Socrates

Bonucci: 'Now bring on Spain' Jun 28, 2012 Leonardo Bonucci warned Italy “must not rest on our laurels” after sweeping Germany aside to face Spain in the Euro 2012 Final. “The credit goes to the whole team, as we attack and defend in a united fashion, so that makes it easier for the defenders. “Now we mustn’t rest on our laurels, as Sunday is very close and we want to win this trophy. “Considering the way Spain play, it’s not easy when dealing with those who come up from deep and run into space, but we showed in the group game that we were equal to them and can counter them.” Italy opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Spain, but at the time adopted a 3-5-2 system. Will they return to that for the Final? “That is something the Coach will decide, also looking at the lessons from the group game, but we are ready for any system.”

Buffon: 'I was so angry!' Jun 28, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon reveals he was livid at the final whistle of a 2-1 win over Germany. “We can’t play with fire after a performance like that.” The Azzurri had dominated the match, but conceded a late penalty and risked throwing away their 2-0 lead. “We are playing for something unique and totally prestigious, so it’s not right with the performance we put in to risk it in the last five minutes and play with fire. “If they had scored with a lucky ricochet for 2-2, we’d end up losing in extra time 9-2. We are playing in the Euros here and cannot take it lightly. “I always evaluate performances and attitudes rather than strictly wins or losses. We are still young, apart from a few old men in the squad, and need to learn. It’s only right for the old men to tell them off and stir up trouble. “We played a great game and could’ve won with a larger result, but there were times when we were even and made the most of incidents. It doesn’t take much to change a match. It went well for us tonight.” Buffon made a sensational save on Sami Khedira and Mario Balotelli scored moments later. “For a goalkeeper like me I think it was a good response, but it’s nothing new. I’m sorry if someone is surprised… There were two or three ricochets that we were lucky with and must be honest to evaluate everything not just the result. “I know there are many people who love me and I try to repay them with performances. I will smile when we’ve won and we haven’t done that yet.” The goalkeeper also revealed how he prepared for the Euro 2012 semi-final against Germany. “I barely slept, but did not study our opponents, I spent an hour and a half watching YouTube clips of the celebrations in the streets in Italy after our victory over England. That gave me goosebumps and I can only imagine what’s happening now.”

Chiellini: 'Dream isn't over' Jun 28, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini admits it was “a dream” just to be in the semi-final after his injury and now Italy “want to lift that trophy.” The Azzurri defender went off during the Republic of Ireland game with a thigh problem and many thought his tournament was over, but he played the whole 90 minutes of this 2-1 semi-final win over Germany. “To be honest, 10 days ago it was just a dream to be here and I must thank the medical staff for getting me back so quickly. “We are certainly living a dream and with us millions of Italians. We want to keep dreaming and make it come true on Sunday. We will enjoy this victory for a few more minutes, but then our thoughts go to the Final.” Germany had won their last 15 competitive matches in a row, but confirmed their tradition of never beating Italy in a major tournament. “Tradition or not, the present is what counts and we believed from the start. I don’t know about others, but we were convinced we could win this game and had everything to trouble Germany. “It’s natural they have great players and were dangerous, but we defended well and in all honesty 3-0 would’ve been a fitting result,” said Chiellini. The Azzurri now face Spain in the Final on Sunday in Kiev, a repeat of their opening group game that ended 1-1. “This was a stepping stone and now we have the final peak to conquer. We believed in this dream from the start to the 95th and now we want to lift that trophy.”

Marchisio: 'So tired!' Jun 28, 2012 Claudio Marchisio reveals he missed a great chance to score a third against Germany because he was “so tired I could barely see.” The midfielder drilled wide rather than pass to Antonio Di Natale, who may have been offside, in the 2-1 win over Germany. “I apologised to Di Natale, as I could barely see any more I was so tired and so had to try a shot. “The greatest moment will be the next game if we win the Euros. We’re utterly exhausted. It was such a good start with Mario (Balotelli) and we were clinical, which we haven’t been so far. “It was a fantastic performance, we have shown that we are up to the task against Spain and Germany. “Now we’re facing Spain again and it’s about bringing out what we have left after all this fatigue. “This victory is for the fans and we hope this success can bring solace and enjoyment during this time of crisis.”

Ozil to mark Pirlo? Jun 28, 2012 Italian pundits believe Alessandro Diamanti will be on the bench and Mesut Ozil is set to mark Andrea Pirlo. Tonight Italy-Germany is the Euro 2012 semi-final with the winner going on to face Spain on Sunday. “I am curious to see what Ozil will do, as Joachim Low will probably use him to mark Pirlo in midfield,” Maurizio Compagnoni told Sky Sport Italia. “I think Riccardo Montolivo could cause some problems for Bastian Schweinsteiger too.” There were reports of Diamanti pushing his way into the starting XI after a fine performance against England. “I really like Diamanti and he has that arrogance needed at this level, so when he went to take the final penalty I felt confident. However, I believe Cesare Prandelli sees Diamanti as more of a weapon to be deployed during the game. “Mario Balotelli lacks the killer instinct of Pippo Inzaghi, but has a great deal of quality. He did well in the quarter-final and it’s only right that he starts.”

Voller: 'Isolate Pirlo' Jun 28, 2012 Ex-Roma Coach Rudi Voller gives Germany advice on how to beat Italy tonight. “They have to isolate Andrea Pirlo.” The Euro 2012 semi-final kicks off at 19.45 UK time in Warsaw with the winner going through to face Spain. “Cesare Prandelli gives Pirlo all the freedom he needs and he makes perfect use of it,” current Bayer Leverkusen director of sport Voller told German newspaper Kicker. “He plays in front of the defence as a deep-lying playmaker, but can also work closer to the strikers. Pirlo has proved he is an added value for Italy in any midfield position he takes. “It would be a good idea for Germany to isolate Pirlo. In the game against England it seemed like he made 500 passes rather than 150, plus that fantastic penalty. “Italy are not a side who practice the typical catenaccio. Prandelli plays with two strikers because he doesn’t want to leave one of them on the bench, where he already has a great hitman like Antonio Di Natale ready to step in.”

Buffon: We cannot make a mistake Jun 28, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon admits that to defeat Germany in Thursday’s semi-final will require a perfect performance from Italy. The Azzurri face Joachin Low’s outfit with an historical advantage, having never lost in a competitive match to the Germans from seven previous attempts. However, to make that eight tonight, against one the tournament’s top goalscorers, captain Buffon admits it will take something special from his teammates. “We know you want revenge, and that you’re damn strong. A great team,” he told German publication Bild on Thursday. “We cannot afford any mistakes and as always we will need a little luck. “Traditions and statistics are made just to be overturned. Of course, I hope that things remain the same and that we are again happy. “[The 2006 World Cup semi-final win over Germany] was incredibly satisfying. At that time we beat an opponent in a spectacular setting, we were then able to go to Berlin and became world champions. “The game is a classic between to great teams and will belong to the most beautiful memories of my career.” Buffon was asked of his opponent in the Germany goal, Manuel Neuer, and if the youngster had the potential to become one of the game’s greats between the sticks. “I do not know. Everyone has their story. But, he is certainly very strong. The proof is that he is the No 1 for Bayern and for Germany.”

Pogba edges towards Juventus Jun 28, 2012 Juventus could announce the capture of Paul Pogba from Manchester United on July 1, says the Corriere dello Sport. The 19-year-old will join the Italian club after rejecting the offer of a new contract with the English giants. Juve will pay no transfer fee for the teenager, but will be forced to offer United some sort of compensation. The midfielder is a highly-rated youngster who has appeared for France at youth level from Under-16s to U-19s so far. Pogba made seven appearances for the Old Trafford outfit in the last campaign.

Pirlo is unique, underlines Materazzi Jun 28, 2012 Pescara starlet Marco Verratti is not the new Andrea Pirlo.

Low: 'We must disarm Pirlo' Jun 27, 2012 Germany manager Joachim Low admits the plan is to “disarm” Andrea Pirlo and “dictate the tempo” against Italy. The Euro 2012 semi-final is in Warsaw on Thursday evening, while Spain-Portugal is tonight. “We're here where we wanted to be. I think the best four teams are here,” he said in a Press conference. “These four teams have played the best football. It will be very tight, the teams will be playing at the top level, there's no doubt about this. As it's a semi-final, you do need a little bit of luck to get to the final. We are in a strong position. “Italy are very good coming from the back with Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli they have really classy players and especially Pirlo. He's the one who gives the tactics, the ideas, and directs the game. “We have to disturb these players and think of a way how we can do better than them in midfield and must dictate the tempo ourselves. We have a plan to ‘disarm’ the Pirlo weapon. “We have to be cheeky, confident, but work very hard as well. We won't concentrate on them, we will work on our own game. “We know how Cassano and Balotelli play but I am convinced my central defenders will cope. We are prepared for that. Mats Hummels and Holger Badstuber have the support of the midfielders and they are both very tactically astute.”

Marchisio: 'Italy never give in' Jun 27, 2012 Claudio Marchisio says Italy’s semi-final with Germany “will be tough, but we never give in!” The Juventus midfielder wrote a message on his Facebook page to the fans after the Azzurri progressed to the final four of Euro 2012. “It was so exciting against England! We reached a semi-final that few really believed in, but we always stayed on our toes. “With a solid, united squad that battles, runs and plays the way we know how, we can reach the great objective! “It will be tough, but we have an enormous heart and never give in!”

Chiellini 'has recovered' Jun 27, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini “has recovered from his injury and could be on the field against Germany,” announced his agent. There were reports the Juventus and Italy defender had made a rapid recovery after his thigh problem against the Republic of Ireland. “I can say that Giorgio has recovered from his injury, is back at Cesare Prandelli’s disposal and could be on the field against Germany,” Claudio Chiellini told Sky Sport Italia this afternoon. It is a big boost for the Azzurri, who face Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-final on Thursday evening. “I hope that he can start, but this depends on the Coach and the system he decides to pick, especially considering the number of absentees out wide. “He is coming off a very delicate injury and the medical staff helped him recover in record time. Tomorrow I’ll fly out with most of my family to be at the game with Germany. “Last night I dreamed I was on the field as well!”

Buffon following his Euro dream Jun 27, 2012 Italy goalkeeper Gigi Buffon concedes it will be tough to beat Germany – but he believes in his Euro 2012 dream. The Germans will start as favourites in Thursday’s semi-final between the two sides, but the Juventus custodian says the Azzurri will give it their all. “We want to move forward towards our dream,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “Germany look like an insurmountable obstacle. They may be, but now that we are here, we have to push even more. “There comes a time in life when there remains nothing to do but to go down your own path and follow your dreams – this is a duty of every individual. “Too often we are addicted and numb from the negativity that surrounds us, too often we are resigned to a fate that others will want to assign, we almost always stop dreaming when we reach the age of maturity or upon reaching a certain position and a job that gives us independence, but does not stimulate our imagination and our senses. “As a child I dreamed of becoming a footballer, as a kid I dreamed of becoming the goalkeeper of the national team and Juventus. “At around 20 I wanted to win the Scudetto, when I arrived at 25 I wanted the Champions League and the World Cup, at 30 to win back the title with Juventus and the European Championship.”

Buffon: Italy must dare to dream The Juventus goalkeeper has posted a stirring call to arms on his Facebook page which has already generated almost 10,000 likes and over 1,000 comments. Jun 27, 2012 Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon has issued a rallying cry ahead of Thursday's Euro 2012 semi-final showdown with Germany. On the eve of the country's biggest game since the 2006 World Cup final, the Juventus goalkeeper took to Facebook to remind both his team-mates and the nation that nothing is impossible for those who dare to dream. "There comes a time in life when there remains nothing to do other than take your own path and follow your dreams; this is a duty of every single individual," Buffon wrote. "Too often we are addicted to and left numb by the negativity that surrounds us; too often we are resigned to a fate that others want to assign us, and almost always stop dreaming once we reach the age of maturity or upon reaching a certain position and a job that gives us independence but does not stimulate our imagination and our senses. "As a child I dreamed of becoming a footballer; as a young boy I dreamed of becoming the goalkeeper of the national team and Juventus; at around 20 I wanted to win the Scudetto; when I arrived at 25, the Champions League and the World Cup; at 30, to win back the league titles with Juventus and the European Championship. "The majority of these fixed targets I have achieved, even if something is still missing. I never know if I will realise them, but I have the firm conviction that the only way to do it is to want them; live them intensely even when they seem like Utopian dreams. Without dreams one is not living, one is surviving. Without dreams you are not the driving force in your life, but you are only a faded figure who has accepted your existence, without alarms, without surprises, without life. "Coming here to Poland and thinking of playing a semi-final was unthinkable, at least in warm-up, but we believed in ourselves; we really wanted it; we desired it, and every sacrifice was made with a view to achieving our goal! "Now the obstacle seems insurmountable - it probably will be - but now that we have come so far we must dare to go a little further ... towards the DREAM ... towards the JOY ... "Forward, Italy!"

Memories of 16-year-old star Pirlo Jun 26, 2012 Andrea Pirlo has won over Europe with his performances, but Eugenio Corini remembers “on his debut aged 16 we knew a star had been born.” The Italy midfielder’s Man of the Match performance and audacious chipped penalty against England has seen him hit the headlines. “I remember his Serie A debut in Reggiana-Brescia in 1995. He always was destined for greatness,” former Chievo and Palermo midfielder Corini told TMW. “That year I was playing for Brescia and there was this lad who everyone described as a phenomenon. “In training he already showed immense quality and at the end of the season he made his debut in a game against Reggiana, aged just 16. That day, we were all fully aware that a star had been born.” It was May 21 1995 with Pirlo making his Serie A bow just two days after his 16th birthday, becoming Brescia’s youngest ever debutant. “The most impressive thing about Andrea is his tactical wisdom. He’s not just about technique, but has the ability to make everyone play better and bring balance to the team. “He is a unique player and the best in the world in his role.” The chipped penalty over Joe Hart in the shoot-out left many stunned. “I heard some say it was a crazy gesture, but I think it was a clear manifestation of his talent and clear head in that moment. “He is totally secure of his abilities and can transmit that sense of belief and confidence to his teammates too.” Italy will now face Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-final on Thursday. “Now that they are here, Italy are capable of just about anything,” continued Corini. “I saw a good Nazionale against England and think they can repeat the performance with the Germans. “Mario Balotelli was very concentrated in attack and always at the centre of the action despite a few errors. “If I were Cesare Prandelli, I’d confirm the partnership between Mario and Antonio Cassano, keeping the Antonio Di Natale card up his sleeve for the second half.”

Pirlo: 'I took Hart down a peg' Jun 26, 2012 Andrea Pirlo feels Germany are afraid of Italy, took that penalty to “bring Joe Hart down a peg” and “won’t be upset” if he never wins the Ballon d’Or. The Italy midfielder was already a hero within the peninsula, but won over many new admirers with his performance and cheeky chipped spot-kick in the Euro 2012 quarter-final victory. “I saw Hart was practically down on the ground already, so I tried it. I didn’t think about what would happen if I’d got it wrong, it was just a spontaneous thing,” explained Pirlo in today’s Press conference. “Hart looked very confident in himself, so I thought we had to bring him down a peg or two. “The nicest thing about all this was when my football colleagues complimented me for the penalty. That is always pleasing. “Gigi Buffon reassured us all before the penalties and made us feel calm. He was proved right. “I do not dedicate it to Juventus President Andrea Agnelli, nor Milan’s Adriano Galliani, but simply to all Italians. I have no desire for revenge on anybody.” Pirlo’s Man of the Match performance against England and his crucial role in taking Juve to the Scudetto have led some to suggest he’ll be in line for the Ballon d’Or. “As long as Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are around, it’s impossible to win it. They are a step above the rest and score 60 goals per season, so I won’t be upset to miss out.” The Azzurri now go into Thursday’s semi-final against tournament favourites Germany, who have been able to rest for two extra days. “Germany are strong in every area and proved that with the results they’ve had so far in both qualifying and the competition. “I expect a great game, they are very strong, but we know that we can beat them. We studied them today and will do so again over the next two days. “What can we do better on Thursday? Score a goal,” smiled Pirlo, who was in the Italy side that beat Germany in the 2006 World Cup semi-final. “Compared to England, Germany are a team who come out and play football. Mesut Ozil will be the fulcrum of their midfield and he’ll be close to me on the pitch. “We came here to win and Germany are afraid of us, as they know we can cause them problems. There is the same hunger as in 2006 and Germany play the same way, with more fans behind them, but we are on a par with Spain in terms of our midfield. “I am almost at the end of my career, so it’s pleasing to experience the emotions of these games and that adrenaline rush you don’t often enjoy.”

Ancelotti: Pirlo won it for Italy Jun 26, 2012 Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti insists that Andrea Pirlo’s chipped penalty was the deciding factor in Italy’s win over England at Euro 2012. The Azzurri progressed to the semi-finals thanks to a shoot-out victory in which Riccardo Montolivo was the first to miss. However, then Pirlo calmly stepped up with his ‘spoon’ effort which has won rave reviews since the triumph. “That penalty changed the balance of the tie,” Ancelotti told the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “I’m convinced of that. “When a player does something like that it can depress your opponents and it enhances your teammates. That’s why Pirlo was decisive.” The sublime spot-kick by the Juventus playmaker capped off a fine display in the previous 120 minutes of the tie. “Andrea is an immense player and there are no other adjectives to add,” Ancelotti added. “Italy were unlucky, but then Pirlo thought about resolving the issue. “We all saw what Pirlo did. Only a genius can do such things…” Ancelotti knows Pirlo well having been his boss at Milan in the past. Ancelotti actually decided to regularly field Pirlo in his now trademark deep midfield position after he was used at Brescia in such a role by Carlo Mazzone.

Chiellini back for Germany? Jun 25, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini is reportedly on track for involvement in Italy’s semi-final this Thursday, despite suffering a thigh strain only a week ago. The Juventus man picked up the first degree strain in his left thigh when in action for the Azzurri in their final group game of Euro 2012 last Monday against the Republic of Ireland. The injury forced the player to sit out Sunday evening’s quarter-final win over England and there were doubts about his ability to recover in time for the semi-final and even final, should Italy make it. First degree strains usually require 20 days to recover from, yet the player has already returned to training, having taken part in running and ball-work exercises this morning with Italy’s other players who did not play last night. Italy face Germany in the second semi-final of the competition this coming Thursday night at the National Stadium in Warsaw. The final will be held next Sunday at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

Marchisio reveals injury worry Jun 24, 2012 Claudio Marchisio reveals he was one of the designated penalty takers, but was not fit enough to step up against England. “I was meant to be one of the penalty takers, but I ended the match with cramp and so told the Coach if someone else was in better shape then they ought to step up.” Italy did eventually win 4-2 in the shoot-out to reach the semi-final after dominating 120 minutes without finding the net. “It was really tough, as these extra time matches feel like they go on forever, but we faced a difficult opponent and dominated the match. I think at the end of the day the penalties sent the right team through.” The semi-final is on Thursday against favourites Germany, who won their quarter-final against Greece two days ago. “Now we have gone through and think about the fact Germany have two extra days to rest, we know that winning within the 90 minutes was a better idea. “In any case, we’re here now and have to make the best of it.”

Pirlo: My penalty unsettled England The Juventus midfielder explained why he went for an audacious chip and refused to rule out the possibility of Italy going all the way in the tournament. Jun 24, 2012 Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo believes that his audacious 'Panenka' penalty "put more pressure" on England's players in Sunday's Euro 2012 quarter-final clash. The Azzurri were losing 2-1 in the penalty shoot-out after Riccardo Montolivo had missed his attempt when Pirlo chipped the ball straight into the middle of the net as England goalkeeper Joe Hart dived to his right. Ashley Young and Ashley Cole then missed from the spot, allowing Italy to win 4-2 in the shoot-out, and Pirlo hinted that his penalty changed the game. "Joe Hart was doing some strange movements, so when he dived I decided to take it like that and it went well," the Juventus midfielder told Rai Sport. "It put a bit of pressure on their takers and in fact Ashley Young missed his penalty after that. "England did not create any chances during the match. They played for the penalty shoot-out, while we wanted to win. "We knew we could dominate the match, and all that England did was defend. We used up more energy than we expected, but we were able to win the match." Pirlo's Juventus team-mate Gianluigi Buffon also commented on the nerve-wracking quarter-final, and admitted that despite Italy's dominance, he was dreading an England victory from 12 yards. "It is clear that I feared an upset, in the penalty shoot-out you can be lucky and win or unlucky and lose. With regards to the 120 minutes of action, we deserved the victory, we created more chances than them," the goalkeeper pointed out. "After Montolivo missed his penalty, I only thought that I should save as many as possible, because my team-mates deserved to win the match, and so did I." For Daniele De Rossi, who was forced off through injury, Pirlo's shoot-out heroics were the highlight of a tense match on Sunday evening. "Pirlo's penalty? It has been many years since I saw one this beautiful. It reminded me of Totti's penalty against Netherlands in 2000," he said. Alessandro Diamanti, meanwhile, agreed with Pirlo that his side were more than worthy victors. "Justice was done, we played better than England. We controlled the match from the first minute," he claimed, adding that the only thing running through his mind in the shoot-out was marking a goal with his goalkeeper. "I did not think anything while I was taking my penalty, I only thought about scoring and go to Buffon and celebrate with him." Italy will now take on Germany in their semi-final clash, which will be played on Thursday in Warsaw. Pirlo had the last word as he asserted that, from this point forward, anything was possible. "At this stage of the tournament we should not rule anything out, that is the reason we are here," he added.

Barzagli: 'Italy silenced England' Jun 24, 2012 Andrea Barzagli admits he was nervous during the shoot-out, but credited total concentration for Italy keeping England ineffective. “I was nervous during the penalties, as I thought it wouldn’t be right to go out, so I was very tense. In the end, we definitely deserved to go through. “It’s only normal to get worried, but the others did brilliantly and it is never easy to take a penalty,” he said of the shoot-out victory. Wayne Rooney was the big danger man, but did precious little to trouble the Azzurri back line. “We didn’t suffer much at the back, that is true, but we kept concentrated for 120 minutes, as you can never make a mistake against a player like him.” Italy now go through to face tournament favourites Germany in Thursday’s semi-final. “It’s not a problem if Germany are the favourites. We realised today precisely what our potential is. We won’t start as favourites, but we’re not beaten yet either. “There is fatigue and you feel it, but after this victory we feel it less, as a win fires us up. We don’t have long to recover, but we will give it our best.”

Bonucci: 'England hurt Rooney' Jun 24, 2012 Leonardo Bonucci believes England’s negative approach contributed to keeping Wayne Rooney quiet. “In terms of what was seen on the pitch, Italy certainly deserved to qualify, as we played more, created more and were more of a team,” he said of the quarter-final win on penalties. “The penalties can be a lottery, but Gigi Buffon and the takers did well to keep their cool. “Andrea Pirlo put a bit of pressure on with that scooped spot-kick, but we got through! If the penalties had gone to sudden death, I would’ve been the next up.” England only had one real scoring opportunity in the opening minutes and defended for most of the 120. “Rooney was kept quiet by us, but also by England’s tactics, as he had to run back a lot and that tired him out,” argued Bonucci. “Germany in the Euros and in qualifying have been great, but we have to focus on recharging our batteries and preparing for the semi-final. Now we are here, we want to take our chances. “All the players we face are top at this level and so we face Mario Gomez with the same approach as we did Rooney, Welbeck or Carroll.”

Buffon: 'Italy clearly superior' Jun 24, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon admits he “feared an upset,” but also took credit for advising Alessandro Diamanti on the decisive penalty. “Of course I feared an upset, as when a lottery starts you can be lucky to win or unlucky to lose,” he said of the shoot-out quarter-final victory. “Over the 120 minutes we deserved this victory, as we had more chances, dominated possession and in my view we were better than England.” Things were looking bleak when Riccardo Montolivo turned his spot-kick wide to give England the advantage. “I didn’t think anything, just that I had to make as many saves as possible, because my teammates deserved it for their 120 minutes of football – and so did I! “It was good to block Ashley Cole’s penalty, as I imagined many people with trepidation at that moment as well as us. Of course my thoughts went to those affected by the earthquake, then all our fans who follow us with such passion from home.” Andrea Pirlo took an audacious chipped penalty in the Francesco Totti style. “I didn’t see any of Italy’s penalties, as I never do,” continued Buffon. “I will admit one thing and take some credit! I told Diamanti to spread the penalty wide, as he is so famous for keeping them tight. I told him Hart must’ve seen the tapes and studied him, so he had to change. “We have quality, but also the ability to make every match even, whether against smaller or bigger teams. That can be a strength or a weakness, but today we thoroughly deserved the victory. “We had more physically and in terms of quality, which was clear for all to see. There is a sort of sporting justice that evens things out in the end.” Italy now reach the Euro 2012 semi-finals against tournament favourites Germany. “As I said before this tournament, I’d have been happy to reach the semi-finals, as it is a respectable achievement with teams like Spain, Germany and even Holland who on paper were superior. “We have therefore hit the target I set and must now try to push a little further, because we can do it.”

Pirlo: 'Why I chipped Hart' Jun 24, 2012 Andrea Pirlo reveals why he decided an audacious chip in the penalty shoot-out against England. “It put pressure on them.” The Italy midfielder scored with a sensational lob to beat Joe Hart in the 4-2 shoot-out victory. “At the moment I saw the goalkeeper making strange movements, so I waited for him to move and hit it like that. “It was easier for me to chip it at that stage. Maybe my effort put some pressure on England and in fact Ashley Young missed the next one after me. “I didn’t fear an upset, as England barely created anything, just tried to defend the result and drag us to penalties. We stayed in control and in the end won out. “We knew that we could control the match, as England are a very defensive team and we saw that from the way they played throughout the group phase. It’s just a shame we took this long to beat them and used up a lot of energy. “We dominated the encounter and it’s a pity we didn’t take our chances during the 90 minutes or extra time. At least the penalties sent the right team through. “Mario Balotelli worked hard and helped his teammates. He made a few mistakes when finishing, but he has the quality and will improve.” Italy now face Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-final on Thursday evening. “Of course we were thinking about Germany, as we knew they would be our opponents if we qualified, but now we have to concentrate and recuperate in time for Thursday. “Is anything possible? Of course, that’s why we’re here.”

Pirlo: 'England are predictable' Jun 24, 2012 Andrea Pirlo believes England were “fortunate” to reach the quarter-finals and are “very predictable.” The Italy and Juventus midfielder gave his views ahead of tonight’s Euro 2012 clash at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. “People talk about England playing the Italian way, but that's rubbish. Only Italy can play the Italian way. And we do not care for anyone who tries to impersonate us. It's like trying to play against Spain the Spanish way,” he told Sky Sports. “Roy Hodgson knows Italian football, which is a small advantage, and he is very tactically astute. But I have seen some of England's games in this tournament. They have been more practical than impressive, and we are confident of beating them. “They have weaknesses that we can exploit, particularly in the midfield. They are missing some key players and I think we will have the measure of them in that area. “They also look very nervous at times in defence and, France aside, they have not had to play too many big nations. “I think they were more adventurous under Fabio Capello and I would have been more concerned if he was still in charge. “It is very odd to see an English side play counter-attacking football. Maybe they will adopt a different approach against us, but I doubt it because in some ways they are very predictable. “They have been very fortunate in getting this far. Against France they were completely outplayed, then they struggled against Sweden and were extremely lucky to win against Ukraine.” Pirlo was asked whether the England players will try to make the most of Mario Balotelli’s notorious temper by provoking him. “Mario is very unpredictable but a very special talent. He's young and needs to mature but sometimes you have to treat players differently. “He needs to be pampered a bit. He is fired up for this game and wants to do well with a worldwide audience watching. “I just get slightly concerned that he is easily provoked and the English players will try and take advantage of this. “He needs to stay calm and ignore any provocation because there would be dire consequences if he reacts to something and gets sent off and Italy lose the game.”