It was an epic game against Germany on
June 28, when Italy showed the world that it still has the ‘stuff of
champions.’ Italy’s Azzurri beat the Germans 2-1, with a two
incredible goals by striker Mario Balotelli, and advance to the Euro
2012 final against Spain in Kiev on Sunday, July 1, 2012.
Italy dominated the semifinal match in
the first half, with the team looking determined and tight knit,
keeping possession from start to finish. Balotelli scored his first goal, a header from a cross by Antonio Cassano in the 20th
minute. He followed with a second in 36th, a long shot from Riccardo Montolivo that he blasted into the top right corner.
After his second goal, Balotelli stripped
off his shirt and flexed his muscles on the pitch, showing both his
own team members and the Germans that his ‘dry spell’ was over. The
outlandish move got him a yellow card, but it significantly boosted team morale, and that of the entire country.
‘This is the greatest night of my life,
but I hope Sunday is going to be even better,’ Balotelli told the
press in a post-game wrap up, ‘In the opening matches I had a lot of
chances, and I wasn’t able to finish them. But in football you also
need luck.’
The back-to-back goals were devasting for the Germans. The Azzurri had several chances fto score a third in
the second half, but they started getting tired. The Italians only
conceeded play in the final 15 minutes of the match, which the Germans took
advantage of when awarded a penalty shot, for a handball by the Italy side. Germany’s Mesut Oezil scored it, bringing the score to 2-1 for Italy. Despite Germany’s final rush to tie it up, the match ended without further goals and Italy won,
advancing to the finals against the favoured team, Spain.
Epic performances by Andrea Pirlo (author of the ‘magic spoon’ against England in the penalty shoot out
on June 24, in which Italy won 4-2), Daniele De Rossi, Antonio
Cassano, Claudio Marchisio and Thiago Motta during the match were also noteworthy. Finally, it was yet another stellar
performance by Italy’s team captian, Gigi Buffon, who confirmed that he is
still the best goal keeper on earth.
Germany entered the game on a 15-match
winning streak in competitive matches. They left it with the
8th straight loss to Italy in a major tournament.
‘It’s a very bitter defeat,’ said
Germany captain, Philipp Lahm, adding ‘We tried everything in the
second half but our goal came too late. We have so much potential in
our team but if we cannot give the right performance at the right
time or are not clever enough, then we lose such a game.’
The Italian press has given much of the credit to Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli, who has given players the humility and drive to win. He started rebuilding the Azzurri two years ago, after they failed at the 2010 World Cup, and the team is now making plays and dominating the ball with the skill and technique of Italy’s championship players of yore.
‘There are no adjectives to describe how great the team did,’ said president of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano.
Next up: Spain.
Where to watch al fresco
With Euro Cup fever taking over the
city of Florence, there are several options to watch games both
indoors and out. Giant outdoor screens have been set up Piazza
Ghiberti, where Las Palmas will project every game up to the final
match on July 1 (matches start at 8:45pm), and in the green area
along Lungarno Serristori (in front of Negroni) and at the Easy
Living beach, along the Arno.
Other big screens have been set up
outdoor at the following:
In piazza next to the Obihall, during
the Feast of the Mugello
In the courtyard of Le Murate
Off Bar at the Lago dei Cigni, next to
the Fortezza da Basso
One Eyed Jack in piazza Sauro
Know of other places to watch the Euro
Cup finals outdoors? Email us at the inbox@theflorentine.net and we will add the information to this article.
