On 24 June 2012, exactly 12 years ago, Italy reached the semi-finals of the European Championship by beating England 4-2 after penalties. The national team coached by Prandelli has to do without Chiellini and Thiago Motta with Bonucci and Montolivo, while up front the coach chooses Cassano alongside Balotelli. Gerrard and Rooney lead the Three Lions. The match begins with a study phase, with the first chance of the match for the Azzurri, who came close to taking the lead with De Rossi’s shot from distance against the post. Hodgson’s men respond with Johnson, who all alone in the middle of the area hits Buffon.
Emotions followed on both sides: Rooney almost missed a cross and Balotelli was tackled by Terry at the moment of his one-on-one shot with Hart. Super Mario shoots very high from close range in the second half too, then it’s De Rossi’s turn to waste into an empty net before a new mistake by Balotelli and Montolivo in the same action. Diamanti and Nocerino provide the latest emotions in extra time: the former hits the external post from outside, the latter scores, but offside.
Everything is decided on penalties: Balotelli crosses and doesn’t make a mistake, just like Gerrard, despite both Hart and Buffon having guessed the conclusions. The first to fail is Montolivo who closes his right foot too much and puts it on target, while Rooney gives him the lead by kicking perfectly to his left and wrong-footing Buffon. At this point Pirlo sends a clear signal to everyone, scoring with extreme calm with the spoon. A delightful execution, with Hart diving to his right and inevitably being overtaken. England goes haywire and so Ashley Young hits the crossbar, before Nocerino’s goal, glacially crossing with the right flat. Another Ashley, Cole, betrays Hodgson, having his left foot saved by Buffon, who dives to the left and even blocks the shot. The Azzurri’s success was decreed by Diamanti, who opened the plate and rejoiced. Italy is in the semi-finals. Below is the match scorecard:
ENGLAND-ITALY 0-0 (2-4 pens)
England (4-4-2): Hart; Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole; MIlner (60′ Walcott), Gerrard, Parker (94′ Henderson), Young; Rooney, Welbeck (60′ Carroll). Ct: Hodgson.
Italy (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Abate (90+1′ May), Barzagli, Bonucci, Balzaretti; De Rossi (80′ Nocerino), Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo; Balotelli, Cassano (78′ Diamonds). Ct: Prandelli.
Referee: P. Proenca (Por).
Warned: 82′ Barzagli (I), 94′ Maggio (I).
Penalties: Balotelli goal, Gerrard goal; Montolivo out, Rooney goals; Pirlo goal, Young crossbar; Nocerino goal, Cole saved; Diamond goals.
