Italy leader Mario Balotelli scored a stunning first half double to see off the Azzurri to a 2-1 victory over Germany in the final of Euro 2012.
Manchester City striker is known for its unpredictability, both on and off the court, but while he was blowing hot and cold in Poland and Ukraine before the crash on Thursday night, there was a blistering performance in Warsaw.
Balotelli got things rolling to the side of Cesare Prandelli as he headed home from Antonio Cassano cross from close range on 20 minutes after a poor Defending the Germans.
But the highlight of the front arrived 16 minutes later, while Riccardo Montolivo ran through the ball and crashed a shot past German goalkeeper Manuel Hot Neuer.
Germany was given a lifeline in the last minute when the referee called the penalty spot after handball Federico Balzaretti in injury time the second half and Mesut Ozil did not err conversion, but it was too little, too late to Low men who have never beaten Italy in a competitive game.
The Azzurri will now take on holders and world champions Spain in Kiev in Sunday's decider.
Threat
Germany had started the match as favorites, especially thanks to his world record run of 15 straight wins.
After seeing how difficult it had found England to submit to Andrea Pirlo, the plan being to do with it much better.
By contrast, was worse.
Sitting deep in the midfield line, Pirlo Germany allowed the time to pick back defender Giorgio Chiellini, with a brilliant pass to the sideline.
From there, everything went downhill quickly for Joachim Low's team.
Chiellini nudged the ball to Cassano, who turned Mats Hummels past with minimal effort.
Balotelli immediately got himself some space behind Holger Badstuber and when the cross came to power the ball from six yards.
If that was efficient in its execution, second Balotelli was brutal.
Moving from inside his own half, Riccardo Montolivo could hardly believe the room I was given.
Twice he looked up to see if anything was on.
On the second occasion saw Balotelli making his career, building on Philipp Lahm failed to maintain the offside line.
Balotelli took some time to get into a firing position.
However, as the ball sat up nicely, which crashed the past Manuel Neuer.
Germany goalkeeper had set a stop. In the end, there was nothing I could do, but stands a weak hand and fall to the ground, helpless to prevent his goal of being raped a second time.
Balotelli was booked for removing his shirt while trying to celebrate with a grumpy attitude.
I could not keep up and even broke into a grin when he was engulfed by ecstatic teammates.
It was a performance that put the efforts of English - and Ireland is for that matter - in a kind of perspective.
Germany, although a shade of normal.
Twice in the early stages Gianluigi Buffon had lost the ball near his own line, but could not take advantage.
Sami Khedira did launch a volley towards goal among key Balotelli, but this time, Buffon was able to make the save.
Under took decisive action in the interval, the introduction of Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez Reus Framework and Lukas Podolski, whose contribution can not be hesitant to have impressed watching Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
The change brought some much needed life into the German ranks.
However, their efforts to transport themselves back in the competition were thwarted repeatedly.
Lahm could not hit the target after running Toni Kroos' return pass before Buffon pushed Reus free kick against his own bar and to safety.
Disappointing
A disappointing Ozil went to the bottom line, but with very little space, Khedira needed to react much faster than he did to the near post-cut-back.
Balotelli Out with cramps meant that he was denied the opportunity to become the first player to score a point and final hat-trick from Gerd Müller did in 1976.
His replacement, Antonio Di Natale, who have wrapped up victory when he found himself in acres of space inside the box but dragged his effort all the bat, much to the frustration Balotelli.
Federico Balzaretti handball in the final minute brought some nerves for Italy and Ozil fired home from the place.
But Prandelli men were able to reach the end of the game and celebrate their triumph.
Germany Team Statistics Italy
1 Goals 2
0 1st Half Goals 2
8 Shots on Target 4
9 Shots off Target 6
3 Blocked Shots 1
14 Corners 0
13 Fouls 19
0 Offsides 2
1 Yellow Cards 4
0 Red Cards 0
82 Passing Success 79.6
21 Tackles 18
85.7 Tackles Success 66.7
56.1 Possession 43.9
62.3 Territorial Advantage 37.7
512 Total Passes 421
46 Total Crosses 5
167 Lost Balls 146
61 Recoveries 55
49.8 1st Half Poss. 50.2
60.7 2nd Half Poss. 39.3
Manchester City striker is known for its unpredictability, both on and off the court, but while he was blowing hot and cold in Poland and Ukraine before the crash on Thursday night, there was a blistering performance in Warsaw.
Balotelli got things rolling to the side of Cesare Prandelli as he headed home from Antonio Cassano cross from close range on 20 minutes after a poor Defending the Germans.
But the highlight of the front arrived 16 minutes later, while Riccardo Montolivo ran through the ball and crashed a shot past German goalkeeper Manuel Hot Neuer.
Germany was given a lifeline in the last minute when the referee called the penalty spot after handball Federico Balzaretti in injury time the second half and Mesut Ozil did not err conversion, but it was too little, too late to Low men who have never beaten Italy in a competitive game.
The Azzurri will now take on holders and world champions Spain in Kiev in Sunday's decider.
Threat
Germany had started the match as favorites, especially thanks to his world record run of 15 straight wins.
After seeing how difficult it had found England to submit to Andrea Pirlo, the plan being to do with it much better.
By contrast, was worse.
Sitting deep in the midfield line, Pirlo Germany allowed the time to pick back defender Giorgio Chiellini, with a brilliant pass to the sideline.
From there, everything went downhill quickly for Joachim Low's team.
Chiellini nudged the ball to Cassano, who turned Mats Hummels past with minimal effort.
Balotelli immediately got himself some space behind Holger Badstuber and when the cross came to power the ball from six yards.
If that was efficient in its execution, second Balotelli was brutal.
Moving from inside his own half, Riccardo Montolivo could hardly believe the room I was given.
Twice he looked up to see if anything was on.
On the second occasion saw Balotelli making his career, building on Philipp Lahm failed to maintain the offside line.
Balotelli took some time to get into a firing position.
However, as the ball sat up nicely, which crashed the past Manuel Neuer.
Germany goalkeeper had set a stop. In the end, there was nothing I could do, but stands a weak hand and fall to the ground, helpless to prevent his goal of being raped a second time.
Balotelli was booked for removing his shirt while trying to celebrate with a grumpy attitude.
I could not keep up and even broke into a grin when he was engulfed by ecstatic teammates.
It was a performance that put the efforts of English - and Ireland is for that matter - in a kind of perspective.
Germany, although a shade of normal.
Twice in the early stages Gianluigi Buffon had lost the ball near his own line, but could not take advantage.
Sami Khedira did launch a volley towards goal among key Balotelli, but this time, Buffon was able to make the save.
Under took decisive action in the interval, the introduction of Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez Reus Framework and Lukas Podolski, whose contribution can not be hesitant to have impressed watching Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
The change brought some much needed life into the German ranks.
However, their efforts to transport themselves back in the competition were thwarted repeatedly.
Lahm could not hit the target after running Toni Kroos' return pass before Buffon pushed Reus free kick against his own bar and to safety.
Disappointing
A disappointing Ozil went to the bottom line, but with very little space, Khedira needed to react much faster than he did to the near post-cut-back.
Balotelli Out with cramps meant that he was denied the opportunity to become the first player to score a point and final hat-trick from Gerd Müller did in 1976.
His replacement, Antonio Di Natale, who have wrapped up victory when he found himself in acres of space inside the box but dragged his effort all the bat, much to the frustration Balotelli.
Federico Balzaretti handball in the final minute brought some nerves for Italy and Ozil fired home from the place.
But Prandelli men were able to reach the end of the game and celebrate their triumph.
Germany Team Statistics Italy
1 Goals 2
0 1st Half Goals 2
8 Shots on Target 4
9 Shots off Target 6
3 Blocked Shots 1
14 Corners 0
13 Fouls 19
0 Offsides 2
1 Yellow Cards 4
0 Red Cards 0
82 Passing Success 79.6
21 Tackles 18
85.7 Tackles Success 66.7
56.1 Possession 43.9
62.3 Territorial Advantage 37.7
512 Total Passes 421
46 Total Crosses 5
167 Lost Balls 146
61 Recoveries 55
49.8 1st Half Poss. 50.2
60.7 2nd Half Poss. 39.3
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