Italy Beats England In Penalty Shootout To Advance To Euro 2012 Semifinals (PHOTOS)

Italy players celebrate after Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty shootout during Euro 2012 quarterfinal match against England in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

KIEV, Ukraine — After two hours of clever, often dominating but in the end fruitless play, Italy found the answer against England.

Penalty kicks.

Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive kick Sunday to send Italy through to the European Championship semifinals with a 4-2 win in the shootout following a 0-0 tie with England.

Italy will next play Germany in the semifinals on Thursday in Warsaw, Poland. Defending champion Spain plays Portugal on Wednesday in Donetsk, Ukraine.

"We deserved this victory," Diamanti said. "The penalties rewarded our dominance during the match. It's only fair, we played a great match and battled from the first to the last minute."

But not until penalties by Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo – with an audacious slow chip-shot down the middle of the goal – and Antonio Nocerino did the Azzurri find the net. Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney scored England's penalties.

The difference: Ashley Young hit the crossbar with England's third, and Ashley Cole's attempt was saved by Gianluigi Buffon.

For England, it was yet another exit from a major tournament in the quarterfinals after a penalty shootout. England lost to Portugal in the same manner at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.

"It's obviously a hard way to go out," England striker Wayne Rooney said. "And it's maybe happened too many times now."

England briefly led the shootout after Riccardo Montolivo missed Italy's second penalty. His shot went wide of Joe Hart's right post as the England goalkeeper guessed correctly.

Rooney then sent Buffon the wrong way, firing in his spot kick to the keeper's right to give England a 2-1 lead.

The momentum shifted after Pirlo's bold piece of skill leveled it 2-2.

"I just saw that the goalkeeper was moving a bit earlier so I decided to play it the other way," Pirlo said. "It just comes to you at that moment and it went well."

Not for England.

"We have done the country proud, but again we go home with heartbreak and it's difficult to take," said Gerrard, who played in both those previous shootout losses.

The match ended 0-0 after 120 minutes of play. The Italians twice hit the post, but were also let down by poor composure in front of the net. Diamanti clipped the post with a curling cross in the 101st minute, and swept a shot wide in the clearest chance of the second period of extra time.

Nocerino, another substitute, thought he had scored from Diamanti's cross in the 115th but was offside.

Daniele De Rossi hit the post in the third minute, and Buffon saved a shot from Glen Johnson in the fifth.

The first scoreless match at Euro 2012 was neither dull nor lacking good soccer.

Italy's attacking desire and creativity under coach Cesare Prandelli had playmaker Pirlo at its heart. Italy had 35 shots, compared to only nine for England.

An intriguing match almost demanded that Balotelli take center stage. The Italy forward ran clear in the 25th, but hesitated and allowed John Terry to block his chipped shot.

Balotelli forced Hart, his teammate at Manchester City, to save an acrobatic shot, then surged between England's central defenders before putting a half-volley over the crossbar. He kicked the goal post in frustration.

Italy continued surging in the second half and De Rossi, taking a ball over his shoulder, scuffed his shot wide. De Rossi sank to his knees in obvious exasperation, and more Italian frustration quickly followed.

Three rapid-fire chances in the 52nd saw Hart beat away De Rossi's long-range shot, block Balotelli's follow-up and watch Montolivo lash the loose ball high.

England coach Roy Hodgson had to react to Italy's dominance, and sent on substitutes Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott, who both scored in a 3-2 win over Sweden.

Carroll's muscular presence created a shooting chance for Young, but England still failed to convince. Rooney made little impression after an early diving header.

De Rossi was replaced by Nocerino and the substitute threatened in the 89th. He took another crafty pass from Pirlo on the run, but Johnson tracked back to block.

Deep into injury time, Italian defensive jitters created a chance for Rooney but his overhead kick sailed high.

Then it was on to penalties. And Diamante's heroics.

"Getting to this point is a huge satisfaction," Diamanti said. "I always believed I would, even when I played in the inter-regional division – I just never told anyone, because they would have thought I was crazy."

___

Lineups:

England: Joe Hart, Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, John Terry, Ashley Cole, James Milner (Theo Walcott, 61), Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker (Jordan Henderson, 94), Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck (Andy Carroll, 60).

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, Ignazio Abate (Christian Maggio, 90), Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, Federico Balzaretti, Daniele De Rossi (Antonio Nocerino, 80), Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano (Alessandro Diamanti, 78).

Loading Slideshow

• Italy vs. England

  Italian players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Antonio Cassano, center, and teammates celebrate after winning the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, right, and Alessandro Diamanti celebrate after Diamanti scored the decisive penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Ashley Cole looks down after missing his penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England goalkeeper Joe Hart hugs Italy's Mario Balotelli after the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England players react after losing the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England goalkeeper Joe Hart fails to save the decisive shot in the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Ashley Young, left, and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon react after Young failed to score in the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, left, and Alessandro Diamanti celebrate after Diamanti scored the decisive penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Ashley Young misses his penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Referee Pedro Proenca of Portugal, left, speaks with England goalkeeper Joe Hart after Italy won the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Alessandro Diamanti celebrates after scoring the decisive penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England players watch the penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy players react directly after winning the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  English players stand dejected after the penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Alessandro Diamanti, third right, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, second right, celebrate winning the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Glen Johnson stands dejected after the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England manager Roy Hodgson, center and Steven Gerrard, right, greet Italy's Alessandro Diamanti who scored the decisive penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  English players stand dejected after the penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Alessandro Diamanti, left, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon celebrate winning the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England goalkeeper Joe Hart fails to save the decisive shot in the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Ashley Young looks up after missing his penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon makes a save in the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Alessandro Diamanti celebrates after scoring the decisive penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Wayne Rooney reafts after losing the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy players celebrate after Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Wayne Rooney, left, and Theo Walcott react after losing the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Andrea Pirlo scores in a penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy players celebrate after Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Alessandro Diamanti, left, and teammates celebrate after Diamanti scored in the decisive penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Wayne Rooney reacts after losing the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Ashley Young, left, is comforted by assistant coach Gary Neville as England manager Roy Hodgson looks on during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Alessandro Diamanti, left, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, second left, celebrate with teammates after winning the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reacts after making a save in the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Alessandro Diamanti, left, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon celebrate after winning the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Alessandro Diamanti scores in the decisive penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Riccardo Montolivo reacts after missing in the penalty shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Steven Gerrard reacts after scoring in the penalthy shootout during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Wayne Rooney, left, and Steven Gerrard prepare for the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Claudio Marchisio, front, and England goalkeeper Joe Hart react after an Italy goal was disallowed during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Joleon Lescott claims offside after Italy's Antonio Nocerino, left, scored a disallowed goal past England goalkeeper Joe Hart, right, during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

• Italy vs. England

  England goalkeeper Joe Hart, left, and Italy's Mario Balotelli react after Italy scored a disallowed goal in the extra-time of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy's Antonio Nocerino scores a goal that was disallowed during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy coach Cesare Prandelli shouts during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  English players claim off-side after Italy's Antonio Nocerino, center, scored a disallowed goal in the extra-time of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England's Scott Parker pulls Italy's Mario Balotelli during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 25, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  England goalkeeper Joe Hart, left, deflects a shot by Italy's Antonio Nocerino, right, during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, June 24, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy coach Cesare Prandelli approaches to hug Andrea Barzagli, right, during the break before the extra-time of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, June 24, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, right, talks with coach Cesare Prandelli during break before extra-time at the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, June 24, 2012.

• Italy vs. England

  Italy forward Mario Balotelli warms up prior to the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, June 24, 2012.

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Comments

[gutenmorgen]

09:32 AM on 06/27/2012

The Italian left forward leaves the field of play consistently and illegally. The rules on leaving the pitch are fairly well defined for soccer. It does not matter whether he does that deliberately or accidentally, the linesman on his side must give him a warning. If he persists the referee must get involved.
Can this player get any advantage from being outside the pitch? I can think of one. When he is off the pitch he does not participate in plays hence cannot be off-side.

[ayunolobo]

06:16 AM on 06/27/2012

What time does the Germany vs Italy match start on Thursday.

[HEXYEBO]

11:47 PM on 06/25/2012

the way Italians played again an extremely weak Brit team, Germany will annihilate them.

[BPSPaul]

06:32 PM on 06/25/2012

Is there a more stupid way to end a game?

[HEXYEBO]

11:46 PM on 06/25/2012

Yes. Many. You just have no imagination

[Siba]

03:32 PM on 06/25/2012

Germany Italy game should be a battle. I think there is some bad blood between them. I heard that the Germans think the Italians play dirty.

[Michael GE]

09:45 AM on 06/26/2012

No, no bad blood. From the German perspective it's just that Germany never managed to beat Italy in one of the major tournaments (see 2006 when they beat us during the WC IN Germany to eventually claiming the championship).
So, it's to beat one of those football statistics/ history superstitions, like Spain did when they (for the first time) beat France. On the other hand, England usually/always doesn't manage since more than half a century at least to win in the knock-out stages against any (former) World or Euro Champion ... and ofc they never win on penalties ;)). (Hence, it's beyond me why they obviously tried to play Italy to a draw and a decision on penalties ... :))) ... maybe they got tired that the official photo heralding the English team was the one showing Lampard, hands behind the head looking in disbelieve, and wanted to exchange that with the one of Hart in midair looking at "the spoon" of Pirlo until 2014)

[OutAtFirst]

02:48 PM on 06/25/2012

I don't think I would have had the nerve to take the penalty shot that Pirlo took.

[Jesusocialist]

01:32 PM on 06/25/2012

Can we finally stop pretending that England is a top tier team?

[Michael GE]

10:11 AM on 06/26/2012

What I find amazing, even a little bit showcasing the problem England has in tournaments, are these:
A) The status Rooney enjoys. I mean, look at all the other strikers, even those of (most) teams defeated in group stage. You see them and immediately you have a bad conscious that you should tomorrow again run some extra kilometers or spend 20 minutes more for your workout at the gym at least trying to offset the wine and food you had while watching the game. ... And then you see Rooney and think: "Obviously, physical shape is overrated". ;)
B) There are even now (when I read the comments at Guardian, Telegraph) many England supporters who think that 1-10-0 system is the way England should play. That it's "the English style". Hey, that means England and Greece (more or less exclusively) play the same style/ system. How than could English supporters/ media make any differences about the chances Greece has in a major tournament compared to the Three Lion's chances?
And you have to give credit to the Greek team: At least they managed to create a real goal in regular time with a break break-away run and cooperation of two players. Even being presented the same situation, Rooney would hardly have been past the center of the field at the time Salpingidis already crossed over to Samaras.

[Aleks Rodriguez]

12:53 PM on 06/25/2012

Every thread about footy is the same. Some Americans putting the sport down, calling it girly, blah blah when the two most popular sports in the US are full of fat guys who are supposedly "athletes".

Anyway, England have no midfield. Since the first match they played I knew they were done.

Spain aren't impressing much either, they are missing Villa a lot. They basically won the World Cup because he saved their butts scoring key goals early on and in the knockout rounds.

I'd put money on Germany right now.

[HEXYEBO]

11:49 PM on 06/25/2012

Volk... I mean, bandwagen.

[gutenmorgen]

12:41 PM on 06/25/2012

The major problem of Italy's team is that it does not have a Ronaldo.

[rooneyshair]

12:50 PM on 06/25/2012

We (the German Team) need to take out Pirlo and this crazy_guy from Manchester City, then all will be cool.
We can score 3 or 4 goals with our_Blitzkrieg football, they won't outscore us, even if we are not 100% in the defense (Boateng is reckless sometimes).

[er2blu]

12:33 PM on 06/25/2012

Who cares it's only soccer

[uk progressive]

12:38 PM on 06/25/2012

It's not soccer but football, the worlds game.

[rooneyshair]

12:46 PM on 06/25/2012

It's Football, played with a ball using the foot.

Not to be confused with the game of American Handegg, which is called Football for no reason, but played with an egg shaped ball using the hands.

[uk progressive]

12:12 PM on 06/25/2012

Oh well never mind there's always Wimbledon, c'mon andy you can do it! LOL.

[Craig Robert Ambrose]

12:10 PM on 06/25/2012

Okay, first half was interesting but then one must tire of seeing chances wasted by poor finishing attempts. How can one stand watching England play the way they did especially after the first half? Is that really the team representing the same country that gives fans the exciting smash and grab EPL? Extra time was a waste of time as England stopped challenging the ball until the last third and Italy just quite literally walked the ball up to England's box. It was as if both teams wanted to save their energy for the next match. England's strategy was way to conservative. Saved them any embarrassment in a score line but definitely not a side influenced by the likes of Klinsmann. Where was the counter attacking? Rooney? Gerrard? England's shop never really opened for business yesterday.

[Michael GE]

10:15 AM on 06/26/2012

"... not a side influenced by the likes of Klinsmann" Uhm, will there not be a friendly against the US for the English team this year?

[uk progressive]

11:35 AM on 06/25/2012

England were outclassed in all departments and the best team won, I have a sneaking feeling that Portugal can win this thing and I backed them at the start at 18/1 £20.

[rooneyshair]

11:44 AM on 06/25/2012

You should have bet your money on Germany.

[uk progressive]

11:48 AM on 06/25/2012

We'll See but I couldn't bring myself to back Germany knowing we(England) could have played them in the knockout stages.

[brokenleoheart]

11:10 AM on 06/25/2012

was one of the most amazing matches i've ever watched. almost had a heart attack.
viva' italia!!!!!!!!!!

[HEXYEBO]

11:50 PM on 06/25/2012

First 5 minutes were interesting and then it was snooze until penalties.

[Siba]

10:37 AM on 06/25/2012

Italy players seemed to have more intelligence, more individual technical skill and more precise passing. This allowed them to calmly move around 3 or 4 England players and find an outlet pass.
Italy also had more chances at scoring but it is hard to score against a team that has good organized defenders that have decided to make two lines of 4 around the 18 yard box in the center of the field. How many shots by Italy were blocked by the giant defensive wall that England made? It was almost as if England gave up and resigned themselves to sitting back and said "Good luck getting a shot through on goal with 8 or 9 guys blocking it."
Steven Gerrard was the only English player on the field that even came close to the Italians skill wise. England need to really work on individuals maintaining composure under pressure and developing skills to be comfortable moving out of tight spaces. They should just watch replays of Pirlo's performance last night before training sessions so they can emulate him.
Italy, even though very intelligent and skillful are going to have a long night against the German "Blitzkrieg" style of play.