ITALY edged England in a penalty shootout highlighted by a bold chip by Andrea Pirlo against Joe Hart on Monday, Manila time, that sent the Azzurri into the semifinals of the European Championships.
The Italians were in control for most of the match at Olympic Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, with 35 shots—20 on target—but England managed to keep it scoreless and the Azzurri needed the 4-2 shootout win. The Italians face off with Germany in the last four at National Stadium Warsaw, Poland.
Pirlo sent Hart diving to the right then floated the ball to the middle of the goal to level the shootout at 2-2.
Then England’s Ashley Young hit the bar, Italy took the lead with Antonio Nocerino’s spot kick, Ashley Cole’s penalty was saved by Gianluigi Buffon and before Alessandro Diamanti settled things with his goal.
England had nine attempts with four on target.
An all-Iberian showdown is set in the other semifinal with world and European champion Spain facing Portugal at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine.
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