WARSAW, Poland - Mario Balotelli, finally showed some quality finish, scoring twice on Thursday to give Italy a 2-1 win over Germany and an unexpected place in the European Championship final.
To extend their winless streak against Italy in major tournaments of eight games, Germany had no answer for Balotelli and creativity of Antonio Cassano.
In minute 20, Balotelli had no trouble getting past Holger Badstuber in the head in a cross from Cassano. Then, at 36, striker 21 years of age, received the ball behind the defense and fired a long shot in the upper right corner.
While he scored against Ireland, Balotelli was criticized for wasting several chances against Spain, Croatia and England.
Germany did not bother to Italy for much of the game, but Mesut Ozil scored on a penalty kick in stoppage time after Federico Balzaretti was whistled for a handball.
Italy will face defending champion Spain in Sunday's final in Kiev, Ukraine - a rematch of their opening 1-1 draw in Group C.
While Italy has won four World Cups, European Championships only came in 1968. Like when they won in 1982 and 2006 World Cups, the Italians have managed to maintain their focus despite a match-fixing and betting scandal at home.
In a pleasant evening at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Cassano created the first goal of Germany, confusing defenders Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng to lift the ball towards Balotelli.
The second goal started with a long pass vertical Riccardo Montolivo, whose mother is German. Balotelli picked up the pass with his back to goal, controlled the ball with his chest and then ran forward and shot in flames from the edge of the area as German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer again stood still.
Balotelli took off his shirt after his second goal, which drew an automatic yellow card, although you will not miss the final.
Even before dialing, Italy controlled the pace of the game, although Germany had several opportunities to Hummels, Toni Kroos and Özil.
In 35, the Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon kept the Azzurri the lead by swatting away a long shot of Sami Khedira - and Balotelli doubled the lead a minute later.
To start the second half, the German coach Joachim Loew brought on Miroslav Klose with Mario Gomez in the center of interest and replaced with Marco Reus Lukas Podolski on the wing.
In Germany there is a bit more organized, Captain Philipp Lahm had a great look at the goal on the road, but the 49th shot over the bar.
Buffon made another stunning save on 62, jumping to push a free kick from outside the bar Reus.
While Italy is largely sat back and protected its lead in the second half, the Italians were some dangerous counterattacks. Claudio Marchisio shot just wide at 67 and 75 and substitute Antonio Di Natale missed another chance in 82.
Di Natale came in 70 after Balotelli went down with a cramp in his left leg.
Dressed in white, German fans far outnumber Italian fans, revealing a huge banner before the game that featured a giant "G" for Germany. However, most of the stadium was full of Polish fans who supported Italy.
They had much to celebrate.
To extend their winless streak against Italy in major tournaments of eight games, Germany had no answer for Balotelli and creativity of Antonio Cassano.
In minute 20, Balotelli had no trouble getting past Holger Badstuber in the head in a cross from Cassano. Then, at 36, striker 21 years of age, received the ball behind the defense and fired a long shot in the upper right corner.
While he scored against Ireland, Balotelli was criticized for wasting several chances against Spain, Croatia and England.
Germany did not bother to Italy for much of the game, but Mesut Ozil scored on a penalty kick in stoppage time after Federico Balzaretti was whistled for a handball.
Italy will face defending champion Spain in Sunday's final in Kiev, Ukraine - a rematch of their opening 1-1 draw in Group C.
While Italy has won four World Cups, European Championships only came in 1968. Like when they won in 1982 and 2006 World Cups, the Italians have managed to maintain their focus despite a match-fixing and betting scandal at home.
In a pleasant evening at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Cassano created the first goal of Germany, confusing defenders Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng to lift the ball towards Balotelli.
The second goal started with a long pass vertical Riccardo Montolivo, whose mother is German. Balotelli picked up the pass with his back to goal, controlled the ball with his chest and then ran forward and shot in flames from the edge of the area as German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer again stood still.
Balotelli took off his shirt after his second goal, which drew an automatic yellow card, although you will not miss the final.
Even before dialing, Italy controlled the pace of the game, although Germany had several opportunities to Hummels, Toni Kroos and Özil.
In 35, the Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon kept the Azzurri the lead by swatting away a long shot of Sami Khedira - and Balotelli doubled the lead a minute later.
To start the second half, the German coach Joachim Loew brought on Miroslav Klose with Mario Gomez in the center of interest and replaced with Marco Reus Lukas Podolski on the wing.
In Germany there is a bit more organized, Captain Philipp Lahm had a great look at the goal on the road, but the 49th shot over the bar.
Buffon made another stunning save on 62, jumping to push a free kick from outside the bar Reus.
While Italy is largely sat back and protected its lead in the second half, the Italians were some dangerous counterattacks. Claudio Marchisio shot just wide at 67 and 75 and substitute Antonio Di Natale missed another chance in 82.
Di Natale came in 70 after Balotelli went down with a cramp in his left leg.
Dressed in white, German fans far outnumber Italian fans, revealing a huge banner before the game that featured a giant "G" for Germany. However, most of the stadium was full of Polish fans who supported Italy.
They had much to celebrate.
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