Super Mario's super misses don't matter as the 2 Ashleys of England miss penalties.
Andrea Pirlo was the hero for the Azzurri as he lead his team to the semi-finals. Italy scored 4 of 5 penalties as England's Ashley Cole and Ashley Young missed from the spot to hand it over to the Azzuri after a goalless 120 minutes of play.
Italy dominated proceedings from the start but failed to convert any chance, thanks to some incredible misses from Balotelli and some brave defending from the British. Both sides came close to scoring in early minutes as Daniel Di Rossi's superb volley from 25 yards struck the post and Glen Johnson missed a sitter in front of goal.
More drama followed as Rooney failed to head a superb cross from Johnson which proved to be a rare attack from England as they were in the back foot for nearly entire half. The Mario moment was to arrive up next. A superb cross from Andrea Piirlo found an unmarked Balotelli with the Mancity forward missing the golden opportunity. More drama was to follow as Montolivo once again found Balotelli whose volley went straight in the hands of Joe Hart.
Chances fell for both sides as the first half surprisingly ended goalless.
The second half was the same old story for the Azzurri as Balotelli, Cassano and Di Rossi, all missed with goal at their mercy. Substitutes Nacerino and Diamanti straightaway tested Hart but the Mancity stopper denied them with brilliant saves. Rooney then missed with an acrobatic try and the game moved into extra time.
The extra time was equally dramatic as Diamanti's cross found nobody but the woodwork and Italy were denied again. Diamanti was the man for the Italians as the former West Ham man proved to be very dangerous for the British. Diamanti was involved again as he missed a glorious opportunity to win it for his team by blasting his shot wide off the goal. Nacerino then scored by heading the ball past Joe Hart from a Diamanti cross but the goal was ruled out as off side. Roy hodgson's England held on to take the game into Penalty shootout.
Ashley Young struck the post from the spot after Montolivo shot his penalty wide. Buffon then saved the penalty from Cole. Diamanti struck the winning goal to book his team's semi-final face off with Germany.
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