a different match.
"It's very difficult against a team like Italy to fall behind 2-0.
They defend with everything they have.
"The disappointment is huge for everyone but we shouldn't make the
mistake and question everything. We've got to see how we can do
better in the future."
Germany had almost fallen behind in the opening minutes when a Sami
Khedira back header found Antonio Cassano who slipped it through
for Balotelli but he was caught by keeper Manuel Neuer.
Cassano, whose career was in serious doubt after heart surgery late
last year, was back to his creative best, slicing open a Germany
defence with pinpoint passes while also causing constant problems
for Germany right back Jerome Boateng.
Andrea Pirlo rescued the Italians in the fifth minute when Mats
Hummels met a Bastian Schweinsteiger corner only to see his effort
cleared by the Italy playmaker almost on the line.
The Italians, as their coach Cesare Prandelli had assured, did not
give up their offensive game in favour of a more conservative
approach and kept going forward.
They forced two good saves from Neuer before Balotelli struck in
the 20th minute. Cassano swirled past Boateng and Hummels to glide
over a smooth left-footed cross and the 21-year-old Italy striker
drilled in a header top open the scoring.
Balotelli, long criticised for not realising his full potential and
for his off-the-pitch antics, stepped up again in the 36th when the
German defence was caught napping by a deep Riccardo Montolivo
cross and the forward thundered in an unstoppable shot after a deft
first touch.
Germany coach Joachim Loew decided to add some pace to his team
with Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus coming on at the start of the
second half and they quickly took control of the game.
Fired on by constant chanting from the more than 15,000 Germany
fans in the National Stadium they poured forward and came close
when Buffon, at full stretch, tipped a Reus free kick onto the
bar.
With time running out, however, the Germans grew impatient and
mistakes started to add up as Italy lurked on the break with
Claudio Marchisio twice seeing his efforts sail narrowly wide and
substitute Antonio Di Natale also wasting a good chance.
With time running out Germany pushed players forward and put the
Italian defence under more and more pressure with their efforts
finally paying off as Balzaretti clumsily handled in the box but
Ozil's goal from the spot came too late.